The Minister of National Defence Mr Nikos Dendias stated today, during his visit at the 355 Firefighting Aircraft Squadron of the 112 Combat Wing in Elefsina, accompanied by the Chief of HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros and the Chief of HAFGS Lieutenant General Themistoklis Bourolias, the following:
“Chief,
Generals,
Officers,
It is a great honour for me to stand here before you, at the Squadron which constitutes the main body, the base of the firefighting efforts of our Homeland. All of us acknowledge that the mission of the crews of the firefighting aircraft is extremely difficult. It requires professionalism. It requires bravery and it requires self-sacrifice. That was affirmed a few days ago in the worst possible way, with the death of Captain Christos Moulas and 2 nd Lieutenant Periklis Stefanidis, on the line of duty, in Evia. So, I want once again to express, on behalf of all the Greeks, the
condolences, first of all, to their families, their biological families, but also to you, their extended family. You are fully aware that several officers have fallen in firefighting missions. Since 1977 we have mourned a total of 19 pilots, whom we honour and do not forget:
IOANNIS METHENITIS, MINAS ATSALAKIS, DIMITRIOS LOUDIANOS, ATHANASIOS BESLEMES, STEFANOS KOURELIAS, STERGIOS KOTOULAS, MICHAIL ZIOTAS, CHARALAMBOS LIASKOS, NIKOLAOS GEORGIOU, CHARALAMBOS SKAMAGOULIS, IOANNIS EPITROPAKIS, STYLIANOS KELETSEKIS, KON/NOS PALAMIOTIS, IOANNIS MYLONAS,
IOANNIS KARASAVVAS, DIMITRIOS STOILIDIS, IOANNIS CHATZOUDIS, CHRISTOS MOULAS, PERIKLIS STEFANIDIS.
The effort for the protection of the property and the lives of our fellow citizens, but also of the natural environment of our homeland, is constant and becomes progressively harder due to climate change.
The State, the society, the Ministry of National Defence are by your side. They support you. As mentioned by the Prime Minister, during his recent visit, the procedures for the activation of the Programmes regarding the procurement of the new CL- 515 firefighting aircraft and the upgrade of the already existing CL-415, will be concluded as soon as possible. Furthermore, after an initiative of the Prime Minister, which had been announced at the Ministerial Council three hours before the accident in Karystos, I will sign posthaste a Joint Ministerial Decision with the competent Minister of Finance, regarding the increase of the flying allowance for the operators of the air firefighting assets. I would like to express to you the gratitude and the congratulations of the Greek people, the Greek society, the Ministry, the Government, for everything you do for our Homeland, all the pilots and technicians being in constant alert. Those who are working 24/7, so that the firefighting aircraft can operate, so that they can effectively contribute to the hard duty of firefighting. I would also like to congratulate and thank the technicians, who are in constant alert and make the flying assets available to you. I warmly thank you once more for the opportunity to shake your hand”.