Royal Yugoslav Air Force
| Royal Yugoslav Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1918–1941 |
| Country | Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
| Branch | Air Force |
| HQ |
Petrovaradin (1918–1936) Zemun (1936–1941) |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Dušan Simović, Borivoje Mirković |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |
 |
| Fin flash | |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Dornier Do Y, Bristol Blenheim, Dornier Do 17, Caproni Ca.310, Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 |
| Fighter | Hawker Hurricane, Ikarus IK-2, Hawker Fury Mk.II, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Rogožarski IK-3 |
| Trainer | Rogožarski SIM-Х, Rogožarski SIM-XII-H, Rogožarski PVT, Rogožarski R-100, Bücker Bü 131 |
The Royal Yugoslav Air Force (Serbo-Croatian: Jugoslavensko kraljevsko ratno zrakoplovstvo, Југословенско краљевско ратно ваздухопловство), officially the Kingdom of Yugoslavia Army Air Force (Vazduhoplovstvo vojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije, VVKJ), was formed in 1918 in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (renamed to Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929) and existed until Yugoslavia's surrender to the Axis powers in 1941 following the Invasion of Yugoslavia during World War II.
Some 18 aircraft and several hundred aircrew escaped the Axis invasion of April 1941 to the Allied base in Egypt, eventually flying with the Royal Air Force in the Northern Africa initially and then with the Balkan Air Force in Italy and Yugoslavia, with some even going on to join the Soviet Air Force, returning to Yugoslavia in 1944.
Germany distributed captured Royal Yugoslav Air Force aircraft and spare-parts to Romania, Bulgaria, Finland and the newly created Independent State of Croatia.
The Royal Yugoslav Air Force developed out of the Serbian Aviation Command, which had been created on 24 December 1912, and had been active during the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913. During World War I, the small Serbian Aviation Command had initially operated in support of the Royal Serbian Army and its defence of the country against concerted attacks by Austria-Hungary. After initial Serbian successes, in 1915 the Central Powers forced the Serbian Army to withdraw to Albania where the surviving elements of the army were evacuated. Serbian aviators were absorbed into French squadrons to support the French-led Allied force that pushed north from Salonika, and towards the end of the war, separate Serbian squadrons were again raised. After the end of World War I, in 1919 the South Slav peoples determined to form a new country, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, and the existing Serbian air corps became the basis for the military air service of the new state. The chief of the fledgling air force was the former head of the Austro-Hungarian Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops, Emil Uzelac.
...
Wikipedia