Marinos Mitralexis | The Greek aviator who rammed an Italian aircraft

Defence Redefined

19/09/2020

Born in 1916, in the village of Mila, Messinia, Marinos Mitralexis wrote history during the Greek-Italian war, with the ramming and shooting down of an enemy plane!

Mitralexis’ story begins in 1935, when he entered the Aviation School, from which he graduated in August 1938 with the rank of Second Lieutenant.

The beginning of the Greek-Italian War found Mitralexis serving in the 22nd Prosecution Squadron in Mikra, Thessaloniki, which had Polish-made PZL P24 aircraft.

On November 2, 1940, while the Squadron was on full alert, an order was given for the immediate take-off of the six PZLs, as fifteen (15) Italian Cant Z1007 bis Alcione bombers (accompanied by 7 pursuers) of the 50th Autonomous Squadron were approaching Thessaloniki so as to bomb it. The Greek PZLs located the Italian bombers and a fierce air battle began. The air battle was transferred just outside Thessaloniki (Lagada area) where the Greek anti-aircraft guns were lined up, which reinforced the engagement from the ground.

An initially unequal (numerically) battle turns into an epic. Contributing to this fact is the act of Flying Officer Mitralexis, who after using his entire ammunition on the three-engine Italian bomber, is not satisfied with it (as it is not shot down) and proceeds to ram it, destroying the rudder of the “tail” of the Italian bomber, using the propeller of his aircraft (!). The Italian aircraft spins and crashes to the ground.

With its warped propeller, Mitralexis’ aircraft made a forced landing near the place where the Italian bomber crashed. There he realizes that out of the five-member crew, four are safe (having used their parachutes), so he arrests them (after he has first introduced himself and saluted them), showing his revolver, puts them in a Gendarmerie car and leads them to the Thessaloniki Army Command (!).

Also read: Dimitrios Kamperos | The daring Greek aviator and the first military flight

This amazing incident becomes immediately known to the Greek and foreign press, raising the morale and pride of the Greek Air Force. In fact, this incident quickly found imitators, giving Mitralexis the reputation of the legendary pilot. For this daring act, he was honored with the Golden Excellence of Gallantry, the highest moral reward in time of war. It is worth noting that he is the only Greek Aviator who was awarded this distinction during the war.

Mitralexis was certainly not satisfied with this alone, as he continued his achievements after the war. During the German occupation he escaped to the Middle East, where he continued his military action against Nazi Germany.

Even his death, however, was glorious. He was killed on September 19, 1948 when the Oxford aircraft with which he was carrying out a reconnaissance mission in the Aegean crashed after an engine failure in the sea area of Tinos, where it sank. He was posthumously awarded the rank of Wing Commander after being awarded many distinctions for his actions from 1940 to 1945.

With information from: Air Force / Album of the fallen / MITRALEXIS MARINOS of Dimitriou – 19/09/1948