A target towing T-33A Shooting Star on its way to the runway of Souda. Both targets can be seen underneath the wings. These iron "bombs" are slowly released on a very long thin cable and subsequently pulled behind the aircraft. Air Defense systems try to locate the target and even shoot at it... that's the reason the T-33 is bright coloured to arrest maximal attention.

This 1954 Shooting Star was seen at the flightline of 222 MEA at Souda. The aircraft was withdrawn from use in the mid-90s and since then dumped near the flightline it once operated from.

The Greek air force received over 150 different T-33s (T-33A, RT-33A, and Canadian-built AT-33ANs), they were all retired in the 90s. Several were placed in musea, but most, like this 1958 built TR-520 ended its career at a dump. TR-520 was seen here at the flightline of its homebase Souda in 1992.

The 222 MEA at Souda (Crete) was equipped with some eighteen T-33A Shooting Stars. At least four of these were painted in a striking orange colourscheme and in use as target towing platform. These bright ones often took off from Souda with a supporting mission for the nearby NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) installation that was located at the Greek island. The target (an orange iron "bomb") was pulled on a very long rope behind the T-33A. On the NAMFI range air defense artillery tries to find the target and shoot at it...

In the mid-90s, this T-bird sadly ended up at the dump of Souda.

This T-33A was withdrawn from use in the mid-90s and was dumped at Souda air base.

The 222 MEA at Souda (Crete) was equipped with some 18 T-33A Shooting Stars. At least 4 of these were painted in a striking orange colourscheme and in use as target towing platform. These often took off from Souda with a supporting mission for the nearby NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) installation that was located at the Greek island. The target (an orange iron "bomb") was pulled on a very long rope behind the T-33A. On the NAMFI range air defense artillery tries to find the target and shoot at it... This 35092 can still be enjoyed... it's preserved at Tatoi museum since late 2000.

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My favourite aircraft - Phabulous Phantoms. Here flying over the Aegean Sea.

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Still also with civil reg SX-BKP.