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Slovak Air Force (1939–1945)

October 27, 2023

The Slovak Air Force (Slovak: Slovenské vzdušné zbrane, or SVZ), between 1939 and 1945, was the air force of the short-lived World War II Slovak Republic. Its mission was to provide air support at fronts, and to protect Bratislava and metropolitan areas against enemy air attack.

World War II Slovak aircraft marking

History edit

One of the SVZ's first air battles was in the Slovak–Hungarian War in March 1939 in which Hungary reoccupied Carpathian Ruthenia and parts of southern Slovakia. In this the SVZ suffered some losses against Royal Hungarian Air Force. The SVZ also took part in the German Invasion of Poland.

The SVZ took part in Axis offensives in the Ukraine and Russian Central front sectors of the Eastern Front under the lead of Luftwaffe in the Stalingrad and Caucasus operations. The engagement in the cost it great losses of aircraft and personnel.

For the rest of the war the SVZ fought US Army Air Forces and Royal Air Force raids against Slovakia.

The symbol of the Slovak air force was a blue and white cross similar to the German Balkenkreuz, with a red disc in the centre. It was carried on the tail and wings. Engine covers were painted yellow and there was a vertical line on the fuselage.

Training aircraft were supplied by Germany and Italy. To defend Slovak air space, the air force used Messerschmitt 109 (E and G types), Avia B-534, and some other interceptor types. It was also helped by Luftwaffe units active in the area.

When Romania and the Soviet Union entered Slovakia, with some captured aircraft and defectors they organized a local Insurgent Air Force to continue the fight against Axis forces in country.[citation needed] Others served voluntarily in Luftwaffe units;[citation needed] later these air units were integrated to the reconstituted Czechoslovak Air Force[clarification needed] after the end of the war.

Notable SVZ air aces edit

See also: List of World War II aces from Slovakia
  • Ján Režňák
  • Izidor Kovárik
  • Ján Gerthofer
  • František Cyprich
  • František Brezina
  • Anton Matúšek
  • Jozef Štauder
  • Pavol Zeleňák
  • Rudolf Božík
  • Vladimír Kriško
  • Alexander Gerič
  • Jozef Jančovič
  • František Hanovec
  • Rudolf Palatický
  • Štefan Martiš
  • Juraj Puškár
  • Štefan Ocvirk
  • Ondrej Ďumbala
  • Jozef Drlička
  • Martin Danihel
  • Ivan Kocka

Units of the Slovak Air Force edit

  • 1st unit of Stíhacia letka (fighter unit[1]), Slovenské vzdušné zbrane, air unit to support the Slovak forces in Russia, Zhytomyr-Kiev, Ukraine, October 1941

Aircraft of the Slovak Air Force edit

These were primarily assigned to Letecky Pluk (Air Regiment) 3 and numbered 79 Avia B-534 and 11 Bk-534 biplane fighters, 73 Letov S-328 biplane observation, and 15 Aero A-100 and Ab-101 biplane reconnaissance aircraft plus a miscellany of trainers and other minor types. However, it also had three bombers, a Bloch MB-200, a Fokker F.VII and a Avia B-71, a license-built copy of the SB-2 light bomber. Such a large number of Czech airmen departed for the German-occupied Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia that the Slovaks were forced to reduce the numbers of squadrons to more sustainable levels. The original 5 fighter pletky (squadrons) were reduced to 3, numbers 11, 12, and 13 while the 7 original reconnaissance and observation pletky were consolidated into 3, numbered 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ literally "interceptor flight unit"
  2. ^ "B71". Českoslovaští letci (in Czech).

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of First Slovak Republic.
  • Magnus, Allan (4 February 1999). "Slovakia - Hungarian-Slovak Conflict". Air Aces.
  • Magnus, Allan (31 August 2001). "Slovakia - World War Two". Air Aces.

October 27, 2023
slovak, force, 1939, 1945, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, slovak, force, 1939, 1945, news, newspape. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Slovak Air Force 1939 1945 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Slovak Air Force Slovak Slovenske vzdusne zbrane or SVZ between 1939 and 1945 was the air force of the short lived World War II Slovak Republic Its mission was to provide air support at fronts and to protect Bratislava and metropolitan areas against enemy air attack World War II Slovak aircraft marking Contents 1 History 2 Notable SVZ air aces 3 Units of the Slovak Air Force 4 Aircraft of the Slovak Air Force 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editOne of the SVZ s first air battles was in the Slovak Hungarian War in March 1939 in which Hungary reoccupied Carpathian Ruthenia and parts of southern Slovakia In this the SVZ suffered some losses against Royal Hungarian Air Force The SVZ also took part in the German Invasion of Poland The SVZ took part in Axis offensives in the Ukraine and Russian Central front sectors of the Eastern Front under the lead of Luftwaffe in the Stalingrad and Caucasus operations The engagement in the cost it great losses of aircraft and personnel For the rest of the war the SVZ fought US Army Air Forces and Royal Air Force raids against Slovakia The symbol of the Slovak air force was a blue and white cross similar to the German Balkenkreuz with a red disc in the centre It was carried on the tail and wings Engine covers were painted yellow and there was a vertical line on the fuselage Training aircraft were supplied by Germany and Italy To defend Slovak air space the air force used Messerschmitt 109 E and G types Avia B 534 and some other interceptor types It was also helped by Luftwaffe units active in the area When Romania and the Soviet Union entered Slovakia with some captured aircraft and defectors they organized a local Insurgent Air Force to continue the fight against Axis forces in country citation needed Others served voluntarily in Luftwaffe units citation needed later these air units were integrated to the reconstituted Czechoslovak Air Force clarification needed after the end of the war Notable SVZ air aces editSee also List of World War II aces from Slovakia Jan Reznak Izidor Kovarik Jan Gerthofer Frantisek Cyprich Frantisek Brezina Anton Matusek Jozef Stauder Pavol Zelenak Rudolf Bozik Vladimir Krisko Alexander Geric Jozef Jancovic Frantisek Hanovec Rudolf Palaticky Stefan Martis Juraj Puskar Stefan Ocvirk Ondrej Dumbala Jozef Drlicka Martin Danihel Ivan KockaUnits of the Slovak Air Force edit1st unit of Stihacia letka fighter unit 1 Slovenske vzdusne zbrane air unit to support the Slovak forces in Russia Zhytomyr Kiev Ukraine October 1941Aircraft of the Slovak Air Force editArado Ar 96B 5 Bucker Bu 131B Jungmann Bucker Bu 133 Jungmeister Bucker Bu 181D Bestmann Fieseler Fi 156C 2 Focke Wulf Fw 44C Stieglitz Focke Wulf Fw 58C Weihe Focke Wulf Fw 189A 1 Uhu Gotha Go 145C Heinkel He 72B 1 Kadett Heinkel He 111H 3 5 He 111s were in Slovaks hands 2 were He 111 H 10s and 3 were He 111 H 16s Junkers W 34h At least 1 confirmed to be in Slovak hands WW2 Junkers Ju 52 3m g7e Junkers Ju 87D 3 10 Ju 87D 3s were in Slovak hands in WW2 Klemm Kl 35D Messerschmitt Bf 109E 7 30 planes in Slovak hands WW2 Messerschmitt Bf 109G 6 30 planes in Slovak hands WW2 Siebel Fh 104 Hallore Siebel Si 204A Avia B 71 single Avia B 71 aircraft until April 18 1943 when ctk Anton Vanko and four other airmen defected with it to Turkey 2 Avia B 122 65 in Slovak service Avia BH 33E Avia B 534 Aero A 100 Aero Ab 101 Aero A 300 Aero A 304 Aero AP 32 Benes Mraz Be 50 Beta Minor Letov S 231 Letov S 328 Praga E 39 Praga A B 32 Pardubitz Praga E 51 Praga E 210 Praga E 240 Zlin Z XV Zlin Z XII Caudron C 445 Goeland Avro 626 Savoia Marchetti SM 84bis 10 in Slovak hands WW2 These were primarily assigned to Letecky Pluk Air Regiment 3 and numbered 79 Avia B 534 and 11 Bk 534 biplane fighters 73 Letov S 328 biplane observation and 15 Aero A 100 and Ab 101 biplane reconnaissance aircraft plus a miscellany of trainers and other minor types However it also had three bombers a Bloch MB 200 a Fokker F VII and a Avia B 71 a license built copy of the SB 2 light bomber Such a large number of Czech airmen departed for the German occupied Protectorate of Bohemia Moravia that the Slovaks were forced to reduce the numbers of squadrons to more sustainable levels The original 5 fighter pletky squadrons were reduced to 3 numbers 11 12 and 13 while the 7 original reconnaissance and observation pletky were consolidated into 3 numbered 1st 2nd and 3rd See also editCzechoslovak Air Force Slovak Air ForceReferences edit literally interceptor flight unit B71 Ceskoslovasti letci in Czech External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of First Slovak Republic Magnus Allan 4 February 1999 Slovakia Hungarian Slovak Conflict Air Aces Magnus Allan 31 August 2001 Slovakia World War Two Air Aces Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Slovak Air Force 1939 1945 amp oldid 1147559645, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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