Maleme

35°31'46"N 023°49'56"E

Runway: 13/31 - 1050meters/3454feet - asphalt
Runway: 03/21 - 950meters/3125feet (only 400m usable) - asphalt

Maleme Airfield (Greek: Αεροδρόμιο Μάλεμε) is a small airfield on the island of Crete in Greece.
The airfield was built shortly before the outbreak of World War II by the British. In 1941 it became a target for the German army when they decided on an airborne invasion under the codename Operation Mercury (Fall Merkur). The Germans wanted Maleme as it would allow them to land their planes on Crete and offload their troops, heavy guns and vehicles.
On the first day the German aeroplanes dropped paratroopers continuously. They were met with heavy fire from Cretans, the Greek Army and their British, Australian and New Zealand allies. The defenders shot many aircraft, largely from Hill 107 in nearby Vlacherniotissa.
On the second day a Ju-52 performed a communications flight under heavy fire to assess the situation at the airfield. Upon learning that it was in fact possible to land at the airfield, German General Student ordered his waiting troops to Crete immediately. They arrived under heavy fire from Hill 107. In the evening however, helped by a serious British misjudgment of the situation, the hill fell to German troops. This allowed the Germans to bring more reinforcements to the island and conquer it.


A large number of Ju-52s at Maleme during the invasion (historyofwar.org).


Wreckage of Ju-52 transports in the surf near Maleme after the battle.

The battle had cost the Germans dearly. When Hitler learned about their losses, he was shocked and ordered there were no more large scale operations with paratroops to be executed. In total the Germans suffered 1990 men missing, 1742 dead and a severe number wounded. In total the losses of the Fallschirmjäger were over eight thousand, and 170 transport aircraft and dozens of combat aircraft were lost, while another 150 were severely damaged. On the British side losses were even higher: 1742 dead, 1737 wounded and 11,835 POWs (not counting over 2000 navy personnel that died off the coast when 2 cruisers and 6 destroyers were sunk).

After the battle the airield was used for repairing damaged aircraft. Reconnaissance photos showed large numbers of aircraft in various states of repair. Although the airfield was a target for Operation Albumen, it did not suffer an actual attack. The team sent to Maleme found it heavily guarded and shielded with electrical fences.


German aircraft, mainly Ju-52s, under repair at Maleme after the Battle of Crete (Bundesarchiv, via Wikimedia)

After the war it served as the main public airport for Chania. It remained in that role until 1959, after which it became a Hellenic Air Force installation. Today the use by the Hellenic Air Force is very limited. It is in use by the Chania Aeroclub. At the airfield are at least 4 stored ex-HAF aircraft, including an F-5, a T-33, an RF-84 and an F-84F.


Withdrawn from use, these fighter aircraft are now on display at Maleme.


Maleme from the air in 2005 (Google Earth)