335th Squadron (HAF)

335th Squadron 335 Μοίρα
The badge of 335 Sq.
Active	7 October 1941-
Country	Greece
Branch	Hellenic Air Force
Role	Multirole
Part of	116th Combat Wing
Garrison/HQ	Araxos Air Base
Aircraft flown
Bomber	F-16 Block 52+

No. 335 (Greek) Squadron RAF
The unofficial Squadron Badge of No. 335 (Greek) Squadron RAF
Active	10 October 1941 - 31 July 1945
Country	United Kingdom
Allegiance	Greece
Branch	Royal Air Force
Role	Fighter squadron
Part of	RAF Fighter Command
Motto(s)	Αίεν Υψικρατείν (Greek:"Always dominate the Heights")
Insignia
Squadron Code	FG (Oct 1941 - Jul 1946)

The 335th Squadron (Greek: 335 Μοίρα, 335 M), callsign "Tigers", is the oldest squadron in service with the Hellenic Air Force. It is based at Araxos Air Base in the Peloponnese, forming part of the 116th Combat Wing. Until March 2008, the squadron was equipped with the A-7H Corsair, and is operating with 30 newly purchased F-16 Block 52+ aircraft.

In April 1941, the German Wehrmacht overran Greece. The Greek government under King George II fled to Allied-controlled Egypt, where it began to establish expatriate Greek Armed Forces. These were formed out of personnel that had been evacuated from Greece or fled to the Middle East during the Occupation, and were equipped and organised along British lines, coming under British command. They had also been formed from Greeks who migrated to Egypt or were born in Egypt before the War.

The squadron was formed as the 335th Royal Hellenic Pursuit Squadron (335 Βασιλική Ελληνική Μοίρα Διώξεως, 335 Β.Ε.Μ.Δ.), designated within the British Royal Air Force as No 335 (Greek) Squadron, on 10 October 1941 at Aqir airfield in Palestine. Its first commander was Squadron Leader Xenophon Varvaressos, and the personnel was provided from a core of Greek pilots who were undergoing training in Iraq, augmented by others who had fled from Greece. Initially it was equipped with Hurricane Mk I aircraft, and employed while training in defensive duties until January 1942. Subsequently, the squadron was transferred to El Daba in Egypt, where it was declared as fully operational on 12 February 1942. The squadron began operations over the Western Desert, where it operated continuously until late 1942, participating in convoy protection, bomber escort and ground attack roles. Between June and September 1942, it was re-equipped with Hurricane IIBs. Under Squadron Leader Ioannis Kellas, the squadron participated in the air operations of the Second Battle of El Alamein; on 28 October 1942, the second anniversary of the Italian invasion of Greece, the squadron organized a strafing attack on the Italian XX Corps headquarters, an operation that was a huge morale booster for the expatriate Greeks.