Hellenikon Air Base

Hellenikon Air Base. Located on the coastal plain of Attica just south of Athens, this major airfield served as a critical military and civilian aviation hub for over six decades. Originally constructed before World War II, it played pivotal roles during the Axis occupation of Greece, the Greek Civil War, and the Cold War, hosting significant NATO and United States Air Force operations. Its strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean made it a key asset for allied forces throughout the latter half of the 20th century.

History

The airfield's origins trace to 1938 when construction began under the government of Ioannis Metaxas. During the Battle of Greece in 1941, it was captured by the Wehrmacht and utilized by the Luftwaffe for operations across the Mediterranean Theater of World War II. Following liberation, it became a vital base for the Royal Hellenic Air Force and saw extensive use during the Greek Civil War. With the onset of the Cold War and Greece's accession to NATO, the facility expanded significantly, with the United States Air Forces in Europe establishing a major presence there under agreements with the Kingdom of Greece. The base provided critical support during regional crises, including the Arab–Israeli conflict and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Facilities

The sprawling complex featured multiple long runways capable of handling heavy aircraft like the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter and B-52 Stratofortress. It housed extensive maintenance hangars, munitions storage areas, and a large NATO fuel depot. Key operational facilities included the Hellenic Air Force Headquarters command bunker, a modern air traffic control tower, and barracks for thousands of personnel. The co-located Ellinikon International Airport shared infrastructure, featuring a distinct passenger terminal designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen. Support amenities included a United States Navy communications station, a military hospital, and recreational facilities like the Athens Hilton-operated "Hellenikon House" for service members.

Operations

As a primary hub for United States Air Forces in Europe, the base was central to operations like Operation Deep Freeze, supporting logistical flights to Antarctica. During the Yom Kippur War, it functioned as a major staging point for American airlifts to Israel. The Hellenic Air Force's 112th Combat Wing operated F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft from here for national air defense. It also served as a critical transit point for United States Navy VP-26 patrol squadrons flying the P-3 Orion and hosted regular exercises with allied forces such as the Italian Air Force and Royal Air Force. Civilian operations at the adjacent international airport handled traffic for airlines including Olympic Airways and Trans World Airlines.

Closure and redevelopment

Following the opening of the new Athens International Airport at Spata in 2001, aviation activities ceased. The base was formally decommissioned in 2003, ending a 65-year operational history. The vast, valuable coastal property subsequently became the focus of the ambitious "Hellenikon Metropolitan Park" redevelopment project, one of Europe's largest urban regeneration plans. Led by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund and developers like Lamda Development, the project has faced numerous delays due to political changes, the Greek government-debt crisis, and archaeological discoveries. The plan envisions a mix of luxury residences, hotels, a casino operated by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, shopping malls, and extensive parkland on the site of the former runways.

In popular culture

The base's distinctive architecture and historical significance have secured its place in media. It featured prominently in the 1969 film "The Gypsy Moths" starring Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr, which depicted skydiving sequences filmed on location. The terminal building designed by Eero Saarinen was famously used as a setting in the 1974 crime thriller "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three". More recently, segments of the abandoned facility were used for filming scenes in the 2005 blockbuster "The Bourne Identity" and the 2018 television series "Killing Eve". Its iconic control tower and decaying runways are also frequently photographed by urban exploration groups and have been the subject of documentaries by networks like the BBC.

Category:Airports in Greece Category:Closed facilities of the United States Air Force Category:Buildings and structures in Athens