22.10.2009, 16:27
There were also at least two Bulgarian Bf 109E's stationed on duty at Skopie airfield that were used to shadow the incoming USAAF bomber formation and relay information to Sofia's air defence. On 25 October 1943 USAAF Lightnings attacked the a/f and one was shot down by the Emils over Albania. IIRC they also participated in the defence of the capital at one time.
Cracken, while that would be great, the B.534 interceptor campaign is short and inglorious... Bulgarian Avia's tried to intercept US bombers twice (in one day, in August 1943 during operation "Tidalwave") and due to their slower speed were only able to make a single pass on the B-24s - once on the trip to Ploesti, once during the return. After that the B.534 didn't participate in the air defence.
The operations of 2ro shturmovo yato (2nd ground attack squadron) during autumn 1944 are another matter, but that woud require a large map covering Western Bulgaria, Makedonia and Eastern Serbia...
EDIT: Varba airfield south-west of Sofia, maybe around 60km away - it was used both by the Luftwaffe and the VnVV. Either I/JG5 or 5./JG301 used it briefly in 1944.
Cracken, while that would be great, the B.534 interceptor campaign is short and inglorious... Bulgarian Avia's tried to intercept US bombers twice (in one day, in August 1943 during operation "Tidalwave") and due to their slower speed were only able to make a single pass on the B-24s - once on the trip to Ploesti, once during the return. After that the B.534 didn't participate in the air defence.
The operations of 2ro shturmovo yato (2nd ground attack squadron) during autumn 1944 are another matter, but that woud require a large map covering Western Bulgaria, Makedonia and Eastern Serbia...
EDIT: Varba airfield south-west of Sofia, maybe around 60km away - it was used both by the Luftwaffe and the VnVV. Either I/JG5 or 5./JG301 used it briefly in 1944.