Christos Adamidis
Encyclopedia
Christos Adamidis was a Greek
pioneer aviator and Air Force
general. He was one of the first three Greek officers that received aviation training and later participated in air operations during the Balkan Wars
(1912–1913).
, Greece
, then Ottoman Empire
at 1885. He became a cavalry officer in the Greek Army
. At 1912, Adamidis was selected as one of the first three Greek officers, together with Dimitrios Kamberos
and Michael Moutoussis
, in order to receive aviation training in France
and to man the newly established aviation branch of the Greek Army.
During the following Balkan Wars
he was positioned in Epirus front where he performed reconnaissance and bombing missions against Ottoman positions during the battle of Bizani
. These missions also included leaflet and food dropping to the population of Ioannina
, the urban center of the area, who was starving due to the extended military conflicts. The Greek forces finally won the battle
and Ioannina, on came under Greek control. On that day, Adamidis landed his Farman MF.7
aircraft on the Town Hall square of the city, to the adulation of an enthusiastic crowd.
. In June 1928, Adamidis together with Lt Evangelos Papadakis, flew around the Mediterranean Sea
with a Breguet 19
aircraft. The tour lasted 20 days covering a distance of 12000 km (7,456 mi), and was considered a significant achievement in relation to the capabilities of Greek aviation of that time. In 1931, when the Air Force became a separate branch of the Hellenic Armed Forces, he was appointed director of the Aeronautics Department. Adamidis was discharged in 1935 with the rank of Major General.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
pioneer aviator and Air Force
Hellenic Air Force
The Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated to HAF is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the...
general. He was one of the first three Greek officers that received aviation training and later participated in air operations during the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
(1912–1913).
Balkan Wars
Adamidis was born in IoanninaIoannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, then Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
at 1885. He became a cavalry officer in the Greek Army
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
. At 1912, Adamidis was selected as one of the first three Greek officers, together with Dimitrios Kamberos
Dimitrios Kamberos
Dimitrios Kamberos was the first military aviator in Greek history. His name was spelled variously in contemporary foreign sources, including Camberos and Cambères....
and Michael Moutoussis
Michael Moutoussis
Michael Moutoussis was one of the first military aviators in the Greek Armed Forces. During the Balkan Wars he performed together with Aristeidis Moraitinis the first naval air co-operation mission in history.-Early career:...
, in order to receive aviation training in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and to man the newly established aviation branch of the Greek Army.
During the following Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
he was positioned in Epirus front where he performed reconnaissance and bombing missions against Ottoman positions during the battle of Bizani
Battle of Bizani
The Battle of Bizani took place in Epirus on March 4–6, 1913. The battle was fought between the Greek and the Ottoman forces during the last stages of the First Balkan War, and revolved around the forts of Bizani, which covered the approaches to Ioannina, the largest city in the region.At the...
. These missions also included leaflet and food dropping to the population of Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
, the urban center of the area, who was starving due to the extended military conflicts. The Greek forces finally won the battle
Battle of Bizani
The Battle of Bizani took place in Epirus on March 4–6, 1913. The battle was fought between the Greek and the Ottoman forces during the last stages of the First Balkan War, and revolved around the forts of Bizani, which covered the approaches to Ioannina, the largest city in the region.At the...
and Ioannina, on came under Greek control. On that day, Adamidis landed his Farman MF.7
Farman MF.7
|-See also:-External links:* Contemporary technical description of the MF.7 with photographs and drawings....
aircraft on the Town Hall square of the city, to the adulation of an enthusiastic crowd.
Later career
In 1927 Adamidis became commander of the air arm of the Hellenic ArmyHellenic Army
The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
. In June 1928, Adamidis together with Lt Evangelos Papadakis, flew around the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
with a Breguet 19
Breguet 19
The Breguet 19 was a light bomber and reconnaissance plane, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French Breguet company and produced from 1924.-Development:...
aircraft. The tour lasted 20 days covering a distance of 12000 km (7,456 mi), and was considered a significant achievement in relation to the capabilities of Greek aviation of that time. In 1931, when the Air Force became a separate branch of the Hellenic Armed Forces, he was appointed director of the Aeronautics Department. Adamidis was discharged in 1935 with the rank of Major General.