Chapter XI ARMY AIR OF BULGARIA

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• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01144A000100010015-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 31, 1998
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: October 1, 1943
• Content Type: IS

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Chapter XI
ARMY AIR
Table of Contents
110. GENERAL DESCRIPTION .
A. History and traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
B. Brief description of the establishment and its efficiency as a whole .
111. STRENGTH
A. Aircraft
B. Personnel
PAGES
XI-1
XI-1
XI-1
XI-1
XI-1
XI - I
112. ORGANIZATION . XI-1 to XI-2
A. Central administration . .
B. Tactical organization . . .
XI-1
. XI-2
113. PERSONNEL CHARACTERISTICS, OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN
114. FINANCE .
A. Ratios of pay, all grades
XI-2
XI-2
B. Air budget . . .
XI-2
115. SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT
XI-3
A. Production . .
XI-3
B. Imports and exports
XI-3
C. Aircraft . . .
XI-3
116. TRAINING, MORALE, AND EFFICIENCY
XI-3
A. Recruiting . . . . . . .
XI-3
B. Training . . . .
XI-3
117. STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL DOCTRINES . .
. XI-3
118. AIR BASES . . . . . . . . . .
. XI-3
XI - 3 to XI - 5
119. DEFENSE ZONES .
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110. General Description
Chapter XI
ARMY AIR
A. History and traditions.
At the close of World War I the Treaty of Neuilly deprived
Bulgaria of the right to a military air service. Accordingly,
the squadrons were disbanded and the flying material de-
stroyed. A number of civilian aircraft, mostly French, were
acquired during 1923 and Bulgarian pilots and mechanics
were trained in these so that they might be able to operate
war machines if the occasion should arise. Officially, aviation
was placed under the control of the Ministry of Communica-
tions and the Director of Aviation was probably head of the
air force.
But in 1937, profiting by the example of her neighbors,
Bulgaria renounced the terms of the treaty and began the
formation of her air force. General Ajranof, a former cavalry
and engineer officer, was appointed Commander in Chief in
1941. The Bulgarian Air Force now forms part of the Army
and is under its administration.
Bulgaria signed the Tripartite Pact with the Axis Powers
on 1 March 1941 and Germany began the occupation of the
country on the same day. Bulgaria was used as a "jumping-
off place" for the invasion, of Greece five weeks later. The
small Bulgarian Air Force was almost completely dominated
by the German Luftwaffe, which took over airdromes and
establishments, and has since built new bases and improved
the old. The country now falls within the area dominated
by the Southeastern Air Fleet of the Luftwaffe.
B. Brief description of the establishment and its efficiency
as a whole.
Until recently, Bulgaria has possessed no more than a
heterogeneous collection of aircraft, many of them permanently
unserviceable and very few of any practical value. In 1938-39,
there were deliveries of Heinkel and Dornier types from
Germany (the Dornier 17 was specifically mentioned) and
Capronis from Italy. The Caproni Company maintains a factory
at Kazanlk*, though for years it has done only repairs.
Since the entry of the German military forces into Bulgaria,
very little information concerning the status of that country's
Air Force has been received. Indications are, however, that
no marked improvements or changes have taken place. The
Bulgarians must have profited considerably from their op-
portunity to observe units of the Luftwaffe closely, and
the Germans have improved airdrome facilities at various
localities.
While the majority of the pilots in the Bulgarian Air Force
have received training in Germany and Italy, mostly in the
former country, its combat efficiency is believed to be very
low. Reports have indicated that its units are incapable of
carrying out a mission of war alone. However, as the Bulgarian
Air Force has not yet been put to the test of battle and its
competence observed, the preceding statement may be too
severe an estimate of its capabilities.
*See footnote for copy Chap. I, Pg. 1.
111. Strength
Page XI - 1 (Orig. )
A. Aircraft.
In quantity, quality and serviceability the Bulgarian Air
Force is weak. Of the entire strength of this Air Force, ap-
proximately 30 per cent of its aircraft is operational (Table
XI - 1).
TABLE XI - 1
BULGARIAN AIR FORCE, FIRST LINE STRENGTH
20 MAY 1943
MODERN
OBSOLESCENT
OBSOLETE
TOTAL
Bombers ..............
-
56
42
98
Fighters ..............
48
96
-
144
Reconnaissance........
48
48
-
96
Naval ................
2
-
10
12
Total .....:.........
98
200
52
350
The Air Force has a heterogeneous collection of aircraft.
The most modern fighter which the Bulgarian Air Force
possesses is the Messerschmitt 109.
B. Personnel.
Table XI - 2 indicates the approximate personnel strength
of the Bulgarian Air Force.
TABLE XI - 2
BULGARIA, AIR FORCE,
PERSONNEL STRENGTH
Officer Pilots .............................. 300
Officer Observers ........................... 260
Non-commissioned Officers ................. 650
Total .................................. 1,210
Enlisted Personnel ......................... 3,000 (approximate)
Note: This number is not rigid. The Bulgarian Air Force personnel
strength is believed to total 3,500 to 5,000 men.
112. Organization
A. Central administration.
Officially the Bulgarian Air Force forms part of the Army
and is controlled by the Military Administration. The Air
Force is commanded by a General, who is served by a Colonel
as Chief of Staff.
A Directorate of Aviation, comprised of four Bureaus and
eleven Services, functions directly under the General com-
manding the Air Forces (Table XI - 3).
TABLE XI - 3
BULGARIA, ORGANIZATION OF THE
DIRECTORATE OF AVIATION
BUREAU OF
Organization and Mobilization
Information and Operations
Instruction and Schools
Technique
IN CHARGE OF A
Major
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Captain
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Page XI - 2 (Orig.) ARMY AIR
BUREAU OF
TABLE XI - 3 (Continued)
Generally speaking, the Bulgarian makes a good pilot.
While slow to learn and slow to react, he easily retains what
he has learned and his reactions become more or less instinctive.
As the majority of Air Force personnel is drawn from educated
and wealthy families, the attitude between officers and men
is one of understanding and alliance.
Physically, the Bulgarian is rather a remarkable specimen.
His endurance is magnificent and his ability to get along on
a minimum of rations is little short of amazing. Emotionally
he inclines to be phlegmatic rather than excitable. In battle
he is known to be calm and dependable.
Bases and Communications
Studies and Maintenance of Material
Civil Aviation
Checking
Materials
(a) Airdromes
(b) Communications
(c) Meterology
Studies
Experiments
Workshop
General Stores
Supply
Health
IN CHARGE OF A
Colonel
Major
Lieutenant
Civilian from Office of
Minister of Finance
Civilian Engineer
Lieutenant
Civilian Engineer
Civilian Engineer
Civilian Engineer
Civilian Engineer
Civilian Engineer
Technician Engineer
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
B. Tactical organization.
The largest tactical unit in the Bulgarian Air Force is the
Orlek, or Group. An Orlek is further divided into Flying
Unit and Ground Element (Table XI - 4).
TABLE XI - 4
BULGARIA, ORGANIZATION OF THE
AIR FORCE GROUP
FLYING UNIT GROUND ELEMENTS
3 War Squadrons 1 Park
1 Training Squadron 1 Aerodrome Company
Each Squadron (Yato) is subdivided 1 Company of Workers
into 3 platoons (Krilo). Each pla- 1 Company of Watchmen
toon has four airplanes of which 1 Antiaircraft Battery
one is in reserve.
The total personnel strength of a squadron in peacetime
is approximately 125 (Table XI - 5).
TABLE XI - 5
BULGARIA, PEACETIME PERSONNEL OF THE
AIR FORCE SQUADRON
NUMBER TYPE
5 Navigating Officers
15-20 Navigating Non-commissioned Officers
10 Non-commissioned mechanics
95-100 Soldiers
In case of Mobilization, each group will form two new
squadrons for war, thus bringing the number of Combat
Squadrons up to five. Also, the total personnel strength within
each squadron is doubled.
113. Personnel Characteristics,
Officers and Enlisted Men
In the formation of personnel of the Bulgarian Air Force
the same heterogeneous collection is found which was observed
in the aircraft. For lack of qualified Bulgarian Officers and
men, there is a tendency to rely on foreigners to form and
perfect the navigation and technical personnel. The majority
of Bulgarian pilots received training in Germany; others in
Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria itself. While the Bulgarian
Air Force lacks unity of doctrine because of this "spread-
eagle" method of training, too much emphasis should not
be placed upon this deficiency.
114. Finance
A. Ratios of pay, all grades.
The Military Administration takes care of all clothing
regardless of grade. Officers receive each year a summer and
winter uniform, two caps, a pair of boots, and a pair of low
shoes. The monthly salary of officers is comprised of the pay
itself, and a cost-of-living allowance (Table XI - 6). All
aviators receive, additionally, a flight allowance equal to 12
per cent of their pay on the condition that they accomplish
a minimum of 100 hours of flight time yearly. If the number
of hours does not reach this minimum, the allowance is pro-
portional to the number of hours accomplished.
TABLE XI - 6
BULGARIA, APPROXIMATE PAY OF
ARMY OFFICERS
MONTHLY
PAY
(LEVA)
COST OF
LIVING
ALLOWANCE
TOTAL
(LEVA)
U. S.
EQUIVALENT
S/Lieutenant .............
3,200
660.
3,860
$ 47.45
Lieutenant ..............
3,800
660.
4,046
54.82
Captain .................
5,000
660.
5,660
69.58
Commander. .............
5,600
660.
6,260
76.95
Lieutenant Colonel.......
6,000
660.
6,660
81.87
Colonel .................
7,500
660.
8,160
100.31
Division General .........
9,200
660.
9,860
121.20
Army General...........
10,160
660.
11,160
137.18
The pay is subject to the deduction of about 12 per cent
while the cost-of-living allowance is received in whole. This
cost-of-living allowance is withheld if the officer has a regi-
mental mess or any other military organization where he can
take his meals. It is also withheld in case of furlough, and is
not counted in calculating the pension.
The traveling allowance is constant for all officers, regard-
less of grade, with the exception of Generals who have a fixed
allowance of 100 leva per day. Other officers receive 120 leva
per day in the autumn and winter, and 100 leva per day in
the spring and in the summer.
B. Air budget.
The proposed Air Budget for the year 1942 (it is believed
that no great change has been effected for the year 1943)
placed the grant for the Air Force at 635,000,000 levas, or
approximately $7,470,588. This is a considerable increase over
the previous year's budget. Logically it follows that the
Sobranje advocated that the Army should remain strong until
the end of the war, thus insuring the national integrity.
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115. Supply and Equipment
A. Production.
There is very little aircraft production in Bulgaria. The
aviation industry consists of repair work and the manufacture,
to a small extent, of component parts. Plants in Bulgaria, all
of which are of minor importance, reported to be making
component parts and/or equipped to handle repairs are: The
Caproni Plant at Kazanik, the plant adjacent to the Bozhurishte
Airdrome near Sofiya and the Lovech Plant, near Lovech.
These plants do repair and salvage work, aircraft assembly,
and a small bit of manufacturing. The shops are not equipped
to do otherwise.
B. Imports and exports.
As Bulgaria has no aviation industry of her own it is forced
to import all aircraft. This importation has been almost
exclusively from Germany. Some Czechoslovakian, a few
Italian and a few French planes have been imported. Until
recently, Germany has more or less used Bulgaria as a dump-
ing ground for obsolescent and obsolete aircraft. It has been
reported of late that this condition has been corrected and
the Bulgarian Air Force is increasing in quality; presumably
with the conclusion that Bulgaria will sooner or later be
forced by Germany to engage actively in war.
C. Aircraft.
In 1937 when Bulgaria began to disregard the provisions
of the Treaty of Neuilly, she looked to Germany as the source
for most of her rearmament requirements. Today, the Bulgarian
Air Force has largely German aircraft.
116. Training, Morale, and Efficiency
A. Recruiting.
Air officers are chosen from among the students who enter
the Military Academy (school for officer training) and who
possess the required physical qualifications. Non-commis-
sioned officers are chosen from among the men called in the
annual draft. Requirements are that they be Bulgarian sub-
jects, at least 25 years old, and, in principle, have been graduated
from one of the several elementary technical schools in the
country.
B. Training.
(1) Officers. Candidates for pilot-training follow a tech-
nical course in the Aeronautical Section of the Military
Academy for one year. Flight training is also given. At the
end of this first year, they are qualified as Officer Observers.
Those who show promise as pilots receive two more years of
training, and obtain their pilot certificates in three stages :
Page XI - 3 (Orig.)
(a) Certificate A for training plane, (b) Certificate B for Ob-
servation plane, and (c) Final Certificate for Fighter plane.
(2) Non-commissioned officers. Non-commissioned officer
pilot candidates are assigned to a squadron for six months.
At the end of the period they become non-commissioned
officers and are sent, to a training school at which they are
given a year's course in the theory and practice of flying.
Those not adaptable to flying become aerial gunners. Those
who are adept may request admittance to the Non-commis-
sioned Officers Corps. Those accepted go through a two-year
training period; the others become reserves.
The personnel of the Bulgarian Air Force is high in morale
and loyalty. The majority tie the future of their country to
that of Germany and are worked on by intense German prop-
aganda throughout their entire training period.
117. Strategic and Tactical Doctrines
As the majority of. the Bulgarian Air Force pilots received
their training in Germany, it is concluded that the Bulgarian
pilots would adhere to the tactical and strategic doctrines
advocated by that country. However, as the pilots of this
force lack combat experience, and have not, as yet, been put
to test, a statement as to the capabilities of this Air Force
cannot be drawn.
118. Air Bases
Of the Bulgarian Airfields, the following are the most
important and are Orlek (Group) Headquarters : Vrazhdebna
(Sofiya), Graf Ignatiev (near Plovdiv) Yambol, Gorna
Orekhovitsa, Plovdiv, and Karlovo. There are ten other
main airdromes, which are: Aitos, Asenovgrad, Burgaz,
Dospat, Kazanik, Khaskovo, Pleven, Shumen, Bozhurishte
(near Sofiya), and Stara-Zagora (Figure XI - 1). In addition,
there are approximately 22 landing grounds, and approxi-
mately 15-20 emergency landing grounds that are of opera-
tional value. Table XI - 7 indicates the facilities and locations
of the fields.
119. Defense Zones
Bulgaria has been equipped with German antiaircraft
materiel. The defenses, however, are manned by Bulgarian
Army personnel. The attitude in the defense divisions is very
lax, and the defenses are not considered adequate.
The major airdromes and headquarters of the Orleks are,
of course, reasonably well defended (see Chapter X, Topic
No. 109). Light antiaircraft and searchlight defenses sur-
round each one of these areas; manufacturing districts are
similarly protected. Heavy antiaircraft defense zones, with
defenses manned by German crews are : Yambol, Kazanik,
Marino-pole (S of Melnik), Sofiya, Varna, Svilengrad, and
Burgaz (Figure XI - 1).
TABLE XI-7
BULGARIA, LOCATIONS AND FACILITIES OF AIR FIELDS
ESTIMATED ESTIMATED
LAT. NORMAL EMERGENCY
LONG. DISPERSAL DISPERSAL
42?
40'
Aitos (Airdrome) ....................
27?
11'
Asenovgrad (Stanimaka Airdrome)....
142?
01'
42?
56'
DIMENSIONS
TYPE LOCATION IN FEET
Approximately 12 miles northwest of At least 6550 x 4900
Burgaz.
13 miles southeast of Plovdiv.
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Page XI - 4 (Orig.) ARMY AIR
aal
7-(Continued)
LAT.
ESTIMATED
NORMAL
ESTIMATED
EMERGENCY
D
LONG. DISPERSAL
DISPERSA
L TYPE
IMENSIONS
IN FEET
Burgaz (Sarafovo Airdrome)..........
42?
?
33'
'
30
45
Fighter
Approximately eight miles northnorth-
27
34
Dos
at (Airdrome)
410
41'
east of Burgaz.
p
{
24?
05'
20
30
Fighter
Approximately three and one-half miles
Elkhovo (Landing Ground) ..........
42?
?
10'
-
-
westnorthwest of Dospat.
21 miles south of Yambol
26
35'
.
Gorna Orekhovitsa (Airdrome)
43?
07'
...... .
125?
42'
45
Fighter
One and three-quarter miles north of
Graf I
natiev (Airdrome)
142?
20
town; four and one-half miles north-
east of Trnovo.
............
g
24?
44
30
40
Med. Bmbr.
12 miles west of Plovdiv.
Karlovo (Airdrome)
142?
?
37'
'
35
45
Med. Bmbr.
The north terminus of the Plovdiv/
124
48
Kazanik (Airdrome) .................
142?
124?
37'
24'
30
45
Med. Bmbr.
Karlovo Railroad.
Approximately ten miles northwest of
2600 x 2500, reported
Khaskovo (Airdrome)
41
51'
Stara-Zagora.
to be large field.
{
25?
34'
15
Fighter
Eastern Thrace.
Pleven (Opanets Airdrome)
43?
23'
...........
24?
37'
6562 x 4921
Plovdiv (Airdrome)
42?
08'
.................
24?
46'
45
Med. Bmbr.
One and one-quarter mile south of Plov-
At least 6550 x 4900
?humen (Airdrome)
43?
17'
div (Philippopol)
.................
126?
55'
30
Fighter
Near town of Shumen.
At least 6550 x 4900
Sofi
a (Bozhurishte Airdrom
)
42?
45'
0
y
e
........
23?
13'
3
45
Med. Bmbr.
Seven miles northwest of Sofiya.
2625 x 2298
Sofiya (Vrazhdebna Airdrome)........ 42?
42'
45
60
Med. Bmbr
Eastsoutheast of Sofi
a
23?
25'
.
y
.
Staro Orekhovo (Airdrome).......... j43?
01'
-
127?
42'
(approx.)
Stara-Zagora J42? 25'
(Airdrome) ........ 125? 37' 30
40
Med. Brnbr.
At junction of Plovdiv/Nova Zagora
At least 6550 x 4900
Svilengrad (Airdrome) ............... 141 ? 46'
126? 12' -
-
-
Road and road to Kazanlk.
On Grecian border on east side of Ma-
2600 x 2500
Telish (Landing Ground) ............. 43? 20'
24? 15' 20
30
Fighter
ritsa River.
On the Pleven/Lukovit road.
At least 2600 x 2500
Varna (Peinirdzhik Airdrome) ........ f43? 11' -
127? 47'
Varna (Ses. Sevmes Airdrome) ........ 143? 13'
127? 46' -
Yambol (Airdrome) 42? 29' 30
26? 31'
Fighter
One and three-quarter miles northeast
2600 x 2500
of Yambol on east side of Yambol/
Zimnitsa road.
BULGARIA, MINOR AIRPORTS, NORTH OF 43?
Balcic, Rumania (Landing Ground) ... 43?
27'
128?
12'
Dobrich, Rumania (Landing Ground). 43?
31'
27?
53'
Dolna Mitropoliya (Landing Ground). f43?
27'
124?
32'