Nikolaos Stapas
Encyclopedia
Air Chief Marshal
Nikolaos Stapas was a Greek Air Force
officer and former Chief of the Air Force General Staff.
He was born in 1937 in the village of Sykea in Laconia
. He entered the Hellenic Air Force Academy
and graduated in 1958. During the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, Stapas became involved in the abortive Navy attempt to rebel against the regime in May 1973. He was imprisoned and tortured by the Greek Military Police
, before being dismissed from service. In 1975, after the fall of the junta, he was reinstated. He served in several command and staff posts: CO of the 340th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and the 115th Fighter Wing, Chief of the Tactical Air Force Command, and finally, from 23 December 1986 until his resignation on 15 July 1989 as Chief of the Air Force General Staff. He retired with the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal is a senior 4-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Nikolaos Stapas was a Greek Air Force
Hellenic Air Force
The Hellenic Air Force, abbreviated to HAF is the air force of Greece. The mission of the Hellenic Air Force is to guard and protect Greek airspace, provide air assistance and support to the Hellenic Army and the Hellenic Navy, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid in Greece and around the...
officer and former Chief of the Air Force General Staff.
He was born in 1937 in the village of Sykea in Laconia
Laconia
Laconia , also known as Lacedaemonia, is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparti...
. He entered the Hellenic Air Force Academy
Hellenic Air Force Academy
The Hellenic Air Force Academy is a military academy responsible for supplying the Hellenic Air Force with professionally trained pilots, aircraft engineers and air defence inspectors. It was founded in 1919 as the Military Academy of Aviation and renamed in 1967 as the Icarus School in reference...
and graduated in 1958. During the Greek military junta of 1967–1974, Stapas became involved in the abortive Navy attempt to rebel against the regime in May 1973. He was imprisoned and tortured by the Greek Military Police
Greek Military Police
The Greek Military Police , generally known in English by the acronym ESA was the military police branch of the Greek Army in the years 1951-1974.. It developed into a powerful paramilitary organization and a stronghold of right-wing, conservative Army officers....
, before being dismissed from service. In 1975, after the fall of the junta, he was reinstated. He served in several command and staff posts: CO of the 340th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and the 115th Fighter Wing, Chief of the Tactical Air Force Command, and finally, from 23 December 1986 until his resignation on 15 July 1989 as Chief of the Air Force General Staff. He retired with the rank of Air Chief Marshal.