Difference between revisions of "Aristides Moraitinis (aviator)"

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(New page: '''Aristides Moraitinis''' was a pioneer Greek aviator of the early part of the 20th century. Moraitinis was born in 1891. He entered the Greek Naval Academy and gradu...)
 
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'''Aristides Moraitinis''' was a pioneer [[Greeks|Greek]] aviator of the early part of the [[20th century]].  
 
'''Aristides Moraitinis''' was a pioneer [[Greeks|Greek]] aviator of the early part of the [[20th century]].  
  
Moraitinis was born in [[1891]]. He entered the Greek Naval Academy and graduated in [[1910]], joining the [[Hellenic Navy]] with the rank of ensign. During the [[First Balkan War]], Moraitinis volunteered to join the newly-established Greek Air Force which was formed at [[Moudros]], [[Lemnos]].  
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Moraitinis was born in [[1891]]. He entered the Greek Naval Academy and graduated in [[1910]], joining the [[Hellenic Navy]] with the rank of ensign. During the [[First Balkan War]] ([[1912]] - [[1913]]), Moraitinis volunteered to join the newly-established Greek Air Force which was formed at [[Moudros]], [[Lemnos]].  
  
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On [[January 24]], [[1913]], he participated with [[Michail Moutousis]] in the first ever wartime naval aviation mission, flying a ''Maurice Farman hydroplane'' over the Nagara point where they spotted the Turkish fleet. During their sortie, the two men accurately drew a diagram of the positions of the retreating fleet, against which they successfully managed to drop four bombs. Moutoussis and Moraitinis travelled over 180km and took 2 hours 20 minutes to complete their mission, which was extensively reported in both the Greek and International Press.
Il entre alors à l’école d’avia­tion fondée, près d’Eleusis, par une mission britannique sous les ordres du Commander Pizey. En 1914, Moraitinis est nommé instructeur et seconde Pizey dans son action forma­trice. Quelques mois plus tard, Moraitinis est fait chef de l’aviation maritime grecque. Les difficultés financières et politiques de la Grèce s’ajou­tant aux effets d’une épidémie de malaria qui décime l’école d’Eleusis, entraînent un arrêt presque complet de l’activité aérienne. L’arrivée de quatre hydravions Henry Farman F.22 permet néanmoins de former une escadrille dont le comman­dement est confié au lieute­nant de vaisseau Aristide Mo­raitinis.
 
  
A la fin de l’année 1916, cette escadrille est transférée sur l’île de Thassos et est rat­tachée au N°2 Wing du R.N.A.S. britannique qui prête quelques Bristol Scout D aux Grecs. Tantôt opérant depuis Thassos, tantôt depuis Lemnos, cette escadrille effec­tue de nombreuses missions au-dessus de la flotte turque. Au printemps suivant, elle est rebaptisée escadrille Z. En juin 1917, la Grèce re­joint officiellement le camp des Alliés et reçoit alors un contin­gent d’avions de meilleure qua­lité de la part de la Grande­ Bretagne. Ainsi, l’aviation ma­ritime se voit offrir des avions de chasse Sopwith Pup et Camel, des avions de recon­naissance Airco D.H. 4 et des hydravions Sopwith Baby et Short 184. Quatre escadrilles peuvent être alors formées H 1 à Thassos, H2 à Moudhros, H3 à Stavroupolis et H4 à Miti­linoi. En janvier 1918, Aristide Moraitinis mène en personne une action spectaculaire avec l’escadrille de chasse : il atta­que Jes destroyers allemands Gôben et Breslau. L’aviation al­lemande, basée à Beykoz, dans le Bosphore, réagit : deux avions grecs sont portés dis­parus, mais Moraitinis revendi­que trois victoires. A la fin de la guerre, promu au grade de capitaine de cor­vette, Aristide Moraitinis pos­sède un beau palmarès : 25 patrouilles anti-sous-marines, 15 missions d’accompagne­ment, 80 de bombardement, 27 de reconnaissance, 18 de chasse, 20 de combats aériens au cours desquels Moraitinis a été crédité de neuf victoires confirmées. Il est décoré de la D.S.O. par le roi d’Angleterre et est comblé d’honneurs par son propre gouvernement. En re­merciement de ses états de service aux côtés des Alliés, l’amirauté britannique lui offre personnellement un Airco D.H. 9 portant l’inscription « To the Commander A. Morai­tinis, D.S.O. ». Au cours d’un vol de liaison entre Salonique et Athènes, le 22 décembre 1918, il est pris dans une violente tourmente. Le corps d’Aristide Moraitinis est retrouvé quelques jours plus tard dans les débris de son avion qui s’est écrasé au sommet du mont Olympe---/>
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After the Balkan Wars, Moraitinis entered the newly-formed Aviation Academy formed near [[Eleusis]], [[Attica]]. He soon became an instructor of the academy. However, financial difficulties and an epidemic nearly wiped out the Aviation Academy which was re-formed in part thanks to the arrival of four Henry Farman F22s.
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At the end of [[1916]], this squadron was moved to the island of [[Thassos]] and was attached to the British Naval Airforce, flying a number of missions against the Ottoman Navy. Greece officially joined the [[First World War]] in [[1917]] and received better-quality aircraft from the British. Moraitinis led many missions against the Turks and Germans and, by the end of WW I, had nine confirmed kills to his credit. He was decorated by the Greek and British governments.  
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On [[December 22]], [[1918]], during a flight from [[Thessaloniki]] to [[Athens]], Moraitinis was caught up in a violent storm. His body was found, several days later, amid the wreckage of his plane near the summit of Mt [[Olympus]].
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[[Category:1891 births|Moraitinis, Aristides]]
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[[Category:1918 deaths|Moraitinis, Aristides]]

Revision as of 14:33, December 12, 2007

Aristides Moraitinis was a pioneer Greek aviator of the early part of the 20th century.

Moraitinis was born in 1891. He entered the Greek Naval Academy and graduated in 1910, joining the Hellenic Navy with the rank of ensign. During the First Balkan War (1912 - 1913), Moraitinis volunteered to join the newly-established Greek Air Force which was formed at Moudros, Lemnos.

On January 24, 1913, he participated with Michail Moutousis in the first ever wartime naval aviation mission, flying a Maurice Farman hydroplane over the Nagara point where they spotted the Turkish fleet. During their sortie, the two men accurately drew a diagram of the positions of the retreating fleet, against which they successfully managed to drop four bombs. Moutoussis and Moraitinis travelled over 180km and took 2 hours 20 minutes to complete their mission, which was extensively reported in both the Greek and International Press.

After the Balkan Wars, Moraitinis entered the newly-formed Aviation Academy formed near Eleusis, Attica. He soon became an instructor of the academy. However, financial difficulties and an epidemic nearly wiped out the Aviation Academy which was re-formed in part thanks to the arrival of four Henry Farman F22s.

At the end of 1916, this squadron was moved to the island of Thassos and was attached to the British Naval Airforce, flying a number of missions against the Ottoman Navy. Greece officially joined the First World War in 1917 and received better-quality aircraft from the British. Moraitinis led many missions against the Turks and Germans and, by the end of WW I, had nine confirmed kills to his credit. He was decorated by the Greek and British governments.

On December 22, 1918, during a flight from Thessaloniki to Athens, Moraitinis was caught up in a violent storm. His body was found, several days later, amid the wreckage of his plane near the summit of Mt Olympus.