Greek Air Force Downs Turkish Jets Amid 1974 Cyprus Invasion

July 20, 2026 marked the 52nd anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of northern Cyprus that began on July 20, 1974. The commemoration linked the event to other historic dates such as the 1919 Pontic Greek genocide, the 1922 Asia‑Minor disaster, and the 1453 fall of Constantinople, underscoring its place in Greek national memory.

On July 22, 1974, during the same conflict, Greek pilots I. Dinopoulos and Th. Skampardonis of the 337 MAH intercepted two Turkish F‑102 fighter‑jets over the Aegean near Agios Efstratios and Lemnos. After a series of maneuvers the Greek aircraft reported a large water plume, indicating the Turkish jets had crashed. The Greek pilots returned to their base after the engagement, confirming the loss of the Turkish aircraft.