Christos Adamidis ( el, Χρήστος Αδαμίδης, 1885–1949) was a
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army ( el, Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term ''Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is th ...
officer and pioneer of
military aviation. He was one of the first Greek officers that received aviation training in France and later participated in air operations during the
Balkan Wars.
Balkan Wars
Adamidis was born in
Ioannina in 1885, then part of the
Janina Vilayet of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
. He initially became a cavalry officer in the
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army ( el, Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term ''Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is th ...
. In 1912, Adamidis was selected as one of the first three Greek officers, together with
Dimitrios Kamberos
Dimitrios Kamberos ( el, Δημήτριος Καμπέρος, 1883-1942) a first Lieutenant, was the first military aviator in Greek history. His name was spelled variously in contemporary foreign sources, including Camberos and Cambères.
Kamber ...
and
Michael Moutoussis
Michael Moutoussis ( el, Μιχαήλ Μουτούσης, 1885 – 16 March 1956) was a Hellenic Army officer and pioneer of military aviation. Together with Aristeidis Moraitinis, he performed the first naval air mission in history during the Ba ...
, in order to receive aviation training in France and to man the newly established aviation branch of the Hellenic 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
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
and on , Ioannina came under Greek control. On that day, Adamidis landed his Farman MF.7
The Maurice Farman MF.7 ''Longhorn'' is a French biplane developed before World War I which was used for reconnaissance by both the French and British air services in the early stages of the war before being relegated to service as a trainer.
D ...
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 Army
The Hellenic Army ( el, Ελληνικός Στρατός, Ellinikós Stratós, sometimes abbreviated as ΕΣ), formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece. The term ''Hellenic'' is the endogenous synonym for ''Greek''. The Hellenic Army is th ...
. In June 1928, Adamidis together with Lt Evangelos Papadakis, flew around the Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ...
with a Breguet 19 Breguet or Bréguet may refer to:
* Breguet (watch), watch manufacturer
**Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747–1823), Swiss watchmaker
** Louis-François-Clement Breguet (1804–1883), French physicist, watchmaker, electrical and telegraph work
* Brégue ...
aircraft. The tour lasted 20 days covering a distance of , 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
The Hellenic Armed Forces ( el, Eλληνικές Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις, Ellinikés Énoples Dynámis) are the military forces of Greece. They consist of the Hellenic Army, the Hellenic Navy, and the Hellenic Air Force.
The civilian a ...
,[ he was appointed director of the Aeronautics Department.
Adamidis was discharged in 1935 with the rank of Major General.]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adamidis, Hristos
1880s births
1949 deaths
Military personnel from Ioannina
People from Janina vilayet
Greeks from the Ottoman Empire
Hellenic Army officers
Greek aviators
Greek generals
Greek military personnel of the Balkan Wars
Hellenic Air Force officers
Emigrants from the Ottoman Empire to Greece