Speaking about the Yugoslav aviation in World War II, one cannot but recall the so-called Air Force. "Independent State of Croatia" (NGH).
The Second World War, unleashed by fascist Germany, redrawn the political map of Europe, erasing some and creating other states from it. One of these newborn formations was the Independent State of Croatia, which existed from 1941 to 1945. Nevertheless, in such a short period of its life, this country managed to acquire an air force, which had a chance to take part in the battles of World War II.
The Air Force of the NGH was created on April 19, 1941. However, it was only in June 1941 that the German command allowed the start of the development of stationary bases for Croatian aviation, formed from 60 aircraft of the Air Force of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia transferred by the Germans. The first airfields appeared in Sarajevo and Zagreb.
The most valuable acquisition was the British Bristol Blenheim bombers, built in Yugoslavia under license, but the majority of the NGH Air Force aircraft were old French Breguet 19 and Potez 25 fighters. Also, 4 Ikarus IK-2 fighters were handed over to the Croats. However, the planes were used very little, as the pilots refused to fly them due to poor visibility from the cockpit, deterioration and lack of spare parts. The last two planes flew in 1944, but after that they are not listed on the Croatian Air Force aircraft lists.
Blenheim Mk. I bomber of the Croatian Air Force
However, the combat effectiveness of the NGHs created by the Air Force was rather dubious. By the end of 1941, the combat power of the Croatian aviation increased somewhat: the Germans gave them a number of their outdated combat vehicles, as well as some captured British and French ones. As a result, the number of the NGKh Air Force during this period amounted to 95 aircraft, but of which only 60% were suitable for combat operations. The only unit equipped with modern military equipment was the Croatian Air Legion, created by the Germans for operations on the Eastern Front. The Legion consisted of the 4th Fighter and 5th Bomber Aviation Groups, each of two squadrons and armed with Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters and Dornier Do 17 bombers.
Fighter Messerschmitt Bf 109G Air Force NGH
Bomber Dornier Do 17 NGH Air Force
The legion served about 360 people. Volunteers for the air legion went to Germany for training on July 15, 1941. Most of the volunteers had previously served in the Royal Yugoslav Air Force and participated in hostilities. Some of the pilots had experience in flying Messerschmitt Me 109 and Dornier Do 17 aircraft, of which two won at least one air victory. July 27, 1941 is considered the day of the formation of the legion.
The Legion was an integral part of the Luftwaffe: the 4th Fighter Air Group was part of Jagdgeschwader 52 and bore the symbol in the Luftwaffe 15 (Kroatische)./ JG52 (commanded by Franjo Jal). The 5th Bomber Air Group was part of Kampfgeschwader 3 and bore the symbol 15. (Kroat.) / KG 3. In September 1941, the legionnaires received their uniform: it did not look different from the Luftwaffe uniform, but on the right breast pocket there was a unique Croatian patch legion; also each pilot wore an armband.
Lieutenant pilots of the Croatian Air Force Legion. The winged badge of the Legion can be seen under the breast eagle of the Luftwaffe, and the badge of the pilot of the Croatian Air Force above the eagle.
On October 6, 1941, Croatian pilots appeared near Poltava, having received their baptism of fire on the Eastern Front. On October 9, 1941, the air group shot down the first Soviet reconnaissance aircraft R-10. In October 1941, the air group relocated to Taganrog, where it stayed until December 1, 1941.
On December 1, 1941, the air group flew in the direction of Mariupol, organizing attacks on the advancing columns of Soviet troops in the areas of Pokrovskoe, Matveevo, Kurgan, Yeisk and Uspenskoe, as well as organizing a raid on the Mariupol-Stalino railway. The aircraft of both squadrons accompanied the German bombers during the German airstrikes. By the end of January 1942, the air group had 23 victories (including 4 MiG-3 fighters). In April 1942, the group's fighters made several escort missions for Ju-87 bombers, attacking Soviet units near the Sea of Azov. During this period, 9 more aircraft of the Red Army Air Force were shot down.
In May 1942, the air group flew first to the Crimea, and then to the Artyomovka-Konstantinovka line. The fighters of the air group again accompanied the German troops, covering them from the air during air raids on Sevastopol and patrolling over the Sea of Azov. The Croats scored four more victories in the air and even sank a Soviet patrol ship. Until June 21, 1942, when the 1000th sortie of the air group was made, the Croats managed to win 21 more victories, and by the end of July they shot down 69 aircraft.
Commander 15 (Kroatische)./ JG52 Colonel Franjo Jal (far left) with Luftwaffe officers
At the end of 1943, the air group was forced to return immediately to Croatia, since the alignment of forces in southern Europe was already in favor of the Allies: Anglo-American troops were successfully fighting in Italy, and the Yugoslav partisan forces had already cleared a significant part of the Adriatic coast from the presence of Croatian and German troops. By that time, the air group had 283 victories, and 14 pilots received the status of aces. During the hostilities, the Legion lost 283 people killed, and the loss of flight personnel was very low - 2 aircraft and 5 pilots.
How highly the Germans valued the Croats are best described by the words of Hitler, in response to a request from another German ally, Hungary, for the supply of modern fighters:
How suitable it would be for the Hungarian gentlemen! They will use fighters not to fight the enemy, but for air travel. Gasoline is scarce and I need pilots who act, not fly for walks. What Hungary has done in the air so far is more than meager. If I do provide airplanes, then first of all to the Croats, who have proved that they work.
The most productive Croatian ace was Mato Dukovac. On his account there were 37 confirmed and 8 unconfirmed victories (seven of which were later confirmed). With the organization of the Yugoslav Air Force, he deserted and joined them. Relearned to Yaki. On August 8, 1946 he flew to Italy. After spending some time in a camp for displaced persons, he joined the Syrian Air Force in 1946. During the Arab-Israeli War 1948-49. commanded the 1st squadron. He flew several combat missions on the AT-6. Later he immigrated to Canada and went into business. He died in Toronto in 1990.
The second was Tsvitan Halych, who won 34 confirmed, 9 unconfirmed (four later received confirmation) and two victories on the ground. Was awarded the German Cross. On March 14, 1944, he became the commander of the 23rd IAE, armed with MS.406. Killed on April 6, 1944 during an attack on the South African Spitfire airfield.
The bomber air group was listed in the registers of the Luftwaffe as 15. (Kroatische) / KG 53. The arrival of the bombers to the Eastern Front took place on October 25, 1941. The group made its first air raid on Vitebsk, its units organized raids on Leningrad and Moscow.
Croatian Air Legion Dornier Do 17 bomber pilot before taking off on a combat mission
However, the bomber group was not doing so confidently. Soon a scandal broke out: a whole group of pilots led by Milivo Borosha fled to the side of the USSR. As early as January 26, 1942, near Rzhev, the plane, whose navigator was Borosha, dropped bombs directly on a German tank column, which the Germans regarded as an attempt at betrayal. And soon on June 25, 1942, Borosha hijacked the plane and landed it in the Kalinin region, surrendering together with the entire crew. It got to the point that in December 1942, the bomber air group was immediately returned to Croatia in order to prevent further desertions to the side of the enemy. In this regard, the air group was returned to Croatia, where it immediately began to participate in battles against the Yugoslav partisans, who already began to have their own aviation and air defense forces.
In 1942, Italy became the main supplier of aircraft for the Croatian Air Force. In total, during the year, it transferred 98 aircraft to NGH, including 10 Caproni Ca.311 light bombers, previously ordered by the government of Yugoslavia, which made it possible to create new air formations and increase the total number of combat vehicles to 160.
Light reconnaissance bomber Caproni Ca.310 NGH Air Force
Since its inception, the Croatian Air Force has consisted of 7 squadrons assembled from captured military equipment. By 1942, the number of HVA combat units doubled and amounted to 15 squadrons based on four main bases: Zagreb, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar.
Fighter Fiat G. 50bis Air Force NGH
In the battles against the partisans, the Croats used various aircraft, including the Yugoslav-made Rogožarski R-100 trainer aircraft.
Croatian pilot poses in front of his Rogožarski R-100
Italian-German deliveries continued further: by September 1943, the Croatian Air Force had 228 aircraft, although only 177 of them were operational. On September 14, 1943, changes took place in the leadership of the Croatian Air Force. The new commander was appointed A. Rogulya, who held a new position until the end of World War II. At the end of 1943, despite the strengthening, the Croats had 295 obsolete cars, which included both the Italian Fiat G. 50 and the French Morane-Saulnier MS.406 (a total of 48 Moranes were sent, among which there were about two dozen MS.410C1).
Fighter Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Air Force NGH
However, by the end of 1943, it became clear that all 295 aircraft, including the Fiat G. 50 and the French Morane-Saulnier MS.406, could not withstand modern models of enemy aircraft. In 1944, when Italy was already almost completely in the hands of the Allies, the strategic importance of aviation in Croatia increased, and the Germans hastily transferred all the surviving Italian fighters Macchi C.200, Macchi C.202 and Macchi C.205 (the best fighter of the Italian Air Force), and also sent several batches of Messerschmitt Bf 109G.
In order to strengthen the air force, the Croatian Aviation Legion fighter group returned to Croatia, which received a new designation 1./(Kroat.)JG, and its pilots were sent to flight training on the new Italian Macchi C.202 aircraft, which the Germans managed to grab. A new training squadron was formed, named 2./(Kroat.)JG and equipped with other Italian Macchi C.200 and Fiat CR.42 aircraft. Soon, Croatian pilots fought against the US and British Air Forces.
Fighter Macchi MC.202 FOLGORE Air Force NGH
In 1944, they managed to score 20 victories, and several pilots switched to the even more advanced Italian Macchi C.205 fighters. However, the Italian planes were soon out of order, and by the end of 1944, the Croats managed to get the German Me-109G and Me-109K, with a total complexity of about 50 aircraft. She made her last flight on April 23, 1945. After the war, the surviving aircraft were either dismantled as obsolete, or converted into training aircraft.
The bomber air group received the designation 1./(Kroat.)KG: only 9 Dornier Do 17Z bombers returned to Croatia. Until July 1944, they continued to fly and bomb the positions of the partisans, until they were officially included in the NGKh Air Force. At the end of 1943, a new training squadron was prepared under the designation 2./(Kroat.)KG. The main aircraft in it were the Italian CANT Z.1007 and Fiat BR.20 aircraft. In 1944, the Croats received 6 Ju.87R-2 dive bombers.
Ju.87R-2 Air Force NGH
At the final stages of the war, the bomber air group could no longer somehow influence the offensive of the anti-Hitler coalition forces: after the war, most of the aircraft were either scrapped or converted into training ones.
From the middle of the summer of 1944, mass desertions began from the Croatian Air Force: whole crews flew over to the side of Tito's partisans. All this, coupled with growing losses (more than 60 aircraft were lost in 1943 alone), led to the fact that by the end of April 1945 only 30 combat vehicles remained at the Zagreb airfield. In 1945, the Croatian military aviation was finally defeated.
Another unit subordinate to the Croatian Air Force Command was the 1st Parachute Company, which was formed in late 1941 - early 1942. Until the end of August 1943, the personnel of the company underwent training, and in September they were thrown into their first battle against communist partisans east of Zagreb. In November 1943, during the battle for Koprivnica (where the company was stationed), Croatian paratroopers were almost completely defeated: in total, their losses amounted to 20 people killed and missing. After that, the company was taken to Zagreb for rest, where it was temporarily disbanded. Soon, however, the unit was rebuilt again. At the expense of new volunteers, it was possible to form not one, but four companies, which in July 1944 were deployed to the 1st Croatian parachute battalion, which received the honorary name "Croatian Eagles". Zagreb was chosen as the location of the new battalion, and the commander of the 1st air base was its immediate superior. From the fall of 1944 to the spring of 1945, the battalion took part in numerous anti-partisan operations. The last day of the existence of this unit is May 14, 1945, when it, along with the rest of the Croatian troops, surrendered to the British.
