It was pre-dawn July 22, 1974 and Cyprus was at war, there was mayhem and destruction – Greece was on a secret mission to help – it ended with a transport plane full of its commandos being shot down by friendly fire.

Efforts to locate the remains of 19 Greek soldiers, killed when their plane was shot down by friendly fire on July 22 during the 1974 Turkish invasion, have begun at the site – a Nicosia military cemetery adjacent to the now defunct airport which serves as a United Nations compound.

Due to the embarrassing circumstances of the incident – Greek Cypriots shooting down their fellow Greek comrades – it is an event that has been largely brushed over and forgotten in the aftermath of the Turkish invasion 41 years ago.

Read the rest on:

http://in-cyprus.com/forgotten-heroes/