Aristeidis Moraitinis (February 3. 1891 – December 22, 1918)

Born on Aegina, he was an officer in the Hellenic Navy, a pioneering Greek fighter pilot, rising the ranks to become Lieutenant Commander in the Navy, all by 27.

Moraitinis entered the Hellenic Naval Academy in 1906, graduating in 1910. 2 years later he served during the Balkan Wars (1912-13), aboard a torpedo boat and in 1913, he volunteered to join the newly established Hellenic Naval Air Service, based at Limnos.

Moraitinis together with Michalis Moutoussis, performed the first ever naval-air mission. Using a converted hydroplane, to observe Turkish installations and positions and also dropped the first ever bombs on them. This operation is regarded as the first naval-air operation in military history.

In 1914, Moraitinis, together with Dimitrios Kamperos established the naval air academy and Moraitinis founded the first ever Greek air craft factory.

During WW1, Aristeidis Moraitinis flew numerous missions, throughout Macedonia, Thrace, the Dardanelles, Smyrni and all over the Aegean, taking out German and Turkish positions. He also won 9 aerial dog fight victories during WW1.

Following the War, Moraitinis now a Commander, played a pivotal role during the Allied Occupation Constantinople, with Greece gaining a role in controlling the Dardanelles & passage to the Black Sea.

His squadron flew to Constantinople, landing at the airport of Agios Stefanos, a town just outside Constantinople. Their presence in the City was met with great enthusiasm from the Greek inhabitants.

It’s to be remembered that by the end of 1918, Greeks still made up 1/3 of the total population of Constantinople.

In December 1918, Moraitinis took off on a flight from Thessaloniki heading towards Athens. In poor weather he crashed near Mt Olympus and according to the official narrative, his body was never found and nor was the wreckage.