From January 27 to May 15 "Air Martyrs' Day"
"Oh, soldier that was fallen to the ground for this land! If ancestors descended from the sky and kissed him, he would touch his pure forehead. This holy land was kneaded with your blood. With your blood, these trees, which we breathe, green up, don't be left behind, my martyr!”
First Martyrs of the Turkish Air Force:
Two days later, May 15 is the “May 15 Air Martyrs' Day” for those who made their last journey in the sky. During the Istanbul-Cairo Expedition flight, which was organized in the first years of the Turkish Air Force's establishment, Plt. Lieutenant Commander Fethi and Plt. Ütğm. Sadık, Plt. Lieutenant Commander Nuri, who was martyred in the same flight, Pilot Major Fazıl, who was martyred while serving in the War of Independence, and Pilot Lieutenant Commander, who was martyred in the Cyprus Operation. We commemorate all our pilots and air martyrs, especially Cengiz Topel, who sacrificed their lives for the sake of successfully fulfilling their duties and defending our homeland, with respect, mercy, gratitude and gratitude.
Cairo Expedition:
Among the most important weather events in Turkish aviation history is the Istanbul-Cairo flight, which has an important place in the history of world aviation and left its mark. Cairo Expedition; In January 1914, to maintain the effectiveness of the state authority by making use of psychological operational elements to protect the Ottoman Empire's dominance over the Arab lands, to regain the diminished prestige of the Ottoman Empire, to emphasize the progress made by Turkish aviation and to explain the importance of aviation, to be a means of friendship and solidarity with Islamic countries. It was decided to make a political trip between Istanbul and Cairo in order to erase the painful memories of the Balkan War and to make the Turkish pilots admire. Thus, the Istanbul-Cairo expedition was organized as a way to introduce the Turkish Air Force and as an attempt by the Ottoman aviation to compete with the countries with the most advanced air power of the period.
It was decided to make the Istanbul-Cairo flight with two teams, with golden letters in Turkish aviation history. The first start of the 2515 km journey from Istanbul-Yeşilköy Square started with a ceremony on February 8, 1914 at 09:12. On February 27, 1914, at 08:00, it started to fly towards Jerusalem, departing from Damascus. Their plane crashed on the rocks in the Küfr-i Harib sub-district, 500 meters east of the Hell Valley-Şimiria sub-district near Tabariye Lake. Martyred on February 28, Yzb. Fethi and Lieutenant Commander. Sadik's corpses were brought to Damascus by train and he was buried next to the Tomb of the Great Commander Selahattin Eyyubi in the garden of the Umayyad Mosque. They became the first martyrs of Turkish aviation and the wreckage of the plane was put in the Military Museum in Istanbul.
Again, in the continuation of the same flight, on March 11, 1914, the plane, which was flown by the second crew Plt. Lt. Nuri and Rasıt Lieutenant İsmail Hakkı, crashed on the rocks in the sea while taking off from Jaffa. Lieutenant Commander, who was martyred on this flight. Nuri was buried in the martyrdom in Damascus, next to the other martyrs. Rasıt Lieutenant Commander İsmail Hakkı was rescued by those who came to the region and returned to Istanbul safely.
For the completion of the Istanbul-Cairo expedition, the 3rd team was formed as Plt. Lieutenant Commander Salim İlkuçan and Rasıt Kur. Min. Kemal. The flight of this team started on May 1 from Jaffa, where Fethi and Sadik were martyred. Salim and Kemal successfully completed the Istanbul-Cairo voyage by reaching Cairo-Helipolis airport on 9 May 1914, then Tanta and Alexandria at 19.00. Thus, the flag of determination and courage of Turkish aviation was delivered to Cairo by the third team.
Our aviators, who were martyred during the Istanbul-Cairo expedition, proved to the Turkish nation that they are heroes with the courage and determination to take all kinds of difficulties for the sake of their duty. These heroes embarked on this journey to Cairo, which was very difficult and dangerous under the conditions of that day, in order to glorify the glory and honor of their country with the principles and values they believed in. These brave aviators, who could not be intimidated by any difficulties, have written their names in Turkish aviation history with golden letters. These pioneers, who give spirit and self-confidence to Turkish aviation, have become a lifeline. This flight had great repercussions and took its place in the pages of history. Despite the fact that the Ottoman army lost both its most talented officers and the limited number of aircraft power in this expedition, it saw the expedition as a struggle of honor and pride and completed it successfully.
Construction of the Turkish Air Martyrs' Monument:
The construction of the ANIT, the foundation of which was laid on April 2, 1914, in Fatih Park in Fatih-Saraçhane, Istanbul, in memory of the first Air Martyrs, continued despite the First World War and was completed and opened in 1916. The ceremony held at the opening of the monument was also the first commemoration ceremony for the “Turkish Air Martyrs”.
During the period until 1926, no separate ceremony was held to commemorate the Air Martyrs. The great aviator Plt.Bnb, who is the founder, teacher and highly qualified pilot of Turkish Aviation. Fazıl was martyred on 27 January 1923, along with his student Asst. Plt.Mr.Fazıl served as an effective and successful pilot in many fronts of the Balkan War and the First World War, and during the National Struggle Period, and his martyrdom left a deep mark as he was among the symbolic names of Turkish aviation.
The martyrdom date of the great aviator, who was buried in Izmir Air Martyrs' Cemetery, has been declared as "Air Martyrs' Day" for our Air Martyrs. With the 33rd article of the founding directive of the Turkish Aircraft Society, which was founded by the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK on February 16, 1925, January 27, the date of the martyrdom of Captain Fazıl, was accepted as the "Turkey Aircraft Martyrs' Day". Thus, independent ceremonies to commemorate the Turkish Air Martyrs began in 1926, and ceremonies were held on January 27 of each year from 1926 to 1935 under the name "Air Martyrs' Remembrance Day".
Air Martyrs Memorial Day Dates:
In Turkey, the practice of taking a one-hour break from flight activities in the Turkish skies at noon every 27 January at that time became widespread and it became a tradition to visit the Air Martyrs' Cemeteries with the ceremonies organized by the Aircraft Society branches.
For 10 years until 1935, a ceremony was held on January 27 of each year, called the Air Martyrs' Day. The fact that January is one of the coldest months in Turkey caused the "Air Martyrs' Day" to not be held as desired, and ceremonies were canceled in many parts of the country. For this reason, after the opinions of the local administrators were taken at the 6th congress of the Turkish Aeronautical Association held in 1935, it was decided to hold the Air Martyrs' Day, which was held on January 27 of every year before, on May 15 of every year since 1935. During the occupation of Izmir on May 15, 1919, it was decided on May 15 in particular, since there was also the date of the martyrdom of Colonel Fethi and journalist Tahsin, as well as 9 Turks. Pursuant to this decision, it has been celebrated in official ceremonies since 1935 as the "Remembrance Day of the Air Martyrs, May 15th".
“Air Martyrs” disregarded death and became wings in the sky. They were able to say that tomorrow is ours, whether they are soldiers or civilians. They have taken their place in our aviation history by dwelling in the endless blue and without losing any of their beliefs.
Homeland is not just a piece of land for the Turkish nation, it is a bloody land shed by the people, cultures, religions, customs, traditions, labors and lives lost for the sake of those who make it homeland. Turks, at every opportunity that could endanger their homeland, shielded themselves in front of the enemy, fought for the homeland at the cost of their lives, without thinking about the family they left behind, their loved ones, or even themselves. ATATÜRK, “The future is in the skies. Because nations that cannot protect their skies can never be sure of tomorrow. O Turkish Youth! As in every job, you will fill your place waiting for us in the skies at the highest level in aviation, in a short time. Otherwise, that place will be invaded by others, and then this country and nation will be lost.” In his words, he emphasized that future wars will be in the skies and the dominance will depend on our power in the heavens.
By emphasizing the importance of aviation for the survival of Turkish independence and independence, he showed his nation the goal that needs to be reached until today. The visionary point of view he expressed with the motto "The Future is in the Skies" has also been adopted by the Turkish nation.
"Oh, he fell to the ground for this land, soldier! If ancestors descended from the sky and kissed him, he would touch his pure forehead. This holy land was kneaded with your blood. With your blood, these trees, which we breathe, green up, don't be left behind, my martyr!”
We commemorate with mercy, respect and gratitude all our martyrs who shed blood for the sake of the country and the land, especially the Eternal Commander-in-Chief, Great Leader Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK, who gave great effort and effort to Turkish aviation. May the souls of our heroes rest in peace and rest in heaven.
REFERENCES;
TATAR, Cengiz, “The Future is in the Skies.” Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK and Turkish Aviation, Galeti Publishing, 2021, Ankara.
