Turkish Air Operation on the 102nd Anniversary of the Great Offensive and the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief and the Road to Victory (Part-2)

On 27 August 1922, the Front Command said: "The movements of the Greek troops around Afyon, south and in the Döger-Altıntaş-Gazlıgöl-Seyitgazi region will be monitored. Changes in the situation of the Greek troops east of Afyon and their activities on the railway line will be monitored. Fighter planes will prevent the activities of enemy aircraft by flying patrol flights south and west of Afyon, and the operations and activities of the enemy will be discovered by our 5th Cavalry Corps fighting the enemy on the Aceşehir-Ayvalı-Kırcaaslan-Sinanpaşa line."

On 27 August 1922, the Front Aircraft Squadron made 6 mission flights with 2 reconnaissance and 2 fighter planes. On the same day at 11.00 a.m., during a reconnaissance flight by Plt. Basri Alev and Drone Osman Nuri Baykal, it was stated that the Greeks had evacuated the first fortification line east and south of Afyon, that the enemy had few forces left on the second fortification line, and that this line was under fire from Turkish artillery. A Greek battalion advancing southwards from the Erkmen ridges was seen to have withdrawn behind the 2nd fortification line, and the reserves south of Afyon and the troops in the Döger-Altıntaş area were seen to have abandoned their positions. A large number of scattered Greek troops were seen at Afyon Station and a 32-car train travelling from Afyon to Gazlıgöl was seen.

Greek reserve troops in the area south of Afyon to Ahırdağ and in the Döger-Altıntaş area abandoned their positions. In two reconnaissance flights towards noon, Plt.Lt.Basri Bilgin and Router Lt.Osman Nuri Baykal reported that the well fortified Greek positions south and southwest of Afyon were captured by the Turkish army and the right flank of the Greeks collapsed. On 27 August, Afyon was liberated. Turkish pilots prevented the Greeks from reconnaissance, chased the enemy to their lines and attacked the fleeing enemy troops with bombs and machine guns.

İsmet İnönü, the Commander of the Western Front, said on 28 August 1922:"The places occupied by the Afyon Corps and the direction and situation of the enemy withdrawal have not yet been understood. Determine the activity on the Afyon-Altıntaş-Döger-Seyitgazi-Eskişehir-Kütahya-Dumlupınar and Afyon-Dumlupınar roads. Make reconnaissance of the Belce-Resulbaba-Bakırcık positions and Greek defence preparations. Reconnaissance of the Eskişehir-Seyitgazi area. Bomb the Greek troops retreating in an irregular manner and their equipment, and drop declarations no. 1 and 3 during the mission."

The Front Commander assigned reconnaissance, air attack and dropping declarations to the airmen. During these missions, 200 kilograms of bombs were dropped and machine guns were used against the Greek forces. At dawn on 28 August 1922, during the reconnaissance mission over the enemy with 4 reconnaissance planes, several bombs were dropped on mass targets and it was determined that the enemy was retreating to the west in an irregular manner and that there were small scattered forces on the hills east of İlkbulakdağı-Çatalçeşme-Altıntaş road. On the same day, 5 reconnaissance planes participated in the 2nd flight, and it was stated that the Greek troops crossing Eğret at 11.30 am were 2 divisions strong and that the troops were fleeing in an irregular manner on both sides of the road.

On 30 August 1922, the newspaperHâkimiyet-i Milliye reported the military situation on 28 August: "According to Turkish official sources, Afyon was liberated on 27 August 1922, and on 28 August 1922, the Turkish army continued its offensive and pursuit operations. On the left flank, Turkish forces captured Toklu Sivri, one of the strongest points of Dumlupınar fortified positions, with bayonet charges on the evening of 28 August. After this battle, the Turkish forces captured 2 trains full of ammunition and 7 aeroplanes from the Greeks." He announced the official notification to the public with great happiness and pride.

On 29 August 1922, the Front Aircraft Squadron; 22 hunting and reconnaissance aircraft at Konya Airfield, 10 hunting, training and reconnaissance aircraft in Adana, and a total of 32 aircraft were made ready for flight, and the Turkish army gained air superiority on this date, when the war was intensifying. The Front Command ordered the transfer of the Front Aircraft Squadron in Çay to Afyon and Uşak in order for the aircraft to be close to the front and to follow the enemy closely and effectively. The Front Command said; "Hangars will not be moved during the transfer. The squadron will make use of the railway hangars near the old station building. The planes that take off for duty flights will land at Afyon square on their return’. On 29 August 1922, the aircraft, flight personnel, fuel, very few supplies and the flight cadre of the Front Aircraft Squadron were transferred to Afyon, while the repair shop and supply depot of the Front Command remained in Çay.

On 29 August 1922, in the flight mission given to the Front Aircraft Squadron:"It is estimated that most of the enemy retreated from the Eğret region towards the north-west direction. There are signs of withdrawal in the Eskisehir area. After 13.00 on 28 August 1922, the cavalry division crossed the Döğer-Balıkpınar line and advanced towards Altıntaş. Morning reconnaissance flights were made from the Eğret-Altıntaş area towards Hamurköyü Çalköyü-Işören and towards Dumlupınar towards the north and north-west of the Altıntaş area. Determination of the situation of the enemy's main forces and the direction of their withdrawal. The situation of the Greek forces east of Eskisehir and in the Seyitgazi area was reconnoitred. The aeroplanes will land in Afyon on their return."

On the same day, during the reconnaissance at 07.30 hours, no enemy activity was seen in the area north of Döger-Altıntaş and Hamidiye village, and during the reconnaissance at 08.30 hours, it was seen that the Greek camp of 2 regiments located south-east of Seyitgazi was in its old position and that there was intense activity in this area. During the aerial reconnaissance on the same day, 12.5kg bombs and 2000 Greek declarations were dropped on the Greek marching columns. On 30 August 1922, Plt. Lt. Fazıl, the Commander of the Front Aircraft Squadron in Afyon, ordered all aircraft to make demonstration and reconnaissance flights over the enemy lines, and absolutely not to drop bombs. On 30 August 1922, in the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk personally directed the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief, a large part of the besieged enemy was destroyed and the Greek army began to flee towards Izmir in irregular units.

Fikret Arıt, in his article titled ‘He Almost Could Not See the Victory’; "Uşak will be attacked. Do not take any bombs with you. Chief engineer Küçük Eşref had the tanks filled with 2.5 hours of petrol. At 09.00, the preparation of all aeroplanes was completed. These were 13 aircraft, including reconnaissance and fighter aircraft. For the first time in the entire war, the Turkish Air Force was successful in flying 13 aircraft at once. When Uşak was overtaken, the city was on fire and the smoke was reaching up to the level of the aircraft at an altitude of 2500 metres. The enemy was fleeing, and at the airfield two aircraft hangars were visible. Plt. Basri saw a 2-seater Greek aeroplane near Banaz. The young Turkish pilot attacked the enemy plane, hoping to scare it away. The Greek aeroplane began to flee. Plt. Basri ran out of petrol after half an hour. There was Banaz station to the left of his aeroplane. He landed on the plain near the station. The young aviator saw two horsemen coming towards him. One of the horsemen passed to the right and the other to the left side of the aircraft. The lance of the rider coming from his left side shredded his flight suit, and the lance of the rider coming from his right side shattered the exhaust pipe. What are you doing? Are you crazy? I'm a Turkish officer. This is a Turkish aeroplane. Don't you see the markings? One of the horsemen, forgive us, sir. We thought it was an enemy plane. Then they jumped on their horses and galloped away in the direction they came from. Basri was looking after them. Wow. They almost didn't show me the victory." He shared his feelings with his readers.

On 31 August 1922, Plt.Lt.Lt.Fazıl and Master Lt.Osman Nuri Baykal flew 4 sorties in the Uşak region, and during the reconnaissance between 08.00-09.30 hours; it was stated that no activity was seen on the Döger-Seyitgazi-Eskişehir roads. It was determined that the enemy had failed to hold Dumlupınar and that there were 2 Greek divisions marching westwards between Banaz and Kapaklar station in a miserable condition, and another 2 Greek divisions on the march beyond Kapaklar station. To the north of the railway and behind the eastern ridges 2 Greek cavalry regiments were on the march and retreating in the direction of Uşak, there was no train activity in Uşak and one train in Banaz.

On 31 August 1922, the Commander of the Front Aircraft Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Fazıl and his staff were summoned to the Western Front Headquarters and commended by the Chief of General Staff for doing their duty properly. İsmet İnönü congratulated the aviators by shaking their hands one by one and said to Lieutenant Commander Fazıl:"From now on, you have been promoted to Major. Mustafa Kemal Pasha is waiting for you to congratulate you.‘ He presented himto Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Atatürk as’Major Fazıl’ . Atatürk accepted the aviators on 31 August 1922, congratulated Major Fazıl and ordered the promotion of successful personnel to the next higher rank. Lieutenant Commander Yahya, Hamdi, Osman, Nuri, Avni, Kenan, İbrahim and all other pilots, navigators and personnel under Fazıl's command were promoted to the rank of Major, effective 31 August 1922. The Grand National Assembly awarded our heroic pilots a commendation for their outstanding achievements.

On 31 August 1922, Muzaffer Ergüder, who was promoted to Colonel, described the situation of the Air Force Inspectorate in Konya as follows: "An active squadron under the command of the Front Command, in contact with the enemy. A few old aeroplanes being repaired in tent hangars in Konya. A repair shop consisting of a small warehouse and a few hand looms, which contained spare parts that could not even be fitted to various types of aircraft. About 20 Spad hunting aeroplanes, which had been purchased from Italy with great difficulty and brought to Konya via Mersin, were being assembled. Aircraft equipment purchased in Germany, smuggled through long routes and brought to Samsun. In Adana, the nucleus of a flight school with 4 aeroplanes was formed, which was trying to train 5 students in flight training. Adana Flight School Command was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Salim, Konya Airfield Command was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Tahsin, and the Front Aircraft Squadron was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Fazıl. A small unit was sent to examine and sort the aircraft and materials brought to Samsun, to prepare the aircraft capable of flying, and to fly them directly to the Front Aircraft Squadron. There was only one pilot who could fly in this unit. The other personnel of the unit consisted of officers and technical personnel were conscripts. There were only 2 pilots for the test flights of the old aeroplanes repaired in Konya and the Spad fighters to be reassembled on the square and to be flown to the front. These aeroplanes were single-seat small aeroplanes with a single machine gun. The rifles had come from their factories without being attached to the aeroplanes." He stated that the effectiveness of the air force was increased in terms of aircraft, personnel and equipment.

(To be continued)