On the Road Again
Hellenic Air Force Relics
Athikia, Greece
April 2024 and March 2025
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Having too much time to spare I spent some hours photographing this well presented F-104G Startfighter (6678 'FG-678') near to Athikia, 20 kms SE from Corinth. I used four lenses (9mm, 16-15mm, 24-105mm and a 70-200mm).
The inauguration of the Corinthian fallen airmen monument was held on September 19, 2009. Leading the ceremony was Athikia Mayor Socrates Togias a former HAF pilot who flew the actual silver F-104G Starfighter mounted on the column. My two friends Panos Panagiotopoulos and Dionisis Theristopoulos were guests of the Mayor. The monument is dedicated to the Fallen Aviators of Athikia; Didaskalou H. Prokopio (18-12-1946, 30 years old and Didaskalou H. Vasilio (18-8-1948, 23 years old), also to the Fallen Aviators of Prefecture of Corinthia.
Inscribed below the jet in Greek is the motto of the Hellenic Air Force, "Always dominate in the air".
The lowercase letters are the lyrics of a song titled; "Sun God", written for Fallen Aviators by Lyricist Paris Mitsos.
"Always dominate in the air, I am seeking for freedom in the winds, I have ceased been a mortal, ascenting high I love, (I am) A golden Eagle without body."
April 2024 |
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| These birds were continuously entering the cockpit through a hole in the cockpit glass or is it now perspex? |
| At 20:10 and sunset, the spotlights burst into life to my surprise. I was just about to use my torch to light up the jets undersides. |
