The Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos, accompanied by HNDGS Chief Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, HAGS Chief Lt General Vassileios Tellides and HAFGS Lt General Christos Vaitsis awarded the Star of Merit and Honour Award Commendation to HAF Officers who participated in operation “NIKE” in Cyprus, 1974.
The Minister of Defence in his address stated the following:
“This is a special occasion and a great honour for me to be here today in the cradle of the Hellenic Air Force, the HAF Academy, attending the award ceremony for the “Star of Merit and Honour” Commendation for the personnel who completed their mission during operation “NIKE” in Cyprus, 1974. It is indeed a deeply emotional day for those attending but also for those who are not here with us.
We bow to the heroic personalities of the airforce men and the raiders who lost their lives defending Hellenism and to all of you who are a living proof of an important historical moment of our Air Force, which was always present, fighting for our values, honouring the traditions of our nation. And it continues doing so, fighting in peacetime with its heroes. An altruistic offer which the official State did not commemorate for years , although it was obliged to. Today, although 42 years have passed, Greece is closing this debt cycle towards you.
I owe a public apology since for 42 years we have forgotten all about you, as we did for those who fought for Cyprus. Some have written that it was an ordered exercise and they make reference to war operations, in which the Greek Officers, NCOs, Privates and territorial Guards fought in the name of their faith and their homeland.
Today, many members of the Hellenic Parliament are attending , from all parties.
As you know, recently in cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus, with the President of the Republic of Cyprus attending, we managed to identify and repatriate with all appropriate honours the remains of 16 heroes who fell during operation «NIKE”.
Allow me to reiterate a few facts from the crucial days of the Turkish invasion in Cyprus, in 1974. That is when operation “NIKE” was conducted, under harsh conditions, assisted – and I would like to stress this – only by the capabilities of the aircraft radio navigators.
A truly unconventional warfare operation, unique in airforce chronicles, with antiquated aircraft over vast swaths of sea, under the vigilant surveillance of the Turkish Air Force. This is why it was characterized as mission impossible , since the only allies of our airmen were darkness and surprise.
The completion of this operation proved once more to the whole world what Greek aviators are capable of. Today’s generation of pilots are your worthy successors, reminding the eternal oath of Athenian hoplites : “ I will not disgrace the sacred arms…I will transmit my fatherland not diminished”.
We are here today to honour, express our gratitude and publicly praise all you Great Greeks, who “ obedient to laws lie here”, who have executed your mission, true to the oath you have taken and conveying a lasting message to all Greeks.
You are Greece of non-abstract ideals. You are Greece, deeply rooted in our hearts, Greece uniting us. Today we can stand tall because you proudly waved the flag of honour and sacrifice, without calculating the cost of your own lives.
Paying the least homage of recognition allow me to commemorate all great aviators of operation “NIKE” who have passed on, Lt Colonel (AF) Symeomides Stergios, 2nd Lieutenant (AF) Davaris Georgios and Master Sergeant (AF) Anthimos Helias.
Closing I would like to stress that especially today, when we are called to manage threats and face dangers, emanating from those who dare to dispute international treaties, international law and our history, our answer is our heroes with their innumerable heroic achievements, such was operation “NIKE”.
You are immortal”.
