YUGOSLAV AIR FORCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00415R001100040009-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 3, 2006
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: December 20, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

25X1
Approved For Release 2006/11/13' CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
CLASSIFICATION ; .f, . ar
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO
INFORMATION REPORT
CCIJNTRY Yugoslavia Clq LIBR
ARY
SUBJECT Yugoslav Air Force
P
k
E
L
C
NO. OF ENCLS.
ACQUIRE
LUSTED BELOW)
DATE Ol
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO
.
S*IIo DOCUMENT 'ORTAIRS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATEN WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT 50
U.:3. C.. TI AND EZ. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE RENELATIOH
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANT MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON 15 PRO.
25X I u;VER~iNFORRATIORRCONTAINEDIN BODY FFTME FORS MAY 6DUTILIIZH
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION FOR THE RESEARCH
USE OF TRAINED INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS
1. Yugoslav military aviation is now ruch stronger than for-norly. Only
young men serve, "ost of whom have had snecial courses in Soviet Russia
and in Yugoslavia.
2. The Yugoslav Air Force already has 500? ("500?" has been inked in over
the number "5,000" in the oripinal) modern aircraft furnished by the
Soviet Union, and as raan4Y more are being constructed in the Yugoslav
aircraft industries.
3. The largest part of the Yugoslav Sir Force consists of fighter planes
which, according to Soviet war strategy, are to defend Yugoslavia in
the initial phase of military operations and as long as Russian aircraft
are not active in long-range or heavy bombing attacks over enemy territory.
4. Command of the Yugoslav Air Force is professionally trained according
to Russian methods. Almost all instructors have been given specialized
training in Russia.
S. supreme Command of the Yugoslav /.ir lorco is under strict control of
high Soviet officers who issue orders and directives reTarding the
training of Yugoslav o^floors. All of the most important decisions,
pronotions, and transfers, as well as all nrocedures relative to the
construction an& strengthening of the Yugoslav air ootantial, are under
jurisdicti'n of the above-r.untioned Soviet officers. At the head
of the special Russian eo-rmission, which has control of the Yugoslav
Air rose, is a Soviet general who is frequently seen with Tito and
the coriander of the Yugoslav Air Foroo.
6. The most influential person in the Air "orae is the political commissar
Sir.ovio, a Yugoslav ex-sorgeant who participated in guerrilla warfare
on the Partisan side. All of his orders are carried out to.the last
detail as though he were the commander-in-chief of Yugoslav military
aviation, for even Tito and the members of the special Soviet "ission
have the greatest confidence in him. -
_ t: SSfCATION Si;CR: T
STATE
NAVY NSRS DISTRIBUTION
li ARMYY X( AIR ~M~
7. The present air force is b"sed on old Yugoslav formations. The smallest
unit is the squadron, while the largest is the air brigade, consistinrr
-t
Return to CIA Library
Approved For Release 2006/11/13: CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
 Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGBZ AGgr
of three regiments.
8. Disposition of the Yugoslav air regiments is as folloars:
brk Air Faroe
Regiment, Zenun (Belgrade); 2d, Sarajevo (Bosnia); 3d Sk
Nova, Sad; 6th Zagreb; 6th Pancevo; 7th, L bl ana ' oP i 4th
9th Ecka; 10th, Kraljevo; and 11th, Nis. t 8th t~ostar;
9. Each of the above..mentionec regiments has at its disposal three or
four airfields within its jurisdictional area. Regiments are composed
primarily of fighter craft and bombers. In each regiment there is a
training center for pilots arriving from supplementary cadres. In
addition, each regiment has a. detached high-ranking Russian officer,
who is also in Pact the secret ocmnander of the regiment because all
of his orders are executed immediately.
10. Besides the above-mentioned regiments which are permanent
there are also the reginWntal schools which, in case of o , can be
immediately traneformej into air-combat regiments. They aria the
Panoevo Regimental School, Ecka Regimental School, and the Mostar
Regimental Sohool.
YUGOSLAV MILITA 1Y AIRCRAFT
11. The Yugoslav Air Force is equipped with Russian aircraft exclusively.
Other aircraft, which the Yugoslavs received from the Allies during
the last war and which fell in Yugoslav Ger ..oocupled territory,
are used only for training, transport, and communications.
12. The Yugoslav Air Force now has the following types of planess
YAK-3s,. YAK-7, YAK-9, Stormovik, and P.F. Petlyakov,
13, The YAK is a fighter plane similar to the German Messersohmitt or
the English Spitfire, with a 1,300-hp engine and a maximum speed
in horizontal flight of 680 km per hour. It has a ceiling of 10,000
maters, and is armed with two 7.9,+m machine guns and two 20.em
cannons.
14. The Stormovik is an attack aircraft, two-seater low-wing monoplane
with a l,600-hp water-cooled engines it has 10-mm.thiok armor for
the protection of the engine; it can attain a maximum speed of 450 km
per hour. It has a ceiling of 6,000 maters and is armed with two 7.9emt
machine guns, one for the pilot and the other for the observers. There
are only two 20-mm cannons and four rooket-launching tubes. In addition,
it has a bomb capacity of 400 kg. The rocket-launch;
on the tail of the craft, are arranged like those of the Katussha w
15. The Petlyakov is a low-wing monoplane and has two 1,300-hp engines like
those of the YAK. The crew oensists of three man. The plane, ioh
can attain a speed of 500 k: per hour, has a ceiling of 9,000 meters,
is armed with three nachine guns and two cannons, and has a bomb
capacity of 750 kg.
25X1 16.
Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
 Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENOE AG]Y
DISPOSITION OF REGIMENTS
170 Eaoh of the 11 Yugoslav Air Force regiments \
two principal airfields and several so-called vAtrr-amerlo command o fields* el~am Disposition of these regiments and their bases is as follows
lot Air Force Regiment Zeman
18. The lot Air Force Regiment is located at Zed Airfield. ftlitary
aircraft are not based at a field of this type for politioa], and other
reasons. Zemun,Airfield aoooaawodates only civilian and milltary transit
aircraft but, in case of war, a regiment of fighters will be assigned
there for defense of Belgrade and Zs mri, Such deft se is also the
responsibility of other Air Force regiments stationed nearby, it is
estimated that about 400 fighter planes can be stationed at this air>
field.
19. General construction of Zeman Airfield is of highest quality. .During
the German occupation, the Luftwaffe built a modern concrete
runbsty there for landing of heavy combat or transport aircraft. It
also has all of the most modern installations essential to an airfield
that covers such broad and important fields of service.
2r Force Regiment, Sara4evo
20. The four fields used by the 2d Air Force Regiment of Sarajevo are
the Ra jlovac Air field and the But:nir, Sokolac, and Tuz].a-kijel jina
Auxiliary fields. Rajlovao Airfield is the most important.
21. Ra jiovac Airfield is located 6 km flan Sarajevo toward Zenica. It is
the largest airfield assigned to the 2d Air Force Regnant. This
field was greatly enlarged by the Germans and later me damaged by
German aircraft; however, it was.reoonstrueted immediately after the
war. The field today is much more beautiful, and modern than it was
before the vgar. The runway, now about 2 km long, is metal for take.
offs and landings of heavier aircraft. Moreover, the inktallations
are modern. There is also a modern goniometer at the eastern end of
the field.
22. The field has six large modern hangars, a radio station operated by
a Russian specialist, an aircraft repair shop, an automobile repair
shop, a depot and a large underground gasoline storage tank at the
western end outside the boundary of the airfield. This tank has a
capacity of approximately 1,500,000 liters, There is also a pilot-
training school, under direction of a Russian officer conspicuously attired
in civilian clothing. At the present time a regiment of fighters
and bombers is stationed at the field. Of these, about 1PfO sty YAE.S
fighters and 90 are Petlyakovs.
23. Butmir Airfield is situated near Butmir where the famous Ilids*
baths are located, about 10 km from Sarajevo. This is one of the
Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
 Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415R001100040009-5
SECRET
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
auxiliary fields in time of war. It has temporary runway about 1,600
meters long and 80 meters wide. It is suited for light aircraft only
because the surrounding mountains do not permit the take-off of large
aircraft and because the terrain is too muddy and damp from the neexby
Basna River. At present therefore no modern installations at this
field; in an emergency, they Could be quickly installed and the air-
field could therafter be easily adapted for defense of Sarajevo and
Bosnia, and for landings of other aircraft. At this field at present
there are only three squadrons of YAK-7 fighters and a unit school near
Pancevo.
24. Sokolao Airfield is located between Sarajevo and Visegrad, about 35 km
from Sarajevo on a plateau of the well-known Romanija Mountains near
Sokolac, from which the field took its name. It is superbly
camouflaged because all the surrounding area is densely wooded. It has
one runway about 1,800 meters long and 85 meters wide. This runway
has a firm surface because the ground is solid and lends itself to the
use for which it was intended. In addition, the surrounding woods provide
excellent cover; the.camouflaged field, also is without any significant
landmarks. It is difficult to determine where aircraft arc hidden, On,
the other hand, the aircraft can be made ready for take-off on a
moment*s notice. At the present time the airfield has no modern equipment,
but it is evident that in an emergency it can be equipped with all the
buildings and installations necessary for normal airfield operations.
Two squadrons of Stormoviks are now based at this field, as *ell as
five jet planes piloted by Russians.
25. Bijeljina Airfield is located in the immediate vicinity of 8ije13ina,
not far from Popovo Polje near Tuzla. This, too, is an auxiliary
field under the 2d Regiment. It is well situated in the mountains
and not visible from the air. It has a rummy about l}700 Halters
long and 160 meters wide. The ground is excellent for heavy aircraft.
It has no modern equipment at present, with the exception of a radio
station. Four squadrons are now stationed there: Two of Petlyrakova
and two of YAKS. This airfield, likewise, must help defend Bosnia and
the chief industrial centers of the territory.
3d Air Force Regiiment, Skopl m
26. The three airfields assigned to this regiment are Skoplje, Tetovo, and
Kutnanovo, even though there are other smaller fields in the well-
known region of Kosovo Poije.
27. The 3d Regiment has the responsibility of defending the entire sector
of southern Serbia, with air defense extending into Greek territory
and even into the Mediterranean. Therefore, it is one of the most
important units in the entire Yugoslav Air Force.
28. Skolpje Airfield is one of the largest and most modern in southern Serbia,
and therefore it is the most important post under jurisdiction of the 3d
Air Force Regiment. It has one modern runway. 2 km long, metal surfaced
since the war for heavier aircraft. It has all of the finest installations
of a modern airfield, as well as night-flying equipment. It includes eight
hangars modernized since the war, a large aircraft repair shop, another
automobile repair shop, an ammunition dump at the north end of the field,
and an underground gasoline storage tank at t?ne south and,
Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415R001100040009-5
 Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415R001100040009-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
29. There are now five squadrons of YAK fighters, three Petlyskav squadrons,
and one squadron of the four-engined Martin?ts based at this r!Leld.
In addition there is a second group of five jet aircraft piloted by
Russians who have instructions to turn these aircraft over to Yugoslav
pilots as soon as they have had a special course in Russia.
30. Tetovo Airfield is the second largest airfield (after the one at Skopljo)
assigned to the 3d Air Force Regiment. It has only recently been completed
the Russians intend it to be one of the most modern airfields On the
entire Balkan Peninsula inasmuch as it must be used principally by the
Russian Air Force.
31. This airfield has a metal runway 2,000 meters long and 150 meters wide. It
has modern equipment for complete operation of an up-to-date airfield:
equipment necessary for night flying end even a school for night flying,
The field is situated 8 on on the left side of the road from Tetovv to
Bitolj, and is at present clearly visible from the air,
32. It has been modernized and enlarged at the request of the Soviet military
authorities. Two hundred and fifty aircraft are now stationed hare;
ten squadrons of fighters and 20 of bombers Including YAK*, Starmovikcs,
Petlyakova, and Martins.
33. This airfield I. considered a central bade for any eeaergenoy involving
those aircraft taking part in the defense of southern Serbia and in
raids over Greece and Turkey. It is a major base for all aircraft from
the 1JSSR where these aircraft may load gasoline and bombs, and, on
their return trip, effect now raids over their objectives,
34. Humanovo Airfield is near Kumanovo in Petrov& Rosa. This is an
suXilic y field under command of the 3d Regiment. Its runway is 1,600
meters long and 200 meters wide. It has no modern equipment except for
a radio station which maintains contact with the command of the Sd Air
Force Regiment, stationed at Skoplje. Four squadrons of YAZ_9 fighters,
which are in daily training, are now based at this airfields
4th Air-Force Regiment, Novi Sad
35. The following airfields are assigned to the 4th Regiments Jugovioevo,
Indija (a Newly constructed airfield), and a group of auxiliary fields
scattered over the region of Srem.
36, Jugovioevo Airfield is situated only 4 kilometers from. Novi Sad. This
field was almost destroyed during the last war, and has not been of
much service since. The otmuuand agrees that the field has no great
importance and that even the ground because of negleot,.does not lend
itself to aircraft activities. However, toward the end of 194?, the
Russians had great hopes that this field might be adapted to serve
various purposes, first for transports from the USSR, second for defense
of Novi Sad, and finally for protection of military units deployed nearby.
37. The airfield is now considered completely renovated, All hangars
that were destroyed have been rebuilt and new ones have been ereotedj also,
a paved runway has been laid. This runway is about 2 km long and 150
meters wide. The field has eight hangars an aircraft repair shop, and
an underground gasoline storage tank located at the northern end of the
Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
 Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
SEQRSZ
CENTRAL INT1 LLIGENCE AGENCY
field. It has a radio station, a goniometer, and modern equipment for
night flying.
38. Now based at the airfield are four squadrons of Petlyakovs, three
squadrons of YAKS7 fighters, and half a flotilla of Spitfires. Night
flying training is in progress, as mall as i,.,.>hl.- ,,...._~. -- .- --_-?
territory.
39. Indija Airfield was constructed only a short time ago and is to serve.
Primarily. In time of war. Its runway is 1,300 meters long and 200 meters
wide, but no special aoc0mnodations'of any kind. It now has a unit
school which offers Stormovik training in strafing ground objectives.
40. Bela Crkva Airfield is now under oomrnand of the Novi Sad Airfield.
It is one of the old fields situated close to the Rumanian border near
Bela Crkva. It is a modern airfield that was refitted and enlarged by
German Air Force units for righter training. Located here at present is
a school offering courses-auoh aa'target_prb*tioe:and.other.trainift
neces3ary to an efficient modern air force. All training is directed
by a special commission of high-ranking Russian officers and two Yugoslav
Air Force colonels. A jet aircraft training unit, under direction of
pilots and other Russian instructors, is also located on the Bald.
5th Air Force Regiment Zagreb
41. This regiment is based at the Zagreb Airfield. The following air-
fields are assigned to it: Zagreb (the most important), Vrbasleo (sic=
probably Vrbaska), and various small auxiliary fields situated in Croatia.
42. Zagreb Airfield-to one of the better airfields available to the Yugoslav
Air Force. I ` omewhat damaged during the war, but immediately after
was repaired and reconditioned for new activity. It was finally, re-
constructed in 1947, and equipped with everything required for a
modern air force. A modern concrete runway, 1,800 maters long and 100
meters wide, has recently been constructed at Zagreb. Night.-flying
equipment has also been installed. The only aircraft based here are
fighters for defense of Zagreb and all the large industries located
in Croatia. There are seven squadrons of YAK-9 fighters and one squadron
of Spitfires and Hurricane Rocketss also deployed here is another
squadron of the Stormovik fighters which enrage in training for day
flying and often night flying.
43. The airfield has a repair shop for hoavy aircraft; also seven hangars,
two of which are new and an underground gasoline storage tank.
44. The Vrbasko Airfield was constructed within the last year. Actually,
its construction was begun by the Ustashi air force during the war.
It was finished, however, in the middle of 1947.
45. This airfield is located near the Kupa River. A group of Russian
YAK-9 .`ighters are b:-sed here. The field has an ejector for launching
V-2 guided missiles. Access to the field is strictly forbidden. A
special track has been constructed from the center of the magazine in
which the missiles are probably kept. The airfield is clearly visible
from the air and therefore is provided with fighters for its defense,
Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
 Approved For Release 2006/11/13 : CIA-RDP83-00415RO01100040009-5
SECRET
CENTRAL I11'I L,LI0EN0E AGENCY
and for the zone from which guided missiles would be launched. This
group of planes consist of six squadrons which carry out daily training
Maneuvers in defense of the field. There is also a special group of
Russian pilots who fly this YAL