Katarina Matanovic-Kulenovic
Encyclopedia
Katarina Matanović-Kulenović (18 March 1913, Vuka - 24 April 2003, Zagreb
) 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. She parachuted at an air show in Zemun
in 1938.
During the Independent State of Croatia
period she was married to Croatian journalist Namik Kulenović. From 1943 she served in the Croatian War Air Force
. For a time she was the personal pilot of minister Ante Vokić. In 1944, her husband died in a plane crash. After the Second World War she was no longer allowed to fly in Communist Yugoslavia and her story was largely unknown.
She received the Order of Danica Hrvatska from Croatian president Franjo Tuđman in 1998. In 2000 Boris Puhlovski wrote a biography on Matanović-Kulenović titled Katarina na krilima.
Matanović-Kulenović died in 2003.
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...
) was the first female Croatian
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
pilot and parachutist.
Born near Osijek
Osijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
in 1913, she lived 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...
from 1918. She became a graduated pilot in the Yugoslav Royal Air Force
Yugoslav Royal Air Force
The Yugoslav Royal Air Force was formed in 1918 in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and existed until Yugoslavia's surrender to the Axis powers in 1941 following the Invasion of Yugoslavia during World War II....
in 1936. She parachuted at an air show in Zemun
Zemun
Zemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...
in 1938.
During 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...
period she was married to Croatian journalist Namik Kulenović. From 1943 she served in the Croatian War Air Force
Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia
The Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia, the Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske was the national air force of the Independent State of Croatia during World War II, founded under German authority in April 1941...
. For a time she was the personal pilot of minister Ante Vokić. In 1944, her husband died in a plane crash. After the Second World War she was no longer allowed to fly in Communist Yugoslavia and her story was largely unknown.
She received the Order of Danica Hrvatska from Croatian president Franjo Tuđman in 1998. In 2000 Boris Puhlovski wrote a biography on Matanović-Kulenović titled Katarina na krilima.
Matanović-Kulenović died in 2003.