The first prototype (serial # 152580) had its maiden flight on September 27, 1965 in Dallas, Texas. Beside the
US Navy, US Air Force and some units of the Air National Guard, the A‐7 was operated by the Air Forces of Thai‐
land, Portugal and last but not least Greece (the Hellenic Air Force was the only foreign operator who pur‐
chased brand new aircraft, Thailand as well as Portugal received second hand machines from the US Navy).
On June 20, 1974 the Greek Government signed a contract for the purchase of (60) A‐7H. The H‐model was a
modified A‐7E adapted to the HAF´s requirements. Some of these modifications were related to the landing
gear others for the fuel system. In case of the avionics the H‐Model was identical with the E‐Model, inclusively
the HUD, which was used for the first time in a military aircraft. The air refueling probe‐system was dispensed.
The very first A‐7H had its maiden flight on May, 5th 1975 (serial # 159662). Only three months later the first
two A‐7H (some sources claim three aircraft) landed on Adravida AB, home of the 115th Combat Wing at
Souda. The ferry flights were executed by the US Navy personnel and Skyways Company a civilian contractor.
The delivery of the other aircraft was delayed due to construction work on the air bases runway, this is why the
rest of the other aircraft landed finally on 28th November 1975 and were welcomed in a ceremony by the for‐
mer Hellenic Air Force Chief of Staff, the American Ambassador and US‐Navy representatives. In January 1980
another contract was signed to purchase five TA‐7H double seaters. This particular aircraft was very similar to
the US Navy version (TA‐7C) but was equipped with the upgraded TF‐41‐A2 engine. The maiden flight of the
first aircraft took place on 4th March 1980 (serial # 161218), on the ferry flights to Greece (July, 11, 1980 and
October 28, 1980) by Greek pilots.
In the early 1990s a further (50) surplus A‐7E and (18) TA‐7E were purchased to replace the Lockheed F‐104
Starfighter within the Hellenic Air Force. Many of these Corsairs saw active service in conflicts from Vietnam,
Libya, Lebanon to the first Iraq war. These aircraft were completely overhauled before being sold to the HAF.
The first aircraft of this batch landed in Greece on April, 3, 1993, all together (36) A‐7s flew in, the rest were
delivered in sea containers and after arrival were assembled by the Hellenic Aircraft Industry.
Units operating the A‐7:
No. 340 Bomb Squadron, 115 Combat Wing, Adravida AB, Souda. This unit started the pilot training and the
training for the ground crews at the end of 1975. On January 30, 2001 this unit was disbanded and the re‐
maining aircraft were transferred to the 345 Bomb Squadron.
No 345 Bomb Squadron, 115 Combat Wing, Adravida AB, Souda. Commissioned in 1976, decommissioned
in 2002.
No 347 Bomb Squadron, 110 Combat Wing, Larissa AB. Commissioned in 1977, decommissioned in 1992
No 335 Bomb Squadron, Araxos AB. Commissioned in 1992, decommissioned in 2008.
No 336 Bomb Squadron, Araxos AB. Commissioned in 1993. the No 336 Sqn. was the largest and final op‐
erator of A‐7´s within the HAF. In 2002 (98) aircraft were listed under its roster.
Filmstrip #1&2 L to R: Lieutenant General (HAF) Evangelos Tournas, Chief, Hellenic Air Force General Staff, Minister of National Defence
(former, as of Oct. 31) Dimitrios Avramopoulos, General (Army) Mikhail Kostarakos Chief, Hellenic National Defence General Staff, #3 Col
(HAF) Petros Hatziris #4 Col (HAF) Panagiotis Farfaras