THE ATTEMPT OF THE TURKISH AVIATORS TO JOIN THE NATIONAL STRUGGLE: DESERTION IN MALTEPE (07 JUNE 1920)

Aviation showed a rapid presence among the armies in the world following the first successful flight in 1903, and it first demonstrated its military value during the Italo- Turkish War in Tripolitania Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. Turkish aviation started to be established before this war and they took on their first duty of operation during the Balkan Wars. Turkish aviation, no doubt, made great progress during the First World War. Following the opening of Grand National Assembly of Turkey, with a desire to join the Turkish National Struggle a group of Turkish Aviators with their aircraft escaped from the Station of Aircraft positioned in Maltepe in İstanbul. During their first desertion attempt with four aircraft towards the morning of 07 June 1920, only one aircraft was able to take off and three aircraft were damaged during the take off. The only aircraft managed to take off was wrecked after it was entangled with the wires of telegram during landing at İzmit. Thus, the well-meant attempts of the Turkish aviators failed. This article aims to study the conditions regarding the Turkish aviation after the Armistice of Mudros and the attempt by a group of aviators from İstanbul to join the National Struggle and the causes of the failure of their attempt.