Greek isle of Rhodes.

Originally posted by Merlin3945
Hi Macky42,

I think this is the same airfield I have mentioned above at Gadurra.

It is near the small fishing village of Haraki and on the road from Afandou to Falaraki which is the next main road village.

Here is a picture I took in 2001. I think it is the same runway.

There is supposed to be a German aircraft in the sea at the end of this runway. One of many I suppose and I wouldnt be surprised if there were many more.

I gather you never got to walk the airfield. I walked it in 2001 right the way along to the ship that is used for military training (I was told) when you get to this point the Control tower is not far away. Unfortunately I was shouted on by 2 Greek civilians and told I wasnt allowed to take photos. I assume that it was because the military still used the airfield area as a training ground but I had taken a fair bit of video. So when I can I will try and get a digital photo of my tv and see how it comes out. If the control tower comes out I will post it here even if it is quite a bad picture you will get the idea. Tower was 3 levelled. 1 underground bunker / pillbox. 1 ground level and 1 small tower. Enough for about 4 / 5 people to stand and look out. The roof had an inlayed wood compass bearings on it but the stairs were long gone. Really nice building though.

Cheers Guys that’s the one, just off the side of th main road down the East coast and from the look of it the domestic site coud well have been on the other side of the road among the olive trees.

regards
mike

Hi Macky42,

I think this is the same airfield I have mentioned above at Gadurra.

It is near the small fishing village of Haraki and on the road from Afandou to Falaraki which is the next main road village.

Here is a picture I took in 2001. I think it is the same runway.

There is supposed to be a German aircraft in the sea at the end of this runway. One of many I suppose and I wouldnt be surprised if there were many more.

I gather you never got to walk the airfield. I walked it in 2001 right the way along to the ship that is used for military training (I was told) when you get to this point the Control tower is not far away. Unfortunately I was shouted on by 2 Greek civilians and told I wasnt allowed to take photos. I assume that it was because the military still used the airfield area as a training ground but I had taken a fair bit of video. So when I can I will try and get a digital photo of my tv and see how it comes out. If the control tower comes out I will post it here even if it is quite a bad picture you will get the idea. Tower was 3 levelled. 1 underground bunker / pillbox. 1 ground level and 1 small tower. Enough for about 4 / 5 people to stand and look out. The roof had an inlayed wood compass bearings on it but the stairs were long gone. Really nice building though.

Rhodes disused airfield

Here’s a pic of one of the disused fields on Rhodes. I don’t know which one, I took the pic from a bus as we passed by, in 1985.

Hi Mike,

If you look at this airfield then think of a hill the size of Arthur Seat in Edinburgh if you have ever seen that. If not imagine quite a big hill just to the right of this pic and then on the other side of the hill the civil airport then this is where you would have dropped into the island.

Maritsa is the military side of things and even though they have had tourists here for years they used to have to get the ferry until the civil airport was built. I dont know how much use it sees but were certainly seen aircraft there duing our week.

Where was the disused airfield you seen.

There is another disused airfield at Gadurra this is near Haraki.

Anyone any more info on Rhodes military history.

I was in Rhodes on holiday last year and didn’t even realise there was an active air base on the island but I did come across a disused WW II airfield.

Now for something old and something new.

The old being the building which forms the Cellar of the Knights where we bought the Mother inlaw a nice bottle of Brandy and the new being the Hog in the foreground. Rather a nice contrast I though.

Well I know this last one has nothing to do with history or aviation but I thought I would share a nice picture with you lot.

Same as above but a view from round the corner.

The following 2 pictures are of a summer house that was built and given to the Italian leader Musolini to be used as a summer house when he visited the island. (he never visited the island)

Now an Italian hotel built at the start of the 1900’s.

Now derelict but there are plans to restore it so that the Greeks can use it during the winter.

Really nice place to be especially as it is on the highest mountain on Rhodes. Profitis Ilias.

Here is a picture of the Rhodes War Cemetery.

There are quite a few RAF and allied personell in this Cemetery. I have a list of all their names if anyone would like those details. Just email me off forum.

File is in Word.

A really nice cemetery and one that I always find time to visit while in Rhodes.

Second picture is of the airfield itself.

I can here all the gasps of horror form the rest of you that I dared to photograph an active Greek military airfield. But well I didnt see no signs and anyway I was taking a photo of the scenery from the highest natural viewpoint in the area and the airfield happened to get in the way.

LOL

anway here is the picture.