Roald Dahl flew a Hawker Hurricane in the battle, which he describes in his second autobiography Going Solo and in the short story 'Katina'.
Led by Squadron Leader Marmaduke "Pat" Pattle, the twelve remaining Hurricanes of the Royal Air Force (RAF)'s 80 Squadron (there was originally fourteen) were flying in formation over Athens in order to boost civilian morale.
[1] According to Dahl, the battle began when they were attacked by a large group of German Luftwaffe aircraft, mostly Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Bf 110s along with some Junkers Ju 87s and Junkers Ju 88s.
According to the citizens of Athens the Germans had 200 planes; according to Dahl, they had 152 bombers and fighters.
Dahl's clode friend, David Coke, was credited with shooting down one Junker.