Kasteli Air Base

Established in November 1940 during WWII, Kastelli Airbase was initially built by British and Greek technicians but damaged before the Battle of Crete. After German occupation in 1941, it was rebuilt using forced local labor and supported up to 440 daily sorties for reconnaissance and supply missions to North Africa.

German units based at Kasteli:
March 1942 - March 1943: Korpskette/X. Fliegerkorps
May 1942 - April 1943: 2./Fernaufklärungsgruppe 123
May 1942 - June 1943: Wetterkette Kreta
August - November 1942: III./Zerstörergeschwader 26
September - November 1942: 10./Zerstörergeschwader 26
November 1942 - March 1943: III./Jagdgeschwader 27
June - August 1943: 13./Sturzkampfgeschwader 151
October - November 1943: III./Lehrgeschwader 1
July - August 1944: 5./Jagdgeschwader 51

On 7 June, 1942, a small team led by Captain G.I.A. Duncan, including two SBS NCOs and Greek gendarme Vassilis Dramoundanis, attacked Kastelli. With help from locals Giorgos Psarakis, Kimonas “Blackman” Zografakis, and Kostas Mavrantonakis, they destroyed five aircraft, damaged 29, and ignited vehicles and 200 tons of aviation fuel using delayed-action bombs.

On July 4, 1943, a British SAS team led by Anders Lassen raided the airfield, sabotaging aircraft to distract German forces ahead of the Allied invasion of Sicily.

Post-liberation in 1944, the base became part of the Hellenic Air Force. It underwent major upgrades between 1951–1952 and was reorganized several times, eventually becoming an independent unit in 1978. It hosted various aircraft including F-84s, A-7s, and F-4s until 1986.

Further modernization occurred from 1995 to 1997. Today, Kastelli Airbase operates F-16s and remains active alongside a newly built civilian airport.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar
• Photos: Schuppi