HellenicFriday,^ May^ 5th,^ the^ On^ Air^ Force^ retired^ its^
‐^ 4E^ Phantom^ II^ fromRFservice.^ In^ an^ official^ ceremony,
348 Mira^ TaktikistheAnagnoriseos^ (MTA,^ Tactical^ ReconnaissanceSquadron),Larissa^ based^ at^ AB,^ was^ dis‐
banded.^ After^39 years^ of^ operation,^ this^ day^ marked^ the^ endof^ the^ reconnaissance^ version^ of the^ Phantom^ II^ in^ the
Japanand^ in^ Europe.^ The^ HAF^ Air^ Self‐Defense^ Force^ and
the^ Islamic^ Republic^ of^ Iran Air^ Force^ remain^ the^ last^
‐4th,4E^ operators.^ On^ May^ RF^ the^348 MTA^ hosted^ a
spottersdayaviation^ to^ give^ enthusiasts^ and^ photogra‐
seea^ last^ chance^ to^ phers^ this^ iconic^ aircraft^ in^joined^514 spotters^ action.^ the^ event.^opportunitieswere^ plenty^ of^ There^ to^ take^ photos^ of
theaircraft,^ squadron's^ last^ three^ two^ of^ them^ with
a^
onecolor^ scheme^ and^ special^ wearing^ the^ Southeast^
Vietnam‐era,^ camouflageAsia,color^ scheme.^ That^ day,
Phantoms^ were^ flying^ twicethein^ a^ rarely^ seen^ "clean"configuration,^ which^ means without^ any^ wing^
Apods^ or^ rockets.^ mounted^ highlight^ was^ several^ overflights
ofRF^ a^ three‐ship^ ‐4E^ formation.^ This^ formation^
2000 then^ joined^ by^ a^ Mirage^ was^ and^ an^ F‐16.^ Some^
ashow^ feeling^ came^ up^ when^ air^ T‐6A^ Texan^ II^ and^ anF‐
(^) impressivean (^) performed display.^ 16C Since Larissa AB also is home to^ the^337 Mira^ there^ was
some^ additional^ F‐16C/D Block^ 52+^ flying^ activity.^
‐^ to‐air^ courtesy^ of^ MajorAirLambros^ Tolias^ of^348 TRS.^