Hellenic Air Force Band
| Hellenic Air Force Band | |
|---|---|
| Ελληνική Πολεμική Αεροπορία | |
 | |
| Active | 1947–present |
| Country |
 |
| Branch | Hellenic Air Force |
| Type | Military band |
| Part of | Hellenic Air Force General Staff |
| Garrison/HQ | Vironas Camp, Attica |
| Commanders | |
| Director of Music | Major Alexandros Litsaropoulos |
| Notable commanders | Lieutenant Nicolas Raftopoulos |
The Hellenic Air Force Band, HAF Band (Greek: Ελληνική Πολεμική Αεροπορία) is an official military band of the Greek Air Force. The band consists of 42 full time musicians. The commander of the HAF Band is Major Alexandros Litsaropoulos.
History
The HAF Band was founded in Athens in 1947. In 1953 the HAF Band began to work under a permanent staff.[1][2]
Mission
The band provides musical support to various events of military, social, cultural, religious, and recreational nature. The responsibilities of the band includes the welcoming of foreign heads of state and government, supporting ceremonies at the Presidential Mansion and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and in the receptions of military leaders of the air force. Every three years the band participates in a parade on 5th Avenue in New York in honour of Greek Independence Day on March 25. Between 2011-2012, the band (then under the leadership of Major Vasileios Kounadis), also competed in the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo in Moscow, Russia[3]