SEASON 1

• Introduction – reference to the geopolitical situation at the end of 1915.

• Brief report on the Dardanelles and Gallipoli operations and the involvement of the air force. January 1916 – Lemnos: Ιnstallation of an aircraft carrier base (protecting the sea routes – part A ‘).

• January 1916 – Promotion of German air forces in the Bulgarian-occupied Xanthi. Creation of Xanthi airport and Zerevic seaplane base (Porto Lagos). Allied sovereignty in the NE Aegean is in danger.

• February 1916 – installation of an English seaplane base at Stavros, Thessaloniki. Reception from the local population. Recognition – mapping of eastern Macedonia by the two opponents.

• May 1916 – airport installation in Thassos. The involvement of foreign agents and the local population. The first operations (arson, bombing of military targets and cities, the first air battles) – Portraits of Lieutenants Dunning and Kinkead.

• Lemnos air support center. Technical Base (Romano – Koukonisi).

• Living in the Greek countryside. Malaria – the real enemy.

• Modern Greek tragedy – the unhindered advance of the Bulgarian army in the territories of eastern Macedonia (capture of D.S.) – political consequences – effects on the air war.

• September 1916 – Thessaloniki Stavros Airport (installation). Naval artillery fire in southern Strymon (Bulgarian fortified positions).

• October 1916 – An airlift: Romania’s entry into the war and its reinforcement with direct flights from Lemnos.

• Autumn / Winter 1916. Targeting the railway network and transport in eastern Macedonia. The successes of Thassos Aviators.

• October 1916 – Drama Airport (instalation). Providing support to the fighting Bulgarian troops. Portrait of a German Lieutenant Rudolf von Eschwege: the absolute ace of the Macedonian front.

• The accession of the Greek pilots of the Navy Air Force to the National Defense movement. Portraits (Moraitinis, Chalkias, Konstantinos, Panagiotou, Argyropoulos, Psychas, Meletopoulos).

• Lemnos – Aviation Training Center (Chortarolimni).

• Thassos – Zerevic – Drama. Greek and foreign aviation operations with special reference to the achievements of the Greeks (bombing of rival airports) – Portraits of foreign pilots (Fowler, Starbuck, Aird, Peberdy, etc.). Relations with the local population.

• A Zeppelin over Lemnos.

• Progress in the design and execution of combined operations (COMAO) – The bombing of the port of Kavala.

• Lieutenant Commander (I) Dimitrios Argyropoulos: the first dead.

• The (legendary) Greek Squadron Z (foundation). The training of young Greek aviators.

• July 1917 – Strategic bombing of Istanbul with base in Lemnos and Greek involvement – Loss of Chalkias and Lazaris. Medal of Greek aviators.

• August 1917 – The heavy bombardment of the airport of Thassos by the German aviators of Drama and Zerevic. Portrait of Lieutenant (I) Aristides Moraitinis – the Greek Commander.

• September / October 1917 – Based in Lemnos – Portrait of Lieutenants (I) John Alcock and Thomas Mellings. Alcock is a prisoner. Mission: “Kill the Kaiser”.

• Autumn / Winter 1917 – Strengthening of the Greek Squadron Z. A tragic accident in Thassos. November 23, 1917 – The death of Ace Eschwege.

• January 1918 – Based in Lemnos (and Imvros) The largest airborne operation to sink warships of the First World War – Another achievement of Moraitinis – The death of Lieutenant Commander (I) Spyridon Hambas.

• Protecting the sea routes – part B ‘. The seaplane base in Lychna of Lemnos. Aegean zones and anti-submarine patrols from Lychna, Stavros and Thassos.

• April 1, 1918 – Creation of RAF – the effects in the Aegean.

• Reinforcement of rival Drama and Stavros airports. Top of the controversy over Strymon.

• Towards a truce – triumph of allied weapons. Final development of the air force. The historic flight of Greek and English pilots from Lemnos to Istanbul Epilogue.

• The unexpected death of Moraitin – mourning in Greece.

SEASON 2 (IN PRODUCTION)

On the eve of the Great War, the European armies mobilized their forces in time and quickly showed strong offensive against the opponents. Thus, from the first battles of 1914, the new air weapon was called upon to restore the lost flexibility on the ground, extending the conduct of the war to the third dimension.

Dardanelles, February 1915. A new front of military confrontation for the two rival coalitions opens in the Aegean. The Anglo-French fleet targets the well-protected Turkish fortresses with the aim of crossing the Bosporus and neutralizing the Ottoman Empire, which has already sided with the Central Powers. The ships are at a disadvantage against well-hidden and fortified land cannons. The solution to the problem is the new aviation weapon!

Gallipoli, Autumn 1915. The trench war is well under way. The Ottoman forces reorganized and strengthened. British and French aviators, overcoming themselves, try to overthrow the stagnation on the battlefield. In vain… At the same time the entry of Bulgaria into the War on the side of the Central Powers makes the situation even more difficult. New Fronts are opening and the newly available air weapon, of friends and enemies, is called to offer its support to the operations there as well. Thessaloniki plays an important role.

Thessaloniki, December 1915. With the Serbian Front collapsing, a number of Entente military units fortify themselves around the cosmopolitan metropolis. Among the allied forces are nine French Squadrons of the Eastern Air Force. They settle in landing fields, usually old tsifliki, around Thessaloniki. Sedes, Stavroupoli (Lebet), Anchialos (Samli), Gefyra (Topsin). Living conditions are difficult – a unique moment of carefreeness is only created by going into the city of Thessaloniki. A huge space in front of Villa Allatini on the eastern outskirts of the city, becomes the most important support base of the French Squadrons.

The Great War turns into a massacre. Since the Front of Macedonia seems more likely that the lines of the enemy will be broken. The aviation weapon plays an important role in ensuring the smooth flow of supplies and controlling sea routes in the Aegean and Ionian. New seaplane bases are being established in Corfu, Kefalonia, Souda, Milos, Skyros and Syros.