13th Light Bomber Squadron

13th Light Bomber Squadron
The unofficial Squadron Badge of 13th Light Bomber Squadron
Active	1941 - 1946
Country	Greece
Allegiance	Greece
Branch	Royal Hellenic Air Force
Role	Bomber squadron
Part of	Mediterranean Allied Air Forces

The 13th Light Bomber Squadron (Greek: 13 Μοίρα Ελαφρού Βομβαρδισμού, 13 ΜΕΒ), was one of the three World War II aircraft squadrons in service with the Royal Hellenic Air Force, exiled in the Middle East, that fought under the auspices of the British Royal Air Force. It was the first Greek military unit founded after the German invasion and conquest of Greece in April–May 1941.

After the failed Italian attack against Greece (October 28-November 13, 1940), the Greek forces counterattacked and penetrated deep into Italian held Albanian territory. However, with the German intervention in April 1941, Greece capitulated.

By April 15, 1941, the Royal Hellenic Air Force was virtually eliminated by the numerically and technically superior German Luftwaffe. Part of the Greek air force personnel managed to escape to Egypt together with five Avro Anson aircraft. These aircraft formed the 13th Light Bomber Squadron during the summer of 1941, which was thus the first Greek military unit formed in the Middle East. During the following months two additional Greek squadrons were founded, the 335th and 336th Pursuit Squadrons.

Its first commander was Squadron Leader Spyros Dakopoulos and its initial personnel was mainly provided from the former 13th Naval Cooperation and 32nd Bomber Squadrons to be finally manned by volunteers recruited from the then large Greek resident communities in Egypt. Its first mission was assigned on July 14, 1941.

At December 1941 the Squadron was equipped with Bristol Blenheims Mk IV and based at Dekheila Airfield. The following months it was reequipped with Blenheims Mk V, which were used primarily for maritime patrol missions. Convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols were the main missions of the Squadron during 1942. In various occasions enemy submarines were spotted in the Eastern Mediterranean and bombed.