Embassy News 70th anniversary of the Korean War's armistice / Greece and the Korean War70th anniversary of the Korean War's armistice / Greece and the Korean War
Greece was the fifth largest troop contributor, and the eighth to commit support to United Nations Command [https://www.facebook.com/UnitedNationsCommand] during the Korean War [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/koreanwar]. The Hellenic Expeditionary Force Το Ελληνικό Εκστρατευτικό Σώμα στην Κορέα included a Royal Hellenic Air Force Flight and a Hellenic Army Infantry Battalion, known as Sparta Battalion.
The Greek air contribution known as the 13th Hellenic Air Force Flight arrived on December 3, 1950 with seven transport aircraft (C-47s). Later on, two more transport aircraft (C-47s) from the same Air Force Flight joined, after losses during the war. The Flight operated from Daegu and was attached to the United States Air Force 21st Troop Carrier Squadron of 374th Wing, from December 1950 to May 1951. From May 1951 until April 1955 they operated from the Gimpo Air Base.
In total the 13th Hellenic Air Force Flight flew close to 14,000 hours in almost 3,000 missions, evacuated over 9,000 wounded, provided supply drops, and collected intelligence. The 13th Hellenic Air Force Flight received a U.S. Presidential Unit Citation for evacuating 1,000 wounded Marines from the Chosin Reservoir in December 1950 and also received the Republic of Korea (ROK) Presidential Unit Citation.
The Hellenic Army Infantry Battalion arrived on December 9, 1950 at Busan. Called the Sparta Battalion, it was composed of 849 men and six vehicles in a HQ company and three rifle companies which included one machine gun/mortar platoon and three rifle platoons in each company. The Sparta Battalion increased in numbers in August 1951 from 851 to 1,063 members.
From 1951 to 1952, the Sparta Battalion fought in a number of key battles and locations including the attack on Hills 381, 489, 326, and 313, the battle near Churadong, attack on Hill 167, and the battle near Nori Hill. Fourteen soldiers were killed in a transport aircraft crash in Jinhae on December 27, 1952. In 1953, they fought at battles at Hills 438, 420, 495, and 492. The Sparta Battalion received two U.S. Presidential Unit Citations and a ROK Presidential Unit Citation for their actions.
A total of 4,992 Greeks fought in the Korean War. Greek casualties included 196 killed in action, 610 wounded, and the loss of four C-47 aircraft.
Greece continued to send troops after the Armistice [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/armistice] was signed. Their total contribution from December 1950 to August 1956 was 4,992 personnel during the Korean War and 5,832 after the Armistice was signed. (10,255 military personnel of the Infantry Arm and 569 military personnel of the Aviation.) The final Greek unit departed the Korean peninsula in 1955 when the Demilitarized Zone was stabilized.
주한그리스대사관 - Η Ελλάδα στην Κορέα - Greece in Korea / Greece and the Korean War
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