air_force independent state croatia air_force independent state croatia croatian air force croatia puppet state established support axis powers territory world war founded german authority april following german led axis invasion yugoslavia considered large air arm wider context world war nonetheless charge time aircraft april anti aircraft units humble beginnings providing measure air support fighter attack transport days world war europe maintained flying training school equipped trainers originally airfield near airfields parachute school located history establishment came early april days proclamation commander colonel captain defected germans april declared supporter task new air force backbone provided officers acquisition salvage aircraft weapons machinery equipment fuel survived fighting confiscated german italian forces following brief april war germans captured aircraft considered little use luftwaffe decided equip appropriate number aircraft aircraft scattered corner yugoslavia collected minor damage repaired stocks fuel spare parts stored airfield workshops naturally majority aircraft damaged action undertaken repair possible pilots croatian background personnel specialty approached offered instant rehabilitation german camps jobs safety families initiated formation early warning system anti aircraft batteries armed german czech weapons training departments ammunition stores workshop facilities fuel necessary operations supplied germans yugoslav stocks serbia early asked germany things instead got remaining largely obsolete aircraft time germany appropriated captured bombers supplied bulgaria romania received whilst finland received half completed manufacturing tools production equipment huge variety spare parts middle man power capacity fighter squadron medium bomber squadron sent eastern luftwaffe croatian german personnel territory late bomber squadron early fighter squadron help counter growing allied air threat personnel took activated airfields aircraft plants located june germans begun pass captured aircraft including bombers aircraft received repaired overhauled plant missions late aircraft distributed groups squadrons fighting yugoslav partisans air begun late june bombers proved suitable carry bomb load kilograms kilogram bombs whilst carry half types armed millimetre machine guns altogether eventually came possess operational use light bombers limited fighting partisans aircraft supply isolated surrounded army strong points emblem red white insignia croatian derived coat arms dating 10th century carried fin january replaced black white cross king aircraft numerous types inventory light trainers converted carry kilograms bombs aircraft bomb partisan troops positions northern bosnia faced anti aircraft fire missions cost aircraft crash landed hit partisan ground fire crews little chance survival hit flying suits helmets available time desperate crash landings similar actions continued flew missions support army troops limited scale operations partisans eastern western bosnia parts september introduced larger aircraft bombing partisan forces territory bombers derived available operations added advantage able carry kilogram bombs extensively bombing villages road communications soon established vintage aircraft suited missions partisan troop concentrations outdated certainly use question performance armament dangerous ill armed enemy partisans scattered villages forests mountains positions detected slow moving aircraft visual reconnaissance missions hand held cameras flown aerial reconnaissance supplied army vital data partisan movements positions situation partisan territory general important army desperately lacked radio equipment kinds light aircraft frequently liaison duties particularly connecting surrounding army garrisons higher command army requested aircraft temporarily attached particular army units closely operate ground troops fighter force poorly equipped respect consisting machines including seven ancient fury fortunately ill equipped force aerial opposition modern fighter aircraft received onwards colder october november weather limited aerial activities partisan operations spread eastern serbian territory squadrons based airfield appearance serbian border area partisans trying secure expand territory eastern yugoslavia liberated autumn flew daily supply missions lack aircraft land hastily prepared strips performed supplies surrounded garrison expansion fighting partisans intensified liberated substantial territory eastern yugoslavia encouraged rebellion country german italian governments aware danger means available destroy partisan forces planned large scale operations purpose air support played important role half marked deliveries new refurbished aircraft germany italy aside received received brand new medium bombers italy aircraft ordered paid service axis invasion yugoslavia prevented delivery purchased basic trainers fighters seat fighter trainer aircraft provide fighter pilots operational training modern aircraft overhauled aircraft arrived aircraft plant including bristol bombers attack aircraft fitted bomb racks carry kilogram bombs plus prague czechoslovakia german occupation received seven transports pre war czech suffered total lack transport aircraft immediately pressed service minor adjustments provide scheduled air line services fighters took june crossing border stopped order afraid pilots defect new aircraft aircraft wait june delivered 16th squadron course transferred 1st squadron stationed order strengthen defence capital deployment squadrons aimed fighter pilots sophisticated aircraft time fighters available numbers seven ancient wing fighters wing fighter trainers thanks extended aircraft park form new units january 1st group comprising 1st 2nd 3rd 19th squadrons formed 2nd group 4th 5th 6th squadrons 7th 8th 9th squadrons airfield whilst formed airfield june cover operations central croatia western bosnia reinforcements came time participate large german offensive partisan forces eastern bosnia initially participated campaign tragic incident italian bomber mistakenly attacked german positions near german command assigned responsibility providing entire aerial support mission formations ground time significant luftwaffe forces based territory support ground forces flew combat missions january missions february march axis ground forces generally succeeded operations january february march forced release pressure partisan units attacked solitary garrisons threatening destroy aside constant bombing sorties aircraft daily supply missions besieged army garrison land fire small improvised grass landing strip unloading ammunition supplies keeping engines running taking soon possible march shot partisans crew killed days later damaged whilst dropping ammunition managed return base safely result determined supply effort garrison succeeded holding relieved german forces april weather improved summer flying activity intensified missions flown april sorties including direct combat support reconnaissance supply missions dropping missions performed 2nd squadrons based strongest operational base time air base principally employed attacking partisan positions western bosnia new tried successive attacks partisan territory equally divided 3rd squadron 7th squadron september october 8th squadron 3rd 9th squadrons extensively attack partisan positions bosnia owing availability increased numbers aircraft formed comprising 13th 16th 17th 18th squadrons medium bomber force fly reconnaissance bombing missions partisan forces flew deep territory partisan control attacked railway stations road traffic agricultural depots food stocks partisan forces aware threat operations provided constantly trying improve anti aircraft defence relied mainly december saw return bomber squadron croatia service eastern flown sorties return squadron redesignated having flown bombers russia proved welcome addition strike power axis forces fighting partisans territory right end late second squadron formed provide operational training equipped italian designed built medium bombers course flew sorties combat missions aircraft lost losses partisan ground fire accidents deserted end year aircraft park consisted aircraft formed squadrons seen aircraft defected partisan forces army conducted intensive search aircraft response partisans produced scale model aircraft wood canvas duly destroyed bombers destroyed aircraft able perform number attacks army units armed hand pipe bombs shot june destroyed ground july occurred july october bomber case flying turkey january formed parachute unit known 1st croatian sat strength men based northern town near border hungary tri motor transport aircraft assigned unit permanent basis transports assigned required equipped rifles sub machine guns light machine guns light mortars period training demonstration mass tactical jump july airfield successful jump transports november brigades partisans supported artillery heavy machine guns mounted attack town took november held base days withdrawing hungary continuing battle german defending forces november received direct air support supplies light aircraft unable prevent loss base men parachute equipment transport aircraft lost bomber shot period unit deployed airfield june grew strength addition companies designated 1st croatian responsible ground defence important air base performed ceremonial guard duties late january unit equipped white winter jackets camouflage attached seeing action new sector south remained constant action advancing partisans unit surrendered austria week official end world war beginning axis forces complete control territory aerial opposition kind expected primary reason bomber force operate fighter cover notwithstanding fact total lack fighter force squadrons situation started change beginning headquarters plans arm group modern aircraft german italian origin italians refused supply requested fighters regia needed aircraft fill squadrons beginning situation began change favour allies landed north_africa soviets undertaking great winter offensive eventually defeating partisan movement yugoslavia aside smaller territories established large liberated territory extending west rivers direction cities partisan force grown stronger armed fighters called state trained supported artillery january yugoslavia launched offensive german intending regain lost territory attack supported aircraft luftwaffe aircraft 2nd 3rd groups involved bombing raids dropping missions air base reinforced newly formed end case white consisted air bases groups squadrons new aircraft continued arrive overhauled bombers delivered germany divided 13th 15th squadrons italy came long promised light trainers liaison aircraft dispatched air bases deliver mail fresh meat isolated surrounded towns garrisons brief role subsequent anti partisan offensive german fall main involvement central partisan resistance displayed frustrating effectiveness new events started influence fighting yugoslavia partisan forces aware constant threat air attack posed medium bomber force august undertook devastating night attack brigade airfield half hour assault airfield left bombers plus luftwaffe bombers transports destroyed aircraft damaged returned fire machine gun turrets aircraft partisan losses command complained german ordered dispersal aircraft airfield perimeter case air attack aircraft especially vulnerable type ground attack following capture southern italy allied aircraft started appear balkans military command aware danger trying persuade germans provide squadrons fighters instead reinforcement fighters came germany batch overhauled captured french fighters october plus dozen arrived december germans supplied beta minor sporting dispatched squadrons liaison duty lack radio communications equipment squadron level evident mid september saw dismissal command replaced lieutenant colonel initiated major reorganisation following capitulation italy september aircraft found airfields machines incorporated number included fighters fighters bombers added luftwaffe subsequently supplied fighter squadron captured german troops airfields balkans capitulation italy brought real threat invasion result september orders received execute coastal reconnaissance sorties central south adriatic morning afternoon october intercepted viii fighters squadron raf near coast italy fighters firing passes shot crew hit return fire crashed sea killing pilot reconnaissance sorties confined vicinity coast attacks partisan forces continued october seven caught 2nd battalion road hour concentrated aerial bombardment battalion sustained casualties including dead able mount credible threat insurgents new menace arriving adriatic june allied reconnaissance flights reported followed bombers bomber command deep penetration raid austrian city august defending managed shoot single bomber route target best aircraft defend homeland end fighters aircraft obsolete end strong equipped aircraft having lost shot destroyed ground accidents capitulation italy lost important source new aircraft tide turned significantly allied air raids targets balkans reality luftwaffe fighter squadrons stationed southern austria northern italy fought heavy battles stop american heavy bomber included defence newly formed croatian consisting 21st 22nd 23rd croatian equipped aircraft saw return fighter squadron service eastern redesignated operational fighter squadron redesignated soon arrival sent pilots collect brand new fighters direct plant near milan italy italian designed built fighter date fighter available aircraft retained luftwaffe markings whilst service unit second training operational conversion squadron formed designated equipped fighters period operational conversion squadron commenced operations frequent incursions raf aircraft period intensive activity summer squadron claimed allied aircraft shot time receiving brand new long obsolete fighter aircraft attempted intercept bomber formations stressing old engines limit match escorting fighters suffered heavy losses air ground end squadron handed remaining worn brand new german fighters total delivered year end allied aircraft specifically started targeting luftwaffe bases aircraft time result seventh anti partisan offensive including late axis aircraft fly inland long remained low altitude partisan units ground frequently complained enemy aircraft attacking hundreds allied aircraft flew higher altitude changed allied fighter bombers went low time establishing aerial superiority consequently luftwaffe forced limit operations clear weather early morning late afternoon hours june finally received germany long promised containers aerial resupply ammunition equipment constantly need besieged encircled garrisons immediately good use eased work proved especially suited tasks june saw returned previous position head end june received aircraft 19th 20th received remainder issued liaison duties transport fresh meat bosnia food shortage dive bombers extended range dive bombers known supplied flown operationally soviet troops late summer second half situation fronts rapidly worsened axis forces soviet bulgarian partisan armies liberated eastern yugoslavia partisan forces bosnia pressed attacks larger axis garrisons surprise attack september captured city airfield including aircraft total confusion attack airfield number crews managed escape moment starting runs barely clear open hangar doors suppressing fire provided machine gun turrets whilst took heavy partisan fire city taken days later heavy counter attack german troops germans continued supply second line aircraft including exotic torpedo bombers originally designed intended use aboard german aircraft carrier completed sold short field load carrying abilities ideal attack missions transporting ammunition supplies besieged army garrisons missions flown arrival september end war right conditions aircraft descend vertically mission near october attacked squadron raf crew piloted kill flying ace exploiting aircraft extreme distinction shooting shot possibly kills war catastrophic year aircraft losses amounted primarily ground entered machines including seven fighters multi engined bombers shortages fuel begun operations deliveries new aircraft germany continued early months replace losses end march included addition regular deliveries final dozen medium bombers january march despite losses fighter force included fighters finally able face raf equal terms squadrons equipped type late aircraft strength april medium bombers hitting december attacked raf squadron bomber ground partisan airfield near destroying bombs february bridge sortie river single caught marching open near yugoslav partisans known yugoslav army unit suffered dozen casualties late afternoon march bombers escorted fighters attacked positions near april force escorted destroyed partisan aircraft airfield despite attacking raids outcome war obvious personnel aircraft allies partisans intensified including italy april partisans april fighter delivery took place april day final croatian kills scored kill ace claimed shot confirmed attack mission flown ancient fighter trainers bombed railway bridge effort stop partisan advance south yugoslav built wing aircraft hit ground fire pilot crash landed near target captured shot spot evening partisan forces advancing capital commanding officer fighter group gathered men airfield released oath loyalty announced free flew aircraft crews including italy allied forces flew aircraft partisans including light aircraft whilst including yugoslav designed built sought sanctuary austria year campaign charge time aircraft ended capture ceased exist colourful collection vintage aircraft scattered deserted airfields received new markings red star formed basis new ranks commanders service types journal published weekly journal called croatian wings
Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia