Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia

The Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia, the Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske (ZNDH) was the national air force of the Independent State of Croatia

Independent State of Croatia

The Independent State of Croatia was a World War II puppet state of Nazi Germany, established on a part of Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. The NDH was founded on 10 April 1941, after the invasion of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers. All of Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed to NDH, together with some parts...

during World War II, founded under German authority in April 1941. In 1943 it was renamed the Croatian Battle Air Force.

Although it could not be considered a large air arm in the wider context of World War II, the ZNDH nonetheless had on its charge at one time or another some 650 aircraft between April 1941 and May 1945, as well as anti-aircraft and paratroop units. From humble beginnings in 1941, the ZNDH was still providing some measure of air-support (fighter, attack and transport) until the last days of World War II in Europe.

During the middle part of 1941, some of the ZNDH's man-power capacity was sent to the Eastern Front

Eastern Front (World War II)

The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...

as part of the Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....

, the Croatian Air Force Legion

Croatian Air Force Legion

The Croatian Air Force Legion , or HZL, also known as the Croatian Legion, was a military unit of the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia which fought alongside the Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front from 1941 to 1943 and then back on Croatian soil...

German

German language

German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....

: Kroatische Luftwaffen Legion). Most of the Croatian Air Force Legion's personnel were back on Croatian soil by late 1943-early 1944 to help counter the growing Allied air threat. A Croatian Anti-Aircraft Legion was also deployed.

The ZNDH maintained a flying school, originally at Rajlovac airfield near Sarajevo

Sarajevo

Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....

and then at Velika Gorica and Pleso airfields in Zagreb

Zagreb

Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...

. Its parachute and paratroop school was located in Koprivnica

Koprivnica

Koprivnica is a city in northern Croatia. It is the capital of the Koprivnica-Križevci county. In 2011 the city administrative area had a total population of 30,872, with 23,896 in the city itself.-Population:...

, and its scout (fighter) school was located in Zagreb

Zagreb

Organization

The Air Force was organized as follows:

Command of the Air Forces
1. Headquarters
2. Technical service
3. Economic-supply service
4. Justice department
5. Health section
6. Cultural-education section
7. Armed section
8. Command of quarters
Command of Aircraft
Information Service
Anti-Aircraft Artillery

Literature

The air force released a weekly paper called Hrvatska krila (Croatian Wings). It was edited by Major Mario Petrović. Other contributors included Alfons Vedelik, Franjo Vuk, prof. Aleksandar Mužinić, Borivoj Švajer and Dragutin Novaković. It also released two monthly papers: Modelar and Jedriličar.

Birth of an air force

The Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia, the Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske (ZNDH) came into being as early as 19 April 1941, just nine days after the proclamation of the Independent Croat State. Its commander was Colonel Vladimir Kren

Vladimir Kren

Vladimir Kren was a major general of the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia.He held the rank of captain in the Yugoslav Royal Air Force before defecting to the German army on January 4, 1941. With him he took plans of Yugoslav air fields, which he gave to German officials...

, a former captain of the Royal Yugoslav Air Force who had defected to Graz in his Potez 25

Potez 25

|-See also:*Aerial operations in the Chaco War-References:Heinonen, Timo Heinonen: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, 1992. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.-External links:* *...

on 4 April 1941 and declared himself an Ustashe supporter.

The first task of the new air force, the backbone of which was provided by 500 former Royal Yugoslav Air Force (JKRV) officers and 1,600 NCOs, was the acquisition or salvage of aircraft, weapons, equipment and fuel that had survived the fighting and had not been confiscated by the German or Italian forces.

Following the brief April war, the Germans had captured a substantial number of ex-Royal Yugoslav Air Force aircraft, over 300 machines in fact. They considered them to be of little use for the Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

, so it was decided to equip the ZNDH with an appropriate number of these aircraft. These aircraft, scattered in every corner of the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia, were then collected, minor damage repaired and stocks of fuel and spare parts stored at airfield workshops. Naturally, the majority of the aircraft were more or less damaged and action was undertaken to repair as many of them as possible. Former JKRV pilots of Croatian origin and other personnel of aeronautical specialty were approached and offered instant rehabilitation (most of them were in German POW camps), jobs and safety for their families.

Colonel Vladimir Kren

Vladimir Kren

also initiated the formation of an early warning system, anti-aircraft batteries (armed with German and Czech weapons) and various training and servicing departments, ammunition stores and workshop facilities. The fuel necessary for the operations of the ZNDH was supplied by the Germans from former Yugoslav stocks in Kraljevo

Kraljevo

Kraljevo is a city and municipality in central Serbia, built beside the river Ibar, 7 km west of its confluence with the Western Morava. It is located in the midst of an upland valley, between the mountains of Kotlenik in the north, and Stolovi in the south.In 2011 the city has population of...

, Serbia.

As early as May 1941, the Croats had asked Germany for, among other things, 22 Messerschmitt 109s. Instead, they got the worst remains of the JKRV. Yet, at the same time, Germany appropriated 6 captured Dornier Do 17

Dornier Do 17

The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...

K bombers, which were then supplied to Bulgaria

Bulgaria

Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...

. Romania

Romania

Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...

received six ex-JKRV Hawker Hurricane

Hawker Hurricane

The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...

s, as well as six Bristol Blenheim

Bristol Blenheim

The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...

s, whilst Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

received 20 half-completed Blenheims, together with manufacturing tools and production equipment, as well as a huge variety of spare parts.

The personnel of the ZNDH took over and re-activated the airfields at Zagreb

Zagreb

, Sarajevo

Sarajevo

Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....

, Mostar

Mostar

Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...

, Banja Luka

Banja Luka

-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...

and Zemun

Zemun

Zemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...

, where the Ikarus and Zmaj aircraft plants were located. By June 1941, the Germans had begun to pass on to the ZNDH various captured Royal Yugoslav Air Force aircraft, including eight Bristol Blenheim

Bristol Blenheim

I and five Potez 25

Potez 25

|-See also:*Aerial operations in the Chaco War-References:Heinonen, Timo Heinonen: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, 1992. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.-External links:* *...

bombers, These and most of the 211 ex-Yugoslav aircraft received by the ZNDH had first to be repaired and/or overhauled at the Ikarus plant in Zemun

Zemun

Zemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...

The first missions - 1941

In late 1941 the ZNDH had 95 aircraft distributed in four groups and eight squadrons. Fighting the Yugoslav Partisans from the air had begun already in late June 1941, when Breguet 19

Breguet 19

The Breguet 19 was a light bomber and reconnaissance plane, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French Breguet company and produced from 1924.-Development:...

and Potez 25

Potez 25

|-See also:*Aerial operations in the Chaco War-References:Heinonen, Timo Heinonen: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, 1992. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.-External links:* *...

light bombers had proved most suitable. The Breguets could carry a bomb load of up to 400 kg (880 lb) using 24 12 kg bombs, whilst the Potez 25s could carry about half that amount. Both types were also armed with three 7.7 mm machine-guns. Altogether the Croat Air Force eventually came to possess 50 Breguet 19s and 45 Potez 25s. The operational use of these light bombers was not limited to fighting the Partisans; the aircraft were also used to supply isolated or surrounded Croat strong points.

The emblem of the ZNDH was to be the red and white chequerboard insignia, , derived from the Croat coat of arms, dating back to the 10th century, carried on the fin. In January 1945 this was replaced by the black and white trefoil cross of King Zvonimir.

As well as the Breguet and Potez aircraft, which were the most numerous types in the ZNDH inventory, Zmaj Fizir FP-2

Zmaj Fizir FP-2

Aircraft Zmaj Fizir FP-2 was a Yugoslav single-engine, two-seater biplane. It was designed by R. Fizir and D. Stankov built at the Factory "Zmaj" in Zemun in 1936.-Design and development:...

light biplane trainers were also converted to carry six 12 kg bombs. These aircraft were used to bomb and strafe Partisan troops and positions in northern Bosnia but they also faced return fire. The first missions cost the ZNDH one Breguet and a Potez aircraft, both of which crash landed after being hit by Partisan ground fire. The Croat crews had little chance of survival after being hit, as they flew without flying suits, helmets or parachutes (which were not available at the time!) - hence their desperate crash-landings.

Similar actions continued throughout 1941. The ZNDH flew many missions in support of Army troops in limited scale operations against the Partisans mostly over eastern and western Bosnia, as well as over Croatia. By September, the ZNDH introduced larger aircraft for bombing Partisan forces and territory. Two bombers, an Avia Fokker F.IX

Fokker F.IX

-References:* *...

derived F.39 and a Savoia Marchetti SM-79 were available for operations and had the added advantage of being able to carry 100 kg bombs. They were extensively used for bombing villages and road communications. However it was soon established that the vintage biplane Breguet 19

Breguet 19

The Breguet 19 was a light bomber and reconnaissance plane, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French Breguet company and produced from 1924.-Development:...

and Potez 25

Potez 25

|-See also:*Aerial operations in the Chaco War-References:Heinonen, Timo Heinonen: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, 1992. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.-External links:* *...

aircraft were ideally suited for missions against Partisan troop concentrations. Although they were outdated and certainly their use would be out of the question on any other front, their performance and armament made them very dangerous for an ill-armed enemy. The Partisans were scattered in villages, forests and mountains and their positions could only be detected by a slow moving aircraft. Visual reconnaissance missions using hand-held cameras were also flown. Aerial reconnaissance supplied the Croatian Army with vital data about Partisan movements and positions and about the situation in Partisan territory in general. This was all the more important because the Croatian Army desperately lacked radio equipment of all kinds. Light aircraft were frequently used for liaison duties, particularly connecting the surrounding NDH garrisons and higher command. Often the Army requested one or two aircraft to be temporarily attached to particular Army units to closely co-operate with ground troops.

The ZNDH's fighter force was poorly equipped in every respect, consisting of 12 ex-JKRV machines including four Ikarus IK 2

Ikarus IK 2

-Bibliography:* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: MacDonald & Co. Ltd., 1961 . ISBN 0-356-01448-7....

s, seven ancient Avia BH-33

Avia BH-33

|-See also:-References:* Belcarz, Bartłomiej . Avia BH-33 , PWS-10, PZL P.7a, Polskie Skrzydła #3. Sandomierz: Wydawnictwo Stratus, ISBN 83-89450-36-4 .* Němeček, Vaclav . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko.*...

Es and one Hawker Fury

Hawker Fury

The Hawker Fury was a British biplane fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force in the 1930s. It was originally named the Hornet and was the counterpart to the Hawker Hart light bomber.-Design and development:...

II. Fortunately for this ill-equipped force, there was no aerial opposition and some more modern fighter aircraft were received from 1942 onwards.

Colder October and November weather limited aerial activities over the Yugoslav Front. The Partisan operations spread to eastern Serbian territory and the squadrons based at Sarajevo airfield made their appearance on the Bosnian-Serbian border area. The Partisans were trying to secure and expand a territory in the eastern part of Yugoslavia, which they had liberated in the Autumn of 1941. The ZNDH flew daily supply missions with their Avia-Fokker F.39 and due to the lack of other aircraft also used the venerable Breguets and Potez. These could land on hastily prepared strips and performed very well in airlifting supplies to the surrounded garrison of Visegrad

Visegrad

Visegrad is a name of Slavic origin meaning "the upper castle" or "the upper settlement/town/fortification".There are several places that may be spelt Visegrad in English:-Places:* Višegrad, a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina...

Expansion - 1942

In 1942, fighting with the Partisans intensified. Not only had they liberated a substantial territory in the eastern part of Yugoslavia, but they encouraged rebellion all over the country. The German, Italian and NDH

NDH

The letters NDH can mean:* The Independent State of Croatia * New German Hardness, or Neue Deutsche Härte * National Dairy Holdings L.P.* In ads for used vehicles, particularly aircraft: No damage history...

governments were aware of this danger and they used every means available to destroy the Partisan forces. They planned several large-scale operations for this purpose in which air support played a very important role.

The first half of 1942 was marked by several deliveries of new or refurbished aircraft from Germany and Italy, aside from those received from Ikarus in Zemun

Zemun

Zemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...

. First of all the ZNDH received 10 brand new Caproni Ca.311

Caproni Ca.311

|-See also:-External links:* http://wmilitary.neurok.ru/caproni.ca311.html...

M medium bombers from Italy. These aircraft had been ordered and paid for by the Yugoslav Government for service in the Royal Yugoslav Air Force, but the Axis Invasion of Yugoslavia

Invasion of Yugoslavia

The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...

prevented delivery. The ZNDH also purchased 20 AVIA F.L.3 basic trainers, nine Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

The Fiat G.50 Freccia was a World War II Italian fighter aircraft. First flown in February 1937, the G.50 was Italy’s first single-seat, all-metal monoplane with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear to go into production...

bis fighters and one Fiat G.50B two-seat fighter trainer. The Fiat aircraft were to provide the ZNDH's fighter pilots with some operational training on more modern aircraft.

Other batches of overhauled ex-Royal Yugoslav Air Force (JKRV) aircraft also arrived from the Ikarus aircraft plant in Zemun

Zemun

Zemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...

, including 11 Dornier Do-17K, 3 Bristol Blenheim

Bristol Blenheim

Mk I and one Caproni Ca.310

Caproni Ca.310

|-See also:-Bibliography:* Bishop, Chris. The Complete Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. London: Brown Books, 1998. ISBN 1-897884-36-2....

bombers, 15 Rogozarski PVT

Rogozarski PVT

The Rogozarski PVT was a single-engined, two-seat parasol winged aircraft designed as an advanced and fighter trainer in Yugoslavia before World War II. Over 60 were built, serving with the Yugoslav Royal Air Force until the fall of Yugoslavia in 1941...

and 11 Rogozarski R-100

Rogozarski R-100

The Rogozarski R-100 was a single-engined, single-seat parasol winged aircraft designed as an advanced and fighter trainer in Yugoslavia before World War II. Over 25 were built, serving with the Yugoslav Royal Air Force until the fall of Yugoslavia in 1941...

attack aircraft, which had been fitted with bomb racks to carry 100 kg bombs, plus a few Breguet 19s, Potez 25s, Zmaj Fizir FN

Zmaj Fizir FN

The Fizir FN was a plane designed crates school primary training of pilots in Yugoslavia before World War II...

s and Zmaj Fizir FP-2

Zmaj Fizir FP-2

Aircraft Zmaj Fizir FP-2 was a Yugoslav single-engine, two-seater biplane. It was designed by R. Fizir and D. Stankov built at the Factory "Zmaj" in Zemun in 1936.-Design and development:...

s. From Prague in Czechoslovakia (under German occupation), the ZNDH received seven Avia Fokker F.7 transports, one Avia Fokker F.9 and one Avia Fokker F.18. Of these, the F.7s and F.18 were pre-war Czech airliners. As the ZNDH suffered from a total lack of transport aircraft, these were immediately pressed into service, after only minor adjustments.

The nine Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

bis fighters took off from Turin

Turin

Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...

-Fiat Aviazione

Fiat Aviazione

Fiat Aviazione was an Italian aircraft manufacturer, at one time part of the Fiat group, focused mainly on military aviation. After the World War I, Fiat consolidated several Italian small aircraft manufacturers, like Pomilio and Ansaldo. Most famous were Fiat biplane fighter aircraft of the 1930s,...

on 12 June 1942, but before crossing the border they were stopped by an order from Capo di Stato Maggiore Cavallero, that was afraid the Croatian pilots could defect with the new Fiat aircraft. The G.50 aircraft had to wait until 25 June before being delivered to the 16th Squadron at Banja Luka

Banja Luka

, but during the course of 1942, five were transferred to the 1st Squadron stationed in Zagreb

Zagreb

in order to strengthen the defence of the Croatian capital. Their deployment between the two squadrons was aimed to further familiarise the Croatian fighter pilots with more sophisticated aircraft. Until that time, the only fighters available in numbers were the seven ancient Avia BH-33

Avia BH-33

E biplanes and four Ikarus IK-2 gull wing

Gull wing

The gull wing is an aircraft's wing configuration with a prominent bend in the wing somewhere along the span, generally near the wing root. Its name is derived from the seabirds which it resembles. It has been incorporated in aircraft for many reasons....

fighters (for which there were very few spares), as well as 11 Rogozarski R-100

Rogozarski R-100

parasol wing

Parasol wing

A parasol wing monoplane is an aircraft design in which the wing is not mounted directly to the fuselage, but rather, the fuselage is supported beneath it by a set of struts, called cabane struts...

fighter-trainers.

Thanks to this extended aircraft park the ZNDH could now form new units: in January the 1st Group, comprising the 1st, 2nd 3rd and 19th Squadrons were formed at Zagreb

Zagreb

, and then the 2nd Group with the 4th, 5th and 6th squadrons and the 3rd Group with the 7th, 8th and 9th Squadrons at Sarajevo

Sarajevo

Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....

's Rajlovac airfield, whilst the 6th Group was formed at Banja Luka

Banja Luka

's Zaluzani airfield in June 1942 to cover operations in central Croatia and western Bosnia.

These reinforcements came just in time to participate in a large German offensive against the Partisan forces in eastern Bosnia. Initially, the Regia Aeronautica

Regia Aeronautica

The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...

also participated in this campaign, but after a tragic incident where an Italian bomber mistakenly attacked German positions near Vlasenica, the German command assigned the ZNDH the responsibility for providing the entire aerial support mission for formations on the ground. At this time there were no significant Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

forces based in Yugoslavia.

In support of the ground forces, the ZNDH flew 121 combat missions in January, 100 missions in February and 350 in March. Although the Axis ground forces generally succeeded in their operations in January and February, in March they were forced to release the pressure as other Partisan units attacked several solitary NDH

NDH

garrisons, threatening to destroy them.

Aside from constant bombing sorties, Potez 25

Potez 25

|-See also:*Aerial operations in the Chaco War-References:Heinonen, Timo Heinonen: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, 1992. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.-External links:* *...

and Breguet 19

Breguet 19

The Breguet 19 was a light bomber and reconnaissance plane, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French Breguet company and produced from 1924.-Development:...

aircraft were also used for daily supply missions to the besieged Croatian Army garrison at Rogatica

Rogatica

Rogatica is a municipality and town in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina located 60 kilometres northeast of Sarajevo; midway on the road from Goražde towards Sokolac...

. They would land under fire at a small improvised grass landing strip, unloading ammunition and other supplies while keeping their engines running and taking off as soon as was possible. On 23 March, a ZNDH Potez 25 was shot down by the Partisans and the crew were killed. Three days later an Avia Fokker F.9 was damaged whilst dropping ammunition to Rogatica but managed to return to base safely. As a result of the determined re-supply effort by the ZNDH, the Croatian Rogatica garrison succeeded in holding out until relieved by German-Croatian forces on 17 April.

As the weather improved towards the summer, flying activity intensified. Some 325 missions were flown during April, with a further 350 sorties during May, including direct combat support, reconnaissance and supply missions, as well as leaflet dropping.

Most of the missions were performed by the 2nd and 3rd Group's squadrons based at Sarajevo, which was the strongest operational base at that time. The Zagreb air base was principally employed in attacking Partisan positions in western Slavonia and Bosnia.

The 10 new Caproni Ca.311Ms were tried out during the successive attacks on Partisan territory. They were equally divided between 3rd Squadron (Zagreb) and 7th Squadron (Rajlovac). During September and October Blenheims from 8th Squadron and the Dornier Do-17Ks from 3rd and 9th Squadrons were extensively used to attack Partisan positions in Bihac

Bihac

Bihać is a city and municipality on the river Una in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosanska Krajina region. Bihać is located in the Una-Sana Canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:...

, Bugojno

Bugojno

Bugojno is a town and municipality of the same name in central Bosnia and Herzegovina on the river Vrbas. It is located in the Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity. The town is to the northwest from Sarajevo, with an estimated population of 50,000 .To the west...

, Livno

Livno

Livno is a town in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, located between Tomislavgrad, Glamoč, Bosansko Grahovo, Kupres and the Croatian border.- Position :...

and Duvno and Bosnia. Owing to the availability of increased numbers of aircraft, the 6th Group was formed at Banja Luka comprising the 13th, 16th, 17th and 18th Squadrons. Not only did this medium bomber force fly reconnaissance and bombing missions against Partisan forces, but also flew deep into territory under Partisan control and attacked railway stations, road traffic, agricultural depots and food stocks.

The Yugoslav Partisan forces were aware of the threat to their operations that the ZNDH provided and were constantly trying to improve their anti-aircraft defence, which relied mainly on machine-guns.

December 1942 also saw the return of the Croatian Air Force Legion

Croatian Air Force Legion

(HZL) bomber squadron to Croatia from service on the Eastern Front

Eastern Front (World War II)

, where they had flown more than 1,500 sorties. Upon its return the Legion's bomber squadron was redesignated 1./(Kroat.)KG after having flown its nine Dornier Do 17

Dornier Do 17

The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...

Z bombers from Russia back to Croatia. The Dorniers proved a welcome addition to the strike power of the Axis

Axis Powers

The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...

forces fighting the Yugoslav Partisans on the Yugoslav Front right up to the end of 1944. In late 1943, a second squadron, 2./(Kroat.)KG was formed to provide operational training. It was equipped with Italian designed and built CANT Z.1007

CANT Z.1007

The Cant Z.1007 Alcione was a three-engined medium bomber, with wooden structure. Designed by ingegner Filippo Zappata, the "father" of the CANT...

and Fiat BR.20

Fiat BR.20

The Fiat BR.20 Cicogna was a low-wing twin-engine medium bomber produced from mid-1930s until the end of World War II by the Turin firm. When it entered service in 1936 it was the first all-metal Italian bomber and it was regarded as one of the most modern medium bomber of the world...

medium bombers.

During the course of 1942, the ZNDH flew some 4,800 sorties, of which 30% were combat missions, with 35 aircraft being lost. Of these losses, 19 were to Partisan ground fire, 12 to accidents and four deserted. By the end of the year the Croat aircraft park consisted of 191 aircraft, formed into 14 squadrons.

1942 had seen the first desertions of aircraft from the ZNDH, the first on 23 May when a Breguet and a Potez had defected to the Yugoslav Partisan forces. The Croatian armed forces conducted an intensive search for the aircraft and in response the Partisans produced two decoy scale-model aircraft, made of wood and canvas, which were duly destroyed by ZNDH bombers. Both "destroyed" aircraft were able to perform a number of attacks on NDH

NDH

forces (armed with hand-made pipe bombs) before either being shot down (the Breguet on 4 June) or destroyed on the ground (the Potez on 6 July). The two other defections occurred in July and October, with a Blenheim bomber in each case flying to Turkey

Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

Croatian paratroops

In January 1942, the ZNDH formed a parachute unit, known as the 1st Light Infantry Parachute Company or 1 PLS. It had a strength of 120 men and was based in the northern Croatian town of Koprivnica

Koprivnica

, near the border with Hungary. An Avia Fokker F.7 tri-motor transport aircraft was assigned to the unit on a permanent basis, with other transports assigned as required. The paratroops were equipped with rifles, sub-machine guns, light machine guns and light mortars. After a period of training, 1 PLS made a demonstration mass tactical jump on 6 July 1943 at Borongaj airfield, Zagreb

Zagreb

. 45 paratroopers made a successful jump from three Avia Fokker transports.

On 6 November 1943, three brigades of the Yugoslav Partisans, supported by artillery and heavy machine-guns mounted an attack on the town of Koprivnica, which they took on 9 November. The paratroops of 1 PLS held out at their base for three days before withdrawing into Hungary and continuing the battle with other NDH and German defending forces until 29 November. They received direct air support from ZNDH Dornier Do-17Ks, as well as supplies from light aircraft, but were unable to prevent the loss of their base, together with 20 men, all of their parachute equipment and their transport aircraft. The ZNDH also lost a Dornier Do 17 bomber and a Bucker Bu 131

Bücker Bü 131

|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgeman, Leonard. “The Bücker Bü 131B “Jungmann”.” Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0....

biplane shot down during this period.

The unit was re-deployed in 1944 to Borongaj airfield in Zagreb and in June 1944 grew in strength with the addition of 3 further companies and was re-designated as the 1st Light Infantry Parachute Battalion or 1 PLB. They were responsible for the ground defence of this important air base and also performed ceremonial guard duties in Zagreb itself.

By late January 1945 the unit was equipped with white winter jackets for camouflage and attached to the Croatian Army's Motorized Brigade, seeing its first action on this new sector, south of Zagreb. 1 PLB remained in constant action against the advancing Yugoslav Partisans until the last unit surrendered in Austria on 14 May 1945, one week after the official end of World War II.

The balance shifts - 1943

At the beginning of 1943 the Axis forces had complete control of the airspace over the Yugoslav Front. No aerial opposition of any kind was expected and that was the primary reason that the bomber force could operate without any fighter cover, notwithstanding the fact that there was a total lack of any serious fighter force in the ZNDH's squadrons. However, the situation started to change by the beginning of 1943.

The Headquarters (HQ) of the ZNDH had plans to re-arm at least one Group with more modern aircraft of German or Italian origin. The Italians refused to supply the requested Macchi C.200

Macchi C.200

The Macchi C.200 Saetta was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Aeronautica Macchi in Italy, and used in various forms throughout the Regia Aeronautica . The MC.200 had excellent manoeuvrability and general flying characteristics left little to be desired...

and Macchi C.202 fighters, as the Regia Aeronautica

Regia Aeronautica

The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...

needed every aircraft to fill its "squadriglia" in the beginning of 1943.

This was because the situation began to change in favour of the Allies. They had landed in North Africa while the Soviets were undertaking their great winter offensive, endangering, and eventually defeating, the Wehrmacht

Wehrmacht

The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...

6th Army around Stalingrad.

The Partisan movement in Yugoslavia, aside from some smaller territories, established a large liberated territory extending west of the rivers Neretva and Bosna, in the direction of the cities of Zagreb

Zagreb

and Rijeka

Rijeka

Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...

. The Partisan force had grown stronger – it had more than 60,000 armed fighters in this so-called "Tito's State" who were both well trained and supported by artillery. On 20 January 1943, the German HQ in Yugoslavia launched an offensive codenamed "Fall Weiss

Fall Weiss

Fall Weiss translates as Case White following the German military's naming convention.Fall Weiss may refer to two military operations:* Fall Weiss , the German strategic plan for a war with Poland...

" (Case White), intending to regain the lost territory. The attack was supported by aircraft from the Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

, Regia Aeronautica

Regia Aeronautica

The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...

and the ZNDH. Aircraft from the 2nd and 3rd Groups from Sarajevo

Sarajevo

Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....

and the 6th Group from Banja Luka

Banja Luka

were involved in bombing raids as well as leaflet dropping missions.

The Banja Luka air base was reinforced by a newly formed 5th Group after the end of operation "Fall Weiss". The ZNDH now consisted of three air bases with six Groups and 14 squadrons. During 1943 new aircraft continued to arrive, with 30 overhauled Dornier Do-17E bombers delivered from Germany and divided between the 3rd Squadron (Zagreb), and the 13th and 15th Squadrons (Banja Luka). From Italy came 34 long promised ex-JKRV Bucker Bu 131

Bücker Bü 131

|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgeman, Leonard. “The Bücker Bü 131B “Jungmann”.” Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0....

Jungmans and 25 Saiman 200

SAIMAN 200

|-See also:...

light biplane trainers, which were dispatched to all three air bases.

Although the ZNDH had a brief role in the subsequent anti-Partisan offensive, "Fall Schwarz" (Case Black) in mid 1943, its main involvement was on the front in central Croatia. As always, the Partisan resistance displayed frustrating survivability and effectiveness and new events started to influence the fighting in Yugoslavia.

The Partisan forces were well aware of the constant threat of air attack posed by the ZNDH's medium bomber force and on 10 August 1943 undertook a devastating night attack by a brigade on Sarajevo

Sarajevo

Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....

's Rajlovac airfield. The three and a half hour assault on the airfield left 10 ZNDH bombers, plus another five Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

bombers and transports, destroyed, with another 17 aircraft damaged. Although some aircrews returned fire from the machine-gun turrets of their aircraft, Partisan losses were less than 20. Afterwards ZNDH Command complained that the German ordered dispersal of aircraft around the airfield's perimeter, in case of air attack, made the aircraft especially vulnerable to just this type of ground attack.

By mid-1943, following the capture of southern Italy, Allied aircraft started to appear over the Balkans. NDH

NDH

military command was aware of this danger and was trying to persuade the Germans to provide at least two squadrons of Messerschmitt 109 fighters to the ZNDH. However, instead of Messerschmitts, the only reinforcement fighters that came from Germany were the first of a batch of 36 overhauled captured French Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....

fighters in October, plus another dozen which arrived in December. The Germans also supplied 25 Beneš-Mráz Beta-Minor

Beneš-Mráz Beta-Minor

|-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....

sporting two seater monoplanes, which were dispatched between the squadrons for liaison duty, as the lack of radio communications equipment at squadron level was still evident.

Following the capitulation of Italy in September 1943, around 60 Regia Aeronautica

Regia Aeronautica

The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...

aircraft were found at Mostar

Mostar

and Zadar

Zadar

Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...

airfields and 33 machines were incorporated into the ZNDH. This number included further Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

fighters, as well as six Fiat CR.42

Fiat CR.42

The Fiat CR.42 Falco was a single-seat sesquiplane fighter which served primarily in Italy's Regia Aeronautica before and during World War II. The aircraft was produced by the Turin firm, and entered service, in smaller numbers, with the air forces of Belgium, Sweden and Hungary...

biplane

Biplane

A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...

fighters. Some CANT Z.1007

CANT Z.1007

The Cant Z.1007 Alcione was a three-engined medium bomber, with wooden structure. Designed by ingegner Filippo Zappata, the "father" of the CANT...

and Fiat BR.20

Fiat BR.20

bombers were also added into the ZNDH. The Luftwaffe subsequently also supplied the Croatian Air Force Legion

Croatian Air Force Legion

(HZL) with about 20-25 Fiat G.50s captured by German troops on Regia Aeronautica airfields in the Balkans

Balkans

The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...

.

The capitulation of Italy also brought with it the real threat of an invasion by the Allies of the Dalmatian coast. As a result on 9 September, orders were received by 1./(Kroat.)KG to execute two coastal reconnaissance sorties over the central and south Adriatic each morning and afternoon. On 10 October one of its Dornier Do-17Zs was intercepted by 8 Spitfire

Supermarine Spitfire

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...

Mk.VIII fighters of RAF 92.Sqn near the coast of Italy. All of the fighters made firing passes on the Dornier, which was shot down, the crew bailing out. But one Spitfire was hit by return fire and crashed into the sea, killing its pilot. After this, reconnaissance sorties were confined to the vicinity of the Dalmatian coast.

Attacks on Yugoslav Partisan forces continued however, and on 3 October seven Dornier Do-17Zs caught 2. bataljon of Brigada Braća Radić (2nd battalion of the Radić Brothers Brigade) on the move at Šemovac, on the Varaždin

Varaždin

Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...

-Ludbreg road. In over one hour's concentrated aerial bombardment, the battalion sustained some sixty casualties, including 42 dead.

Although the ZNDH was now able to mount a credible threat against the insurgents, by then a new menace was arriving from the other side of the Adriatic. On 30 June 1943, the first Allied reconnaissance flights were reported, followed by the first USAAF bombers, when 61 B-24 Liberators of IX Bomber Command overflew Croatia on a deep penetration raid on the Austrian city of Wiener Neustadt

Wiener Neustadt

-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...

on 13 August. The ZNDH's 3rd Flak Group, defending Brod na Savi (Slavonski Brod

Slavonski Brod

Slavonski Brod is a city in Croatia, with a population of 59,507 in 2011. The city was known as Marsonia in the Roman Empire, and as Brod na Savi 1244–1934. It is the sixth largest city in Croatia, after Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek and Zadar. Located in the region of Slavonia, it is the...

), managed to shoot down a single bomber en route to its target.

The best aircraft that the ZNDH could put up to defend its homeland at the end of 1943 were 20 Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....

s, 10 Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

s, six Fiat CR.42

Fiat CR.42

s, five Avia BH-33

Avia BH-33

s and two Ikarus IK 2

Ikarus IK 2

-Bibliography:* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: MacDonald & Co. Ltd., 1961 . ISBN 0-356-01448-7....

fighters – aircraft that had been obsolete in 1940.

By the end of 1943 the ZNDH was 9,775 strong and equipped with 295 aircraft, having lost 61 shot down, destroyed on the ground, in accidents and five desertions.

The Allies strike hard - 1944

With the capitulation of Italy, the ZNDH lost an important source of new aircraft and the tide turned significantly when Allied air raids on targets in the Balkans

Balkans

The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...

became a reality. The Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

fighter squadrons stationed in Ljubljana

Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...

, Zagreb

Zagreb

, southern Austria and northern Italy fought heavy battles to stop the American USAAF heavy bomber armada. The ZNDH was also included in the defence with the newly formed 11th Fighter Group consisting of the 21st, 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons equipped with Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....

and Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

aircraft.

1944 also saw the return of the Croatian Air Force Legion

Croatian Air Force Legion

(HZL) fighter squadron to Croatia from service on the Eastern Front

Eastern Front (World War II)

. Upon its return the HZL was redesignated Kroat. JGr 1 and its operational fighter squadron was redesignated 2./(Kroat.)JGr. Soon after arrival 2./(Kroat.)JGr sent its Croatian pilots to collect 12 brand new Macchi C.202 fighters direct from the plant near Milan

Milan

Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...

in Italy. These aircraft retained their Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

markings whilst in service with the unit. A second training/operational conversion squadron was also formed, designated 3./(Kroat.)JGr and equipped with Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

, Macchi C.200

Macchi C.200

and Fiat CR.42

Fiat CR.42

fighters. After a period of operational conversion, the squadron commenced operations against the frequent incursions over Croatia by USAAF and RAF aircraft. During a period of intensive activity over the summer of 1944, the squadron claimed some 20 Allied aircraft shot down, while at the same time receiving six further Macchi C.202s, as well as four brand new Macchi C.205

Macchi C.205

The Macchi C.205 Veltro was an Italian World War II fighter aircraft built by the Aeronautica Macchi. Along with the Reggiane Re.2005 and Fiat G.55, the Macchi C.205 was one of the three "Serie 5" Italian fighters built around the powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine...

s.

The ZNDH's long obsolete Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....

and Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

fighter aircraft also bravely attempted to intercept the USAAF bomber formations, often stressing their old engines beyond the limit, but were no match for the escorting Mustang and Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt

A thunderbolt is a discharge of lightning accompanied by a loud thunderclap or its symbolic representation. In its original usage the word may also have been a description of meteors, or, as Plato suggested in Timaeus, of the consequences of a close approach between two planetary cosmic bodies,...

USAAF fighters and suffered heavy losses, both in the air and on the ground.

By the end of 1944 the HZL squadron had handed in its remaining worn-out Macchis for brand new German Messerschmitt 109G & K fighters. A total of 21 Messerschmitts had been delivered to the ZNDH by year's end.

Allied aircraft specifically started targeting ZNDH and Luftwaffe

Luftwaffe

bases and aircraft for the first time as a result of the Seventh anti-Partisan Offensive, including Operation Rösselsprung in late May 1944. Up until then Axis aircraft could fly inland almost at will as long as they remained at low altitude. Yugoslav Partisan units on the ground frequently complained about enemy aircraft attacking them while hundreds of Allied aircraft flew above at higher altitude. This changed during Rösselsprung as Allied fighter-bombers went low en-masse for the first time, establishing full aerial superiority. Consequently, both the ZNDH and Luftwaffe were forced to limit their operations in clear weather to early morning and late afternoon hours.

In June, the ZNDH finally received from Germany long-promised abwurfbehalter - containers for air-drops of ammunition and other equipment, constantly in need by besieged and encircled garrisons all over the NDH

NDH

. They were immediately put to good use and eased the work of the already overstretched ZNDH. The Dornier Do 17

Dornier Do 17

The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...

s of the ZNDH proved to be especially well suited for such tasks.

Fifteen Ju 87D dive bombers and a few Ju 87R-2 extended range dive bombers are known to have been supplied to the Croatian Air Force Legion

Croatian Air Force Legion

, and six of these were flown operationally against Soviet troops in the late summer of 1944.

In the second half of 1944, the situation on all fronts rapidly worsened for the Axis forces. Soviet, Bulgarian and Partisan

Partisan (military)

A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...

armies had liberated the whole eastern part of Yugoslavia and Partisan forces in Bosnia pressed their attacks on even larger Axis garrisons. In a surprise attack on 20 September, they captured the city of Banja Luka

Banja Luka

and the ZNDH's airbase at Zaluzani airfield, including 11 unserviceable aircraft. In the total confusion during the attack on the airfield, a number of ZNDH crews managed to take off and escape at the last moment, some even starting their take off runs when barely clear of open hangar doors, using suppressing fire provided by their machine-gun turrets, whilst others took off under heavy Partisan fire. The city and airbase were re-taken several days later in a heavy counter-attack by NDH and German troops.

The Germans also continued to supply 2nd line aircraft to the ZNDH, including between 8 and 12 exotic Fieseler Fi 167

Fieseler Fi 167

|-See also:*Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia-References:* Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. New York: Doubleday, 1972. ISBN 0-385-05782-2....

biplane torpedo bombers. These had been originally designed and intended for use aboard the German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin

German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin

German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin was the lead ship in a class of two carriers ordered by the Kriegsmarine. She was the only aircraft carrier launched by Germany during World War II and represented part of the Kriegsmarine's attempt to create a well-balanced oceangoing fleet, capable of...

, which was never completed. After that they were sold to Croatia

Independent State of Croatia

, where their short-field and load-carrying abilities made them ideal not only for attack missions, but also for transporting ammunition and other supplies to besieged Croatian Army garrisons. Many of these missions were flown between their arrival in September 1944 and the end of the War (under the right conditions, the aircraft could descend almost vertically). During one such mission, near Sisak

Sisak

Sisak is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2011 was 33,049, with a total of 49,699 in the administrative region and it is also the administrative centre of the Sisak-Moslavina county...

on 10 October 1944, an Fi 167 of the ZNDH was attacked by five P-51 Mustang

P-51 Mustang

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...

Mk IIIs of 213 Squadron RAF. The crew of the Fieseler (piloted by an ex-HZL 8-kill Flying ace

Flying ace

A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...

), exploiting the aircraft's extreme manoeuvrability to the fullest, had the distinction of shooting down one of the Mustangs before itself being shot down; possibly one of the last biplane "kills" of the war.

Death of an air force - 1945

1944 had been a catastrophic year for the ZNDH. Aircraft losses amounted to 234, primarily on the ground, and it entered 1945 with 196 machines, including 17 Messerschmitt 109Gs, 12 Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....

, seven Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

and two Fiat CR.42

Fiat CR.42

fighters and some thirty multi-engined bombers, although shortages of fuel had begun to hamper operations.

Further deliveries of new aircraft from Germany continued in the early months of 1945 to replace losses. These included, in addition to regular Messerschmitt 109G deliveries, the final dozen Dornier Do-17 medium bombers in January. In March, the ZNDH's fighter force included 23 Messerschmitt 109G&Ks, three Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....

, six Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

and two Messerschmitt 110G fighters. The ZNDH still had 176 aircraft on its strength in April 1945.

The Dornier Do-17 medium bombers of the ZNDH were still hitting back when and where they could and on 31 December 1944 a Dornier Do-17E attacked an RAF 148 Squadron Handley Page Halifax

Handley Page Halifax

The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engined heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing...

bomber on the ground at the Partisan airfield at Grabovnica near Cazma

Cazma

Čazma is a town and municipality in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Croatia. It is part of Moslavina.-Geography:Čazma is situated 60 kilometers east of Zagreb and only 30 kilometres from the center of the region - Bjelovar....

, destroying it with bombs. On 10 February 1945, a single ZNDH Dornier Do-17Z caught 1. Zagorska Brigada (1st Zagorje Brigade) marching in the open near Daruvar

Daruvar

Daruvar is a town in central Croatia, population 9,815 , total municipality population 13,243 ....

. The Yugoslav Partisan unit suffered some two dozen casualties. On 15 April 1945, a force made up of a Dornier Do-17Z, escorted by two Messerschmitt 109Gs destroyed two aircraft of the Yugoslav Partisans at their airfield at Sanski Most

Sanski Most

Sanski Most is a town and municipality in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located on the Sana River in Bosanska Krajina, between Prijedor and Ključ. Administratively it is part of the Una-Sana Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina....

.

The last fighter delivery took place on 23 April 1945 and the last attack mission on 6 May, when two ancient Rogozarski R-100

Rogozarski R-100

fighter trainers bombed the railway bridge over the Kupa River in an effort to stop the Partisan advance on Karlovac

Karlovac

Karlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County...

, south of Zagreb

Zagreb

. One of the Yugoslav-built parasol wing

Parasol wing

A parasol wing monoplane is an aircraft design in which the wing is not mounted directly to the fuselage, but rather, the fuselage is supported beneath it by a set of struts, called cabane struts...

aircraft was hit by ground fire and the pilot crash-landed near his target. He was captured and shot on the spot.

That evening, with Partisan forces advancing upon the Croatian capital city of Zagreb, the commanding officer of the Croatian fighter group gathered together his men at Zagreb's Lucko airfield and released them from their oath of loyalty and announced that each was free to go. Some flew their aircraft and crews, including several Dornier Do-17s and a CANT Z.1007

CANT Z.1007

The Cant Z.1007 Alcione was a three-engined medium bomber, with wooden structure. Designed by ingegner Filippo Zappata, the "father" of the CANT...

to Italy and the Allied forces there. Some flew their aircraft over to the Partisans, including several light aircraft and some Messerschmitt 109s, whilst others, also including Messerschmitt 109s, as well as at least one Dornier Do-17Z, a Messerschmitt Me 110G-2, a Bristol Blenheim

Bristol Blenheim

I and a Yugoslav designed and built Zmaj Fizir FP-2

Zmaj Fizir FP-2

Aircraft Zmaj Fizir FP-2 was a Yugoslav single-engine, two-seater biplane. It was designed by R. Fizir and D. Stankov built at the Factory "Zmaj" in Zemun in 1936.-Design and development:...

sought sanctuary at Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt

-Name:Carinthia's eminent linguists Primus Lessiak and Eberhard Kranzmayer assumed that the city's name, which literally translates as "ford of lament" or "ford of complaints", had something to do with the superstitious thought that fateful fairies or demons tend to live around treacherous waters...

in Austria.

The four year campaign of the Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske (ZNDH), during which it had on its charge at one time or another some 650 aircraft, thus ended with the capture of the airbases around Zagreb

Zagreb

on 8 May 1945 and the ZNDH ceased to exist. Its colourful collection of often vintage aircraft, scattered on deserted airfields, received new markings, a red star, and formed the basis of the new Yugoslav Air Force.

Commanders

Vladimir Kren
Vladimir Kren
Vladimir Kren was a major general of the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia.He held the rank of captain in the Yugoslav Royal Air Force before defecting to the German army on January 4, 1941. With him he took plans of Yugoslav air fields, which he gave to German officials...

(1941–1943)
Adalbert Rogulja (1943–1944)
Vladimir Kren (1944–1945)

Personnel

Mato Dukovac
Mato Dukovac
Mato Dukovac was a Croatian World War II fighter ace.Dukovac was born in September 1918 in Surčin, Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia. He enlisted in the Croatian Air Force soon after the country was declared independent in 1941...
Cvitan Galić
Cvitan Galic
Cvitan Galić was a Croatian World War II fighter ace.Galić was born on November 29, 1909 in the village of Gorica near Ljubuški. He finished grade school in the town of Sovići. In 1927 he was transferred to the Yugoslav Royal Air Force and finished its pilot academy in Mostar by 1932.During the...
Katarina Matanović-Kulenović
Katarina Matanovic-Kulenovic
Katarina Matanović-Kulenović was the first female Croatian pilot and parachutist.Born near Osijek in 1913, she lived in Zagreb from 1918. She became a graduated pilot in the Yugoslav Royal Air Force in 1936...
Albin Starc

Service types

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Quantity
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Role
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
|-
|Messerschmitt Me-109G/K||50+||Fighter||

Nazi Germany
|-
|Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....

||48||Fighter||
|-
|Fiat G.50

Fiat G.50

||30+||Fighter||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Macchi C.202||18||Fighter||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Macchi C.205

Macchi C.205

||4||Fighter||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Fiat CR.42

Fiat CR.42

||10+||Fighter||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Messerschmitt Me 110G-2||2||Fighter||

Nazi Germany
|-
|Avia BH-33

Avia BH-33

||7||Fighter-trainer||
|-
|Ikarus IK-2||4||Fighter||

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|-
|Dornier DO-17K

Dornier Do 17

The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...

||11||Bomber||

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|-
|Dornier DO-17E

Dornier Do 17

The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...

||30||Bomber||

Nazi Germany
|-
|Dornier DO-17Z

Dornier Do 17

The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke...

||21||Bomber||

Nazi Germany
|-
|Bristol Blenheim Mk.I

Bristol Blenheim

||8||Bomber||
|-
|Savoia Marchetti SM-79||2||Bomber||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|CANT Z.1007

CANT Z.1007

The Cant Z.1007 Alcione was a three-engined medium bomber, with wooden structure. Designed by ingegner Filippo Zappata, the "father" of the CANT...

||10||Bomber||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Fiat BR.20

Fiat BR.20

||6||Bomber||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Avia Fokker F.39||1||Bomber||
|-
|Caproni Ca.310

Caproni Ca.310

|-See also:-Bibliography:* Bishop, Chris. The Complete Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. London: Brown Books, 1998. ISBN 1-897884-36-2....

||7||Bomber/Utility||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Caproni Ca.311

Caproni Ca.311

|-See also:-External links:* http://wmilitary.neurok.ru/caproni.ca311.html...

/313/314||16||Bomber/Utility||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Breguet 19

Breguet 19

The Breguet 19 was a light bomber and reconnaissance plane, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French Breguet company and produced from 1924.-Development:...

||50||Reconnaissance/Utility||
|-
|Potez 25

Potez 25

|-See also:*Aerial operations in the Chaco War-References:Heinonen, Timo Heinonen: Thulinista Hornetiin, Keski-Suomen ilmailumuseon julkaisuja 3, 1992. ISBN 951-95688-2-4.-External links:* *...

||42||Reconnaissance/Utility||
|-
|Fieseler Fi 156

Fieseler Fi 156

The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was a small German liaison aircraft built by Fieseler before and during World War II, and production continued in other countries into the 1950s for the private market...

||11||Utility||

Nazi Germany
|-
|Fieseler Fi 167

Fieseler Fi 167

|-See also:*Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia-References:* Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. New York: Doubleday, 1972. ISBN 0-385-05782-2....

||8-12||Utility||

Nazi Germany
|-
|de Havilland Puss Moth

De Havilland Puss Moth

|-See also:-References:* Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 . London, Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10010-7-External links:*...

D.H.80||2||Utility||
|-
|RWD-13

RWD-13

The RWD-13 was a Polish touring plane of 1935, three-seater high-wing monoplane, designed by the RWD team. It was the biggest commercial success of the RWD.-Development:...

||1||Utility||
|-
|Beneš-Mráz Beta-Minor

Beneš-Mráz Beta-Minor

|-References:* Němeček, V. . Československá letadla. Praha: Naše Vojsko....

||25||Trainer/Utility||
|-
|Bücker Bü 181

Bücker Bü 181

|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Donald, David and Lake, Jon. . Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, Single volume edition, 1996. ISBN 1-874023-95-6....

Bestmann||22||Trainer/Utility||

Nazi Germany
|-
|Saiman 200

SAIMAN 200

|-See also:...

||25||Trainer||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Saiman 202||2||Trainer/Utility||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|AVIA FL.3

AVIA FL.3

-References:* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft , 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2380-External links:* *...

||20||Trainer/Utility||

Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
|-
|Rogozarski SIM-XI||1||Trainer||

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|-
|Rogozarski SIM-Х

Rogozarski SIM-Х

The Rogozarski SIM-X was a 1936s Yugoslav Sports and tourist plane and the plane for the basic training of military pilots, one-engined, with two crew members. It was designed and built at the Rogožarski factory in Belgrade.-Design and development:...

||1||Trainer||

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|-
|Rogozarski PVT

Rogozarski PVT

||15||Trainer/attack||

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|-
|Ikarus MM-2||1||Fighter-trainer||

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|-
|Rogozarski R-100

Rogozarski R-100

||11||Fighter-trainer/attack||

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|-
|Bücker Bü 131

Bücker Bü 131

|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgeman, Leonard. “The Bücker Bü 131B “Jungmann”.” Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0....

||46||Trainer/Utility||

Nazi Germany
|-
|Bücker Bü 133

Bücker Bü 133

|-See also:-Bibliography:* König, Erwin. Bücker Bü 133 "Jungmeister" . D-86669 Stengelheim, Germany: Unitec Medienvertrieb e.K.,...

||10||Trainer/Utility||

Nazi Germany
|-
|Zmaj Fizir FN

Zmaj Fizir FN

The Fizir FN was a plane designed crates school primary training of pilots in Yugoslavia before World War II...

||20||Trainer||

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|-
|Zmaj Fizir FP-2

Zmaj Fizir FP-2

Aircraft Zmaj Fizir FP-2 was a Yugoslav single-engine, two-seater biplane. It was designed by R. Fizir and D. Stankov built at the Factory "Zmaj" in Zemun in 1936.-Design and development:...

||23||Trainer/Utility||

Kingdom of Yugoslavia
|-
|Avia Fokker F.VII

Fokker F.VII

The Fokker F.VII, also known as the Fokker Trimotor, was an airliner produced in the 1920s by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker, Fokker's American subsidiary Atlantic Aircraft Corporation, and other companies under licence....

||7||Transport||
|-
|Avia Fokker F.IX

Fokker F.IX

-References:* *...

||2||Transport||
|-
|Junkers Ju 52

Junkers Ju 52

The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler...

||1||Transport||

Nazi Germany
|-
|Junkers W 34||4||Transport||

Nazi Germany
|-----|
|Junkers Ju 87

Junkers Ju 87

The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...

||15||Dive bomber||

Nazi Germany
|-----|
|Airspeed Envoy

Airspeed Envoy

The Airspeed AS.6 Envoy was a British light, twin-engined transport aircraft designed and built by Airspeed Ltd. in the 1930s at Portsmouth Aerodrome, Hampshire.-Development and design:...

||2||Transport||
|-

External links

Croatian Air Force in World War II

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