Dimitrios Kamberos

Dimitrios Kamberos, the first military aviator in Greek history on the "Daedalus", a Farman biplane on a 1912 photo.

Dimitrios Kamberos (Greek: Δημήτριος Καμπέρος, 1883-1942) a first Lieutenant, was the first military aviator in Greek history.[1] His name was spelled variously in contemporary foreign sources, including Camberos and Cambères.

Kamberos was originally an artillery officer, and one of the first six Greek officers selected to receive training in France. The others were:

They were joined by Emmanuel Argyropoulos, a private pilot, the first in Greece.[4] The Army Aviation started with six planes, including four purchased from the Farman Aviation Works and assembled by French mechanics:[5]

Three of the Farman planes were christened Aetos, Gyps, and Ierax.[7] The planes were paid for by money donated by a poet named Matsoukis.

Upon their return from France, Kamberos took the first official military exercise flight on 13 May 1912. In June 1912, after converting his plane to a hydroplane, he broke the world speed record at 110 km/h.[8] He flew his first combat mission, a reconnaissance flight, on 5 October 1912, at the outbreak of the First Balkan War. After World War I, he served as the chief instructor of the military flight school. He died of cold and starvation during the Axis Occupation of Greece.

His brother Notis Kamberos was one of the main founders of Olympiacos CFP.

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