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There were four reasons that made me edit this tribute to the aviators Thomas and Konstantinos Kertsos: (1) they formed the basis of the first two generations of the PA, (2) Thomas Kertsos was part of the first leadership of the PA and left a very rich aviation archive, (3) Konstantinos Kertsos continued his father's tradition and experienced the airplanes and their kerosene like few others, and (4) the great appreciation for this historic aviation family, which so ignominy closed its circle.

The material I use here comes from Kostas' Facebook. and his style has not been altered. However, I know very well that he had in his hands the richest aviation archive consisting of thousands of photographs and documents from the early years of our Air Force (1910-1940).

I AM CALLING the Air Force or the Ikarus School Alumni Association to claim and rescue this archive and bequeath it to future generations of aviators.

The structure of the text consists of three parts: (1) The History of the first Kertsos, Thomas, (2) The Travelogue of the second Kertsos, Kostas, and (3) The Fatal End of the Historical Aviation Family.

The History of the First Kertsos, Thomas

Thomas Kertsos was born in Ano Poroia, Serres, in 1890. His father was a landowner tobacco merchant. He graduated from the Greek Army as a second lieutenant and retired as a lieutenant colonel (I) in the 1930s.

The story of a refugee: The classic Macedonian house of Kostas Kertsos' grandfather in Ano Poroia, Serres, where the family had a tobacco farm. The village is 20 minutes from the Greek-Bulgarian border. Behind the church sanctuary is buried his great-grandfather, who was murdered by the Komitatzides.

In 1940, the Kertsos family (Kostas was 7 years old) returned to the village from Thessaloniki, because it was being bombed by the Italians.

The sector commander of the forts of the METAXA LINE was a classmate of Apchos, Thomas Kertsou (Kostas' father) - from the Evelpidon school, Synchis Sionidis, with whom the father drank tsipouro in the evenings. Early March 1941 Sionidis said to my father "Thomas, at the border there were GERMANS, gather the family and leave".

He put my mother, my sister and me on a train for Athens.. My father stayed and left when the Army ordered the evacuation of the area, taking the…..flag and an old icon. The household goods were sent by train to Thessaloniki, where they were accidentally saved by the stationmaster, who, seeing the name Kertsos, stored them, because he had been a soldier of my father's in ASIA MINOR. Thus, in May 1941, we became residents of the village of CHALANDRI, whose very sympathetic ARVANITE residents considered us Bulgarians!!!

GERMAN OCCUPATION 1942. CHALANDRI:

An inhospitable ARVANITOHORI (we Northern Greeks were considered BULGARIANS!!!).

The Kertsos family, starving to death. Hunger but dignity!!!

The Father, the Mother, the Sister,

my boss and

back the…necessary maid (Merope)

In 1917, the young graduate of the Evelpidon, Second Lieutenant Thomas Kertsos (with….Berta!!!) during the era of national division, when he followed Eleftherios Venizelos to Thessaloniki.

The photo shows my father perched on a BREGUET 14 AT PROUSAS AIRPORT.

MEMORIAL PHOTO 1930. From the left, the Chief of the Army Air Force Synchis (later Colonel) Th. Kertsos, the Commander of the Army Aviation School, my godfather Synchis (later Colonel) G. Repas and my father's chief of staff Aschos G. Themelis (Deputy Minister of Defense in 1960 during the Karamanlis government). Despite the fact that we knew each other through family (his wife Tasia played kum-kan with my mother and he often came home), he did not allow me to take advantage of our relationship and tormented me as a young Lieutenant Commander Chief Engineer 1959-62 in the 360th EMA (T33), living in constant anxiety that the 3-year-old Ikaros would not break any of my planes!!!

The Greek Air Force participated in the Asia Minor campaign with 4 Squadrons (531, 532, 533, 534) of the Army Air Force and 1 Squadron of the Navy. In the photo we see the Commander of a Squadron in front of a BREGUET 14 aircraft with the pilots and technicians. These aircraft were provided by the French after the 1^ο PP. Notice on the upper part of the engine the….FUEL TANK. It is its “EXHAUST”!!! 6th from the left is seen Lieutenant Pilot Thomas Kertsos. There is the flight logbook in which the combat missions are written in red ink. Total hours 740!!! My father used to tell that on combat missions, the 2nd pilot had an empty gas can with 4 small 25 pound bombs. They would throw them by hand wherever they saw a gathering of Turks. The big “SHOCK” was caused by the panic of the Turks, when they threw the empty can. They would run in panic from here and there seeing the can drifting through the air. In the photo, the father in front of a MORAN 147 (center) surrounded by young student Second Lieutenants 

Operators and technicians of the 3rd Squadron

The pilots have Blue patches on their uniforms and the SOLO is gold-plated (French style)

On the right side of the Technicians' uniform were brown patches.

PROUSAS Airport (1921). BREGUET 14 aircraft returning from a final mission. Aircraft hangar (disintegrated) made of canvas (like a tent)

Aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force Squadron parked somewhere near SAGARIOS.

The losses in Asia Minor were 23 pilots.

In 1929, Lieutenant Colonel Th. Kertsos inside a MORAN with a journalist (Public Relations). Standing outside the airfield is his aide G. Themelis (who, in 1960, was Deputy Minister of Defense in the Karamanlis government).

In the photo in the middle

(with the form) is one of the pioneers of aviation

General Adamides who flew around the Mediterranean with the BREGUET -19 aircraft (the first with a wooden cover). Next to him is Lieutenant Colonel Th. Kertsos.

Army and Navy Dispute!!! With the creation of the AVIATION, as an independent branch of the Armed Forces with the unification of the Army and Navy air forces. The color of the new uniform was established (RAF blue). A…..¨SERIOUS¨¨ !!! disagreement arose about the rank insignia.

The army wanted it on the epaulettes, the Navy wanted it on the sleeves!!!! To confirm what I said, we see the late father with the new uniform of a Squadron Leader, which has the insignia of… Colonel on the shoulders, and of… Fleet Commander on the sleeves!!! Imagine what other more serious disagreements there were, mainly regarding the staffing of the new weapon!!! The issue was temporarily addressed with the existence of two Chiefs, one of the Army and one of the Navy under the Minister of Aviation. These are the Good Things!!!

In the second photo, Th. KERTSOS in the summer uniform of the ARMY Aviation (before the creation of an independent branch). Characteristic, The pilot's metal (gold-plated) solo on the right side.

Flying Officer Spyros Depountis (in the 30s the SI also produced Non-Commissioned Officers) in front of the PZL aircraft number P24G during the war of 1940. We lived in Chalandri. Depountis was engaged to the daughter of the baker SAKALI. I remember one day he saw my father and said to him, "Mr. Commander, I am leaving for the Middle East (1942). When he returned as a Lieutenant Commander, he was making low passes with the SPITFIRE over his father-in-law's bakery, who was cursing. He served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 111th Airborne Division. Mr. A/GEA D. Apostolakis, perhaps you remember him. He was a "crazy aviator"

Photo in front of a Morane Saulnier training aircraft. The airmen in the new blue uniforms of the now unified Air Force. from the right, Captain (I) Garoufalis, Captain (I) Palaiodimopoulos, in the middle, Lieutenant Colonel (I) Th. Kertsos between two unknown ladies and on the far left, Captain (I) Papatheodorou. There is no crown on their rations (they had not brought back George II)    

MY AVIATOR PARENTS - at the location at SEDES airport. The couple were still engaged. The future husband wanted to sell a FIGURE to his fiancée and suggested that she see Thessaloniki from above. They flew in a MORAN 137 aircraft but my mother did not see anything having her head inside her fear. Despite this, wearing the uniform, she pretended to be an AVIAMO!!! In the last photo, my boss in 1934.

Because plane crashes were not frequent, not because of better flight safety, but because of limited flight activity, funerals were “grand.” Here we see the funeral of an aviator on cannon floats crossing the streets of Thessaloniki.

‎ On the occasion of the day after tomorrow's Air Force Day (2012), its history has begun to become so distant that it is reasonable for the current 25-year-old pilot of the ZEUS F16 – who exclaimed 'Greeks, keep your heads up' – not to know, flying over the current megalopolis of Thessaloniki, that on March 25, 1929, a formation of POTEZ-25 aircraft (with my father Thomas Kertsos as formation leader) was flying over the provincial!!! city of Thessaloniki.

Pilots of the 80th Squadron HURRICANE of the RAF lying in front of an A/FOS at ELEFSINA Airport. German invasion April 1941. The first pilots to escape from Greece to Palestine. In 1942 they formed the first Greek Squadron (335) with HURRICAIN aircraft.

Pilots of 335 Squadron SPITFIRE in 1942 in Egypt.

Photo from the Middle East (CINDY BARANI). Three pilots of the 336th Fighter Squadron in front of a Hurricane. From left: Lieutenant Colonel V. Voutsas, Lieutenant Colonel S. Xydis and Lieutenant Colonel A. Fragias

Prime Minister George PAPANDREOU inspects the Greek Air Force Squadrons at HASSANI (HELLENIC). On the far right of the photo is the then Squadron Leader Elias Kartalamakis!!!

A team of pilots and engineers in front of a Spitfire of the 335th Squadron at IOANNINON airfield in 1948. LARISSA Crews of the 336th Squadron in front of a HELLDIVER during operations in 1949.

KEDA (Former THAA), year 1951!! FACILITIES: Some metal TOLs that had been abandoned by the German Air Force and large military tents for the “HOLIDAY GUESTS”. RESTAURANT - A small wooden tavern (box) with some wretched chairs that served rustic eggs and some steak….In the photo, standing in the middle are Lieutenant Commander (I) of the Greek Air Force Th. Kertsos, on the left, Lieutenant Commander (I) of the Greek Air Force D. Sakellaridis, on the right, Lieutenant Commander (TECH) of the Greek Air Force H. Iliopoulos. Sitting are…women and children. My boss is on the far right (with black glass).

The Travelogue of the 2nd Kertsos, of Constantine

Lieutenant Colonel Konstantinos Kertsos was born in Thessaloniki in 1933. He entered the SMA, 4^η Greenhouse SMA/26^η Ikaron in 1952 and named Antsgos in 1955. He was demobilized as a Lieutenant in 1982.

During his career, he served successfully in various units in positions corresponding to his rank and specialty.

Specifically at 112 AM – 114 AM -115 AM -116 AM -129 PY – 121 PEE -127 SAB – 202 KEA – Aviation School – MGEA

Also, in staff positions at ATA – 30DAY and GEA, as Branch C1 Officer and Branch C Officer.

He has been awarded all the decorations and medals corresponding to his rank.

'I THANK ALL FRIENDS AND FORMER COLLEAGUES FOR THE WISHES': Fortunately, I reached 84 years old without any health problems at the moment. Looking back, I remembered that I was unbaptized!!! until I was 7 years old. The reason was that I was waiting for my godfather, Petar Georgios Repa (1st Photo), who was in self-exile in PARIS because he had been punished for an air traffic violation.

The 1st SMA entered the SI (along with the 24th Flying Corps).

After the war, the General Staff of the Hellenic Air Force considered it appropriate to create a branch of Airborne Technical Personnel.

Thus, in 1949, the first class of the Engineering Department of the Air Force Academy was formed. The cadets are seen in the photograph.

A group of Icarian Engineers (26th Icarian and 4th SMA) in 1953 (second-year students) in front of the School building, which withstood the bombings of the Hellenic Army and was demolished in the earthquakes of 1999. A shame because it was a historical monument.

October 28, 1954. Icarus School Parade. Led by the then-Chief, P. Thomopoulos. The Engineer Probationer 3^th, Kertsos, 2nd in the 2nd row from the right. From this battalion will emerge a General Staff (Ikaros 1st D. Apostolakis) and an ATA (Ikaros 3rd I. Hatziris), as well as a Deputy Chief of Staff (Anthgos P. Thomopoulos)

The 'GIVING' of the borrowed sword during the swearing-in before the Minister of National Defense.

The sword was returned due to a shortage of swords to be "given" to the next series of lieutenant colonels, during difficult years.

Finally, the real sword (not borrowed) was awarded to me in a "ceremony" at the... Union of Retired Soldiers in 2009 'to be placed in my coffin'!!!!

In 1958 the Air Force sent me to Belgium for postgraduate studies at the University of Brussels (Department of Experimental Aerodynamics). In the 1st photo I am receiving my Msc.

HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHY ABOUT MILITARY AVIATION:

In 1964, the first F 104G aircraft (which was unloaded from the decommissioned American aircraft carrier in Faliro Bay) was towed along Poseidonos Avenue, accompanied by police officers, to branch 202 of the Hellenic Air Force Base.

There, an acceptance inspection will be carried out by 114th Air Base technicians and KEA inspectors and it will fly to TANAGRA. THE QUESTION IS: “HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS, YOU BITCH?”΄΄. Answer “I was lucky because I was INSPECTION DIRECTOR AT THE 202ND AIRCRAFT' at that time. The following year (1965) I was assigned to the F104G at TANAGRA and then at ARAXOS.

1976 AVIATION CELEBRATION

115 AM.

My boss surrounded by fellow A7H pilots and technicians

115 PM (1977).

On the right is the Commander of the unit Schos P. Papadakis (classmate), in the middle is my boss (SSEF) and on the left is Aschos (subsequently A/GEA) A. Stathias Commander of the 347M (A7H)

A snapshot from a reception at the DAY.

From left, Colonels M. Andrikopoulos, K. Karampelas

The Commander of the Hellenic Air Force, Lieutenant Colonel P. Thomopoulos, and my boss. Notice the "serious" tone of those present and my own gleeful laughter.

1980 General Staff, Chief D. Papageorgiou, Deputy Chief N. Stapas, later General Staff Chief, my boss, etc. My right-wing retirement as branch commander of the XNUMXrd branch of the General Staff.

The Fatal End of the Historic Aviation Family

In the video given in the link: https://www.facebook.com/100012177372144/videos/247222819026962/?t=63

The MODERNIZATION of the PA 1950-1980 is shown. In the short film, the ERT announcer, with a pompous style and fluent pronunciation, describes the various phases of modernization of the PA from 1950 to 1980. Konstantinos Kertsos participated in all of these phases.

The 'RESIDENCES' of the 4th SMA, as Kertsos writes'. From the left, my boss, Th. Nifakos, D. Achtidas, Th. Tzakos. Dimitris Apostolakis, head of the GEA: There are 4 people I wished would come across my path when I was running through the School. While some others…..

Victim of the biblical disaster of the fire, the 23^th July 2018, in N. Voutza and Mati was also our respected and beloved Wing Commander Kostas Kertsos. He emigrated to the 251st General Staff on August 9, 2018.

In a modest and humble procession, I (Anastasios Basaras) represented the Association of Alumni of the Icarus School and gave his obituary, as shown below. The former leaders of the Hellenic Air Force were there: D. Apostolakis, G. Avlonitis, the former Commanders of the Hellenic Air Force, the Hellenic Air Force and the Commanders of the Hellenic Air Force: K. Chiou, G. Skarlatos, A. Pamboukis, D. Katelouzos, his fellow pilots and engineers, and a multitude of younger and older colleagues, relatives and friends. The absence of a representative of the Hellenic Air Force in a historic Aviation Family caused a sensation.

More than 1000 friends expressed their feelings, over 200 wrote a couple of words, over 50 shared the post on Facebook. IT WAS WORTH IT.

MAY HIS MEMORY LIVE FOREVER

Glean:

Kostas Theodorakopoulos Remember, friend Kostas Kertsos, I was worried from the first night, as your phone was not answering and I wrote something here. Then I wrote to you on your personal account to tell us that you are fine and it is just that the phones and the Internet are not working. I hope you received it up there and sent me your own smile. Say hello to your wife Eleni who loved me very much. You always talked to me about our work at 115 PM. We will all always remember you. Good Heavens!

Yiorgos Scarlatos. Due to Kostas' concern and after fruitless attempts to contact him on Tuesday, 24.7. I had sent the following message at 12.34 "Kostas, I hope you are well. I am thinking of you and anxious!" Unfortunately, however, I never received a response and you came today, Tasos, with your thoughtful post and apt farewell to confirm our concerns. We have lost a priceless colleague who brightened our Air Force family with his presence. A noble patriot, a genuine aristocrat, a handsome aviator, a devoted husband, a worthy scientist and above all a true GENTLEMAN!!!! Kostas the Kertsos, the Pterarch, will be missed!!! We wish him well and our warmest condolences to his family.

ANDREAS ANDRIKOPOULOS He was a remarkable officer and an exceptional man. He was one of the few who brightened up the PA with their presence, both during and after his retirement. Warm condolences to his family. May God rest his soul. Good luck on his last journey of no return.

Panagiotis Xypolias Unbelievable. One of our people has been lost ingloriously, a kind person who has been keeping us company with his memories lately. What a shame!!!

Theo Tsiakos Thank you very much for your very kind words about our uncle Kostas Kertsos! My wife Rea Johanna Nicolopoulos-Tsiakos and I appreciate him very much.

Maria Kindi Your discreet, polite and aristocratic presence is missing from our neighborhood. We have become poorer!!!

Jeremy Chourdakis The absence of a representative of the Hellenic Air Force was unacceptable, just as the absence of state representatives at the funeral procession of the historic aviator Elias Kartalamakis was unacceptable.

Dimitri Katelouzos Eternal memory to him! The absence of the official Air Force is shocking. It makes you think: did we never have traditions or did we lose them in troubled times? Does no one feel the need to honor someone who laid a stone for the Air Force to enter the 21st century? Have we reached the point of being indifferent to anything that does not directly affect us? Does anyone love the Air Force, or does everyone now see it as a side job, as a livelihood solution, as a temporary stopgap? said such a painful and tragic swan song... Imagine the agony he experienced... May he rest in peace on the Champs Elysees!! His life was short, his art was long...

Panagiotis Grammenos I have not met him personally. However, judging from the comments of dear colleagues, I am certain that he was an excellent and unique colleague and scientist who passed through the great family of the PA. May the earth that covered him be light, and may God grant him the place he deserves, among the heavenly powers of the Seraphim and the Cherubim!... As for you, Tasso, what can I say!.. Your humanity is unparalleled. May you always be well!! Anastasios Basaras My Panagiotis, thank you. Kertsos is what they call an authentic, genuine, airman. We are "Vlachs" (in a good sense) of our Air Force. His father was a Flying Colonel in 1932 and a Wing Commander later. His mother, a beautiful lady, flew second class in the 1932 era airplane. The PA was celebrating its first birthday. They came from Poroia, Serres. He had a governess in the 30s. He has a terrific aviation record of the 20s and 30s and it would be a great shame for the PA to lose him. He was a humble and pure aristocrat! And I wonder if the PA does not honor its birth families, what can I say..