111st Helicopter Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 111st Helicopter Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
: 111. helikopterski puk / 82. хеликоптерски пук) was an aviation regiment established in 1944 as 422nd Assault Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
: 422. vazduhoplovni jurišni puk / 422. ваздухопловни јуришни пук).
17th Air Army's 166th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment (166.GShAP). It has become independent from Soviet command and personal since May 1945. The regiment was part of 42nd Aviation Assault Division, it was equipped with Soviet Il-2 Shturmovik ground-attack aircraft. The regiment has taken part in final operations for liberation of Yugoslavia. During the combat operations it was based at Novi Sad, Klenak, Mađarmečke and Pleso airfields.
After the war regiment has remain at Pleso.
By the 1948 year this regiment was renamed like all other units of Yugoslav Army
, so it has become 111st Assault Aviation Regiment.
The commanders of regiment in this period were Krsta Lakićević, Hinko Šoić, Predavec and Milan Aćimović.
fighters. In that period regiment was renamed to 111st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
: 111. lovačko-bombarderski avijacijski puk / 111. ловачко-бомбардерски авијацијски пук).
The 111st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment was disbanded by the March 1961.
The commanders of regiment in this period were Milan Aćimović, Miloš Milikić, Radoje Ljubičić, Matija Macut and Petar Orešćanin.
The new 111st Regiment took the number, banner and continued tradition of former 111st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment.
780th Transport Helicopter Squadron equipped with new Soviet Mil Mi-4 helicopters has been reattached from 107th to 111st Regiment in 1964. Old Li-3 transport aircraft were replaced with similar US C-47 Skytrain by 1966. By 1973 780th Squadron has replaced Mi-4 with newer Mi-8T helicopters, and same year one more squadron, 781st Transport Helicopter Squadron also with Mi-8 helicopters has been reattached from 107th to 111st Regiment. Meanwhile in 1968 regiment has moved from Cerklje to Pleso airport and 894th Liaison Aviation Squadron has been disbanded. New Antonov An-26 cargo aircraft have replace Skytrain's in 1976.
Regiment was renamed to 111st Transport Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
: 111. vayduhoplovni transportni puk / 111. ваздухопловни транспортни пук) in 1978. In 1982 it has grown in to Aviation Brigade, consisting from two more new formed helicopter squadrons, 711st and 713th Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron equipped with domestic made Soko Gazelle
.
killing all crew of 3 pilots by afternoon of 27 June, 1991. As the war in Croatia started, Brigade has found it self located in hostile territory surrounded by the Croatian forces, the command of Yugoslav Air Force has ordered the dislocation of it's unit to safer territories, so the 679th Transport Aviation Squadron has moved to Batajnica Air Base and reattached to 138th Transport Aviation Brigade, while three helicopter squadrons were dislocated to Zalužani near Banja Luka. 713th Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron was disbanded and attached to 711st Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron, so the Air Brigade, consisting only from two squadrons, 711st and 780th, has become 111th Helicopter Regiment on October 12, 1991. Regiment took important role during the early war in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, being used for transport of troops, ammunition, evacuation of civilians, CSAR
and MEDEVAC
missions.
By order from May 12, 1992, with withdrawn of Yugoslav People's Army
units from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 111th Helicopter Regiment supposed to relocate to Kraljevo-Lađevci Airport, but it has decided to become part of new formed Republika Srpska Air Force
. On 26 July 1992, just two months after the initial structure of the Bosnian Serb Air Force was established, the flying units were once again reorganized. The 111th Helicopter Regiment was disbanded, and a new unit designated 92nd Mixed Aviation Brigade was formed to control both fixed-wing and helicopter squadrons. Later, during the same year, the 711st Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron and the 780th Transport Helicopter Squadrons were merged to create the new unit designated 89th Mixed Helicopter Squadron.
The commanders of regiment since it's re-establishment were Stanislav Verbić, Drago Mikulandra, Marko Mrvac, Vukadin Živanović, Milorad Božić, Vilko Voljevac, Joviša Andrić, Alojz Hršak, Stefanović, Andrija Veselinović and Srećko Prentović.
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
: 111. helikopterski puk / 82. хеликоптерски пук) was an aviation regiment established in 1944 as 422nd Assault Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
: 422. vazduhoplovni jurišni puk / 422. ваздухопловни јуришни пук).
422nd Assault Aviation Regiment
The 422nd Assault Aviation Regiment was established on December 4, 1944, in Novi Sad, from Yugoslav partisan aviators with the Soviet Air ForceSoviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
17th Air Army's 166th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment (166.GShAP). It has become independent from Soviet command and personal since May 1945. The regiment was part of 42nd Aviation Assault Division, it was equipped with Soviet Il-2 Shturmovik ground-attack aircraft. The regiment has taken part in final operations for liberation of Yugoslavia. During the combat operations it was based at Novi Sad, Klenak, Mađarmečke and Pleso airfields.
After the war regiment has remain at Pleso.
By the 1948 year this regiment was renamed like all other units of Yugoslav Army
Yugoslav Army
Aside from the Yugoslav People's Army, the terms Yugoslav Army, Army of Yugoslavia, or Military of Yugoslavia may refer to:* Yugoslav Partisans , the Yugoslav resistance army during World War II...
, so it has become 111st Assault Aviation Regiment.
The commanders of regiment in this period were Krsta Lakićević, Hinko Šoić, Predavec and Milan Aćimović.
111st Assault and Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment
The 111st Assault Aviation Regiment remain at Pleso for short time. By 1949 it has moved to Cerklje where it has remain until it was disbanded. In 1954 Soviet-made Il-2 ground-attack aircraft were replaced with US-build F-47D ThunderboltP-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
fighters. In that period regiment was renamed to 111st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
: 111. lovačko-bombarderski avijacijski puk / 111. ловачко-бомбардерски авијацијски пук).
The 111st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment was disbanded by the March 1961.
The commanders of regiment in this period were Milan Aćimović, Miloš Milikić, Radoje Ljubičić, Matija Macut and Petar Orešćanin.
Re-establishment of 111st Regiment
By April 1961 at Cerklje airport 111st Support Aviation Regiment was formed from 679th Transport Aviation Squadron equipped with Soviet-made Lisunov Li-3 transport aircraft and 894th Liaison Aviation Squadron equipped with Yugoslav-made Ikarus Kurir liaison aircraft.The new 111st Regiment took the number, banner and continued tradition of former 111st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment.
780th Transport Helicopter Squadron equipped with new Soviet Mil Mi-4 helicopters has been reattached from 107th to 111st Regiment in 1964. Old Li-3 transport aircraft were replaced with similar US C-47 Skytrain by 1966. By 1973 780th Squadron has replaced Mi-4 with newer Mi-8T helicopters, and same year one more squadron, 781st Transport Helicopter Squadron also with Mi-8 helicopters has been reattached from 107th to 111st Regiment. Meanwhile in 1968 regiment has moved from Cerklje to Pleso airport and 894th Liaison Aviation Squadron has been disbanded. New Antonov An-26 cargo aircraft have replace Skytrain's in 1976.
Regiment was renamed to 111st Transport Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
: 111. vayduhoplovni transportni puk / 111. ваздухопловни транспортни пук) in 1978. In 1982 it has grown in to Aviation Brigade, consisting from two more new formed helicopter squadrons, 711st and 713th Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron equipped with domestic made Soko Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
.
War period
111th Aviation Brigade has been active since first days of war in Slovenia. One Mi-8 helicopter has been shot down by Slovenian Territorial DefenceSlovenian Territorial Defence
The Territorial Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, also the Territorial Defence of Slovenia was the predecessor of the Slovenian Armed Forces.- History :...
killing all crew of 3 pilots by afternoon of 27 June, 1991. As the war in Croatia started, Brigade has found it self located in hostile territory surrounded by the Croatian forces, the command of Yugoslav Air Force has ordered the dislocation of it's unit to safer territories, so the 679th Transport Aviation Squadron has moved to Batajnica Air Base and reattached to 138th Transport Aviation Brigade, while three helicopter squadrons were dislocated to Zalužani near Banja Luka. 713th Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron was disbanded and attached to 711st Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron, so the Air Brigade, consisting only from two squadrons, 711st and 780th, has become 111th Helicopter Regiment on October 12, 1991. Regiment took important role during the early war in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, being used for transport of troops, ammunition, evacuation of civilians, CSAR
Combat search and rescue
Combat search and rescue are search and rescue operations that are carried out during war that are within or near combat zones.A CSAR mission may be carried out by a task force of helicopters, ground-attack aircraft, tankers and an airborne command post...
and MEDEVAC
MEDEVAC
Medical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
missions.
By order from May 12, 1992, with withdrawn of Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
units from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 111th Helicopter Regiment supposed to relocate to Kraljevo-Lađevci Airport, but it has decided to become part of new formed Republika Srpska Air Force
Republika Srpska Air Force
The Republika Srpska Air Force was the air force of Republika Srpska and was used primarily during the Bosnian war. In 2005, it was integrated into the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. SFOR still plays a large role in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which consists of the Federation of Bosnia and...
. On 26 July 1992, just two months after the initial structure of the Bosnian Serb Air Force was established, the flying units were once again reorganized. The 111th Helicopter Regiment was disbanded, and a new unit designated 92nd Mixed Aviation Brigade was formed to control both fixed-wing and helicopter squadrons. Later, during the same year, the 711st Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron and the 780th Transport Helicopter Squadrons were merged to create the new unit designated 89th Mixed Helicopter Squadron.
The commanders of regiment since it's re-establishment were Stanislav Verbić, Drago Mikulandra, Marko Mrvac, Vukadin Živanović, Milorad Božić, Vilko Voljevac, Joviša Andrić, Alojz Hršak, Stefanović, Andrija Veselinović and Srećko Prentović.
Assignments
- 42nd Aviation Assault Division (1945)
- 2nd Aviation Assault Division (1945–1948)
- 37th Aviation Division (1948–1959)
- 5th Air Command (1959–1961)
- Disbanded
- 5th Air Command (1961–1964)
- 5th Air Corps (1964–1986)
- 5th Corps of Air Force and Air Defense (1986–1991)
- Republika Srpska Air ForceRepublika Srpska Air ForceThe Republika Srpska Air Force was the air force of Republika Srpska and was used primarily during the Bosnian war. In 2005, it was integrated into the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. SFOR still plays a large role in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which consists of the Federation of Bosnia and...
(1992)
Previous designations
- 422nd Assault Aviation Regiment (1944-1948)
- 111st Assault Aviation Regiment (1948-1952)
- 111st Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (1952-1961)
- Disbanded
- 111st Support Aviation Regiment (1961-1978)
- 111st Transport Aviation Regiment (1978-1981)
- 111st Aviation Brigade (1982-1991)
- 111st Helicopter Regiment (1991-1992)
1961-1978
- 111st Support Aviation Regiment
- 679th Transport Aviation Squadron
- 894th Liaison Aviation Squadron (1961-1968)
- 780th Transport Helicopter Squadron
- 781st Transport Helicopter Squadron (1973)
1978-1981
- 111st Transport Aviation Regiment
- 679th Transport Aviation Squadron
- 780th Transport Helicopter Squadron
- 781st Transport Helicopter Squadron
1982-1991
- 111st Aviation Brigade
- 679th Transport Aviation Squadron
- 780th Transport Helicopter Squadron
- 781st Transport Helicopter Squadron (1990)
- 711st Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron
- 713th Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron
1991-1992
- 111st Helicopter Regiment
- 780th Transport Helicopter Squadron
- 711st Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron
Bases stationed
- Novi SadNovi SadNovi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
(1944) - KlenakKlenak (Ruma)Klenak is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Ruma municipality, in the Srem District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 3,246 people .-See also:*List of places in Serbia...
(1944) - Mađarmečke (1945)
- PlesoZagreb AirportZagreb Airport , also known as Pleso Airport after the nearby suburb of Pleso, is the main international airport of Croatia and also a Croatian Air Force and Defense major fighter jet base. Located 10 km from the central railway station in Zagreb, it served 2,071,561 passengers in 2010 and is the...
(1945-1949) - Cerklje (1949-1961, 1961-1968)
- PlesoZagreb AirportZagreb Airport , also known as Pleso Airport after the nearby suburb of Pleso, is the main international airport of Croatia and also a Croatian Air Force and Defense major fighter jet base. Located 10 km from the central railway station in Zagreb, it served 2,071,561 passengers in 2010 and is the...
(1968-1991) - Zalužani (1991-1992)
Commanding officers
| Date appointed | Name |
|---|---|
| Krsta Lakićević | |
| Hinko Šoić | |
| Predavec | |
| Milan Aćimović | |
| Miloš Milikić | |
| Radoje Ljubičić | |
| Matija Macut | |
| Petar Orešćanin | |
| Stanislav Verbić | |
| Drago Mikulandra | |
| Marko Mrvac | |
| Vukadin Živanović | |
| Milorad Božić | |
| Vilko Voljevac | |
| Joviša Andrić | |
| Alojz Hršak | |
| Stefanović | |
| Andrija Veselinović | |
| Srećko Prentović | |
Equipment
- Ilyushin Il-2Ilyushin Il-2The Ilyushin Il-2 was a ground-attack aircraft in the Second World War, produced by the Soviet Union in very large numbers...
(1944–1952) - F-47D ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
(1954–1961) - Lisunov Li-3Lisunov Li-2The Lisunov Li-2, originally designated PS-84 , was a license-built version of the Douglas DC-3. It was produced by the GAZ-84 works at Moscow-Khimki, and subsequently at GAZ-33 at Tashkent-Vostochn. The project was directed by aeronautical engineer Boris Pavlovich Lisunov.-Design and...
(1961-1966) - Ikarus Kurir (1961-1969)
- Mil Mi-4Mil Mi-4The Mil Mi-4 was a Soviet transport helicopter that served in both military and civilian roles.-Design and development:...
(1964-1973) - Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1966-1976)
- Mil Mi-8Mil Mi-8The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
(1974-1992) - Antonov An-26Antonov An-26The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
(1976-1992) - Antonov An-2Antonov An-2The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
(1976-1992) - Soko SA.341 Gazelle/SA.342 GamaAérospatiale GazelleThe Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
(1982-1992)