Bristol Blenheim, part six, Yugoslav users

 

The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber of the Second World War which saw action with many countries all around the world, among them, the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia. 

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia also showed interest in the Blenheim and, just like the Finns did, they also acquired a production license for 50 aircraft which would be produced by Ikarus at their factory in Zemum, close to Belgrade.

In November 1937 two Mk.Is were shipped to serve as patterns and by 1939 Ikarus had completed a around 23 frames, without engines though. The engine supply from the United Kingdom turned to be a serious problem, so one machine, No.29, was fitted with Italian Alfa Romeo 126 radial engine. Eventually, Bristol Mercury engines were obtained from the Polish PZL factory after Germany occupied Poland, so further 14 machines could be completed at Ikarus'. Therefore, a total of 40 Ikarus-built Blenheims Mk.Is were delivered to the Royal Yugoslav Air Force, also known as JKRV. The Yugoslav-built Blenheims were armed with Italian 12,7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns instead of the original British ones. Some were also up-armed with additional Italian 12,7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns, which increased its weight and made the aircraft harder to fly.

Back in August 1939 they also requested a supply of Mk.IVs, but Bristol refused it and sent 20 additional Avro-built Mk.Is instead. However, it seems that by early 1941 the production line was set to produce the Mk.IV and around 20 partially completed airframes were found by the Germans when they invaded in April 1941. These tools and frames were later given to Finland. Some sources claim that one machine was completed and even painted, but never flew. As we couldn't confirm nor deny it, we decided to draw it anyway. 

The first unit of the JKRV to employ the Blenheim was the 1st Bomber Regiment in 1938, which was joined later by the 8th Bomber Regiment and, in 1940, the 11th Independent Long Range Reconnaissance Group. Most of the Yugoslav Blenheims were in service when Germany invaded on 6th April 1941. Some were destroyed on ground by Luftwaffe's raids, but many others performed unescorted bombing raids and showed to be very vulnerable to both fighters and anti-air fire. 

However, some successful attacks were made, but, with their bases threatened, many units were forced to evacuate and by 13th April there were few Blenheims available, with some being destroyed by Yugoslav to prevent to fall into German hands. A few, around 20 machines, were captured by the Germans, and after some refurbishment, they were given to the Independent State of Croatia's Air Force. 

It seems that at least one machine was captured at the end of the war by Yugoslav's Partisans and it received Yugoslav Communist markings. Its fate is unknown.

Sources:

1. Hall Park Books - Warpaint 26 - Bristol Blenheim

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bristol_Blenheim_operators

Caproni Ca.310, foreign users, part two

 

The Caproni Ca.310 Libeccio, was an Italian twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft used during the World War II. It was mainly employed by Italy, but it also had many other foreign users, among them, those in the previous post, and the following ones:

• United Kingdom: The United Kingdom was going to be the most important foreign customer for the Ca.310, as the Royal Air Force (RAF) was undergoing major expansion programme after the Munich crisis in 1938. An element of that programme included enlarging the RAF's bomber force, which required an effective crew trainer aircraft. The RAF's high command decided that the Ca.310 could fit that role in late 1938 (albeit with some minor modifications, like for instance, replacing the 12,7 Breda-SAFAT defensive machine-gun with a British Vickers K gun). Negotiations continued well after the beginning of the World War II, when Italy was still neutral. The order wasn't cancelled even after 3rd September, when France and Great Britain declared war on Germany. However, Germany issued a formal protest to Italian government and, Caproni, which apparently was sympathetic to the Allied cause, tried to sell the aircraft through their Portuguese subsidiary. In December 1939 the British government, informed Caproni that they were going to buy 200 examples of the Ca.310 plus 300 of the Ca.313. Eventually, the order was changed to replace the Ca.310 with Ca.311, which was better. When Italy entered the War on 10th June 1940, all plans were scrapped.
• Peru: The Peruvian Cuerpo Aeronáutico del Perú (Peruvian Aeronautical Corps) bought 16 Ca.310s in 1938. Fifteen of them were shipped in May and the last one was ferried from Italy to Peru. The flight took place on 2nd August 1939, but the aircraft crashed on his way killing its pilot, Captain Pedro Canga Rodriguez. The Peruvian Ca.310s were employed during the Ecuadorian-Peruvian War of July 1941 as part of various bombing squadrons. They often flew bombing missions against Ecuadorian cities, escorted by the North American NA-50 "Torito" (Spanish for 'Little Bull') fighters. After that war ended, they were used as trainers.
• Nationalist Spain: It was during the Spanish Civil War that the Ca.310 was used in combat for the first time. A total of 16 Ca.310 were employed by the Aviación Nacional (Spanish Nationalist Air Force during the civil war) from July 1938 until the end of the conflict. They were assigned to Grupo 18 (Group 18) and were used in the reconnaissance-bomber role, and saw little action, mainly in the Catalonian front.
• Yugoslavia: This country was the first foreign customer of the type when, in 1938, they bought 12 Ca.310. While every other country bought the Ca.310 as a light bombers, Yugoslavia bought them as bomber trainers, as the Royal Yugoslav Air Force was undergoing a modernization process with more modern bombers such as the Bristol Blenheim, the Dornier Do.17k and the Savoia-Marchetti Sm.79, so they needed a multi-engined crew-trainer aircraft with retractable landing gear. 
  Apparently Yugoslavia was the only foreign customer satisfied with the Ca.310's performance, so they ordered a second batch of 12 Ca.310bis machines in 1939, which was a developed variant with an unstepped glazed cockpit (it would eventually serve as the prototype for the Ca.311) which was delivered at the end of the year. After the country was invaded by Axis forces, the Ca.310 were divided between the Independent State of Croatia, Italy and Germany. 
  During the late stages of the war, Yugoslav partisans seem to have re-captured some ex-Croatian machines and sent them to serve with the Yugoslav Partisan Air Force and its subsequent postwar air force. As we couldn't find graphical info about the Ca.310 serving with the SFR Yugoslav Air Force, the drawing should be regarded as speculative.

Sources:

1. https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235096763-caproni-ca310/

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.310

Messerschmitt Bf.108, part five

Among the many foreign users of the Messerschmitt Bf.108 were both the United States of America and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

• United States of America: The aircraft depicted below belonged to the U.S. Military Attaché for Air in Berlin. It was bought in the spring 1939 and was officially designated as Messerschmitt XC-44. In November 1941 it was condemned and shortly after, in December 1941 after the Germany declared war on the USA, the aircraft was repossessed by the German authorities.
• Kingdom of Yugoslavia: Yugoslavia closed a deal with Germany to buy some Messerschmitt Bf.109E fighters. Given the technical complexity of those new fighters, Yugoslav pilots had to be trained in simpler aircraft, so the most logical choice was the Bf.108. At least nine of them were purchased by the Royal Yugoslav Army Air Force. Two of them were assigned to the 710th Liaison Squadron, based in Lješnica and the other three were assigned to the Air Training School, based in Mostar.
  Some other also served in the liaison role, with the 702nd Liaison Squadron based in Zemun, with the 703rd Liaison Squadron, based in Nova Topola, with the 704th Liaison Squadron, based in Stubol and the 705th Liaison Squadron, based in Ljubic. All of them were either destroyed in 1941 when Axis powers invaded or captured (see our previous post for one Italian captured Bf.108 for another example).

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_108

2. https://www.valka.cz/Nord-1001-Pingouin-I-t85450

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nord_Pingouin

4. http://www.warbirdalley.com/bf108.htm

5. Wydawnictwo Militaria 149 - Messerschmitt Bf-108 Taifun

6. https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=347

7. https://www.wikizeroo.org/index.php?q=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbi53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnL3dpa2kvWXVnb3NsYXZfb3JkZXJfb2ZfYmF0dGxlX3ByaW9yX3RvX3RoZV9pbnZhc2lvbl9vZl9ZdWdvc2xhdmlh