Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI, part eleven, Other European users

The MiG-15UTI served all across the globe, and it was also used by the following countries:

• Armenia: When the country was declared independent in 1991, some UTIs were left behind. They were incorporated into the newly created air force and were used in the Nagorno-Karabah war in the light-bomber role in 1992. All of them were presumably lost in that war. As we couldn't find graphical evidence of the type serving with the Armenian Air Force, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• Bulgaria: The MiG-15UTI became the main trainer aircraft for the Bulgarian People's Army Air Force in the early 1950s when they were bought from the USSR. They served alongside other types like the Aero L-29 or the Aero L-39 until the fall of Communism in 1989 and even beyond as the type was still in active service in 1992. However, it was retired shortly after and replaced by the L-39 and the Pilatus PC-9. 
• Chechen Republic of Ichkeria: The Chechen National Guard Aviation had at least one MiG-15UTI that received the Chechen roundel. However it was destroyed on the ground during the first hours of the Chechen War in 1994. 
• Finland: In 1954 the MiG-15 was offered to Finland by the USSR, but the Finnish Air Force wasn't interested in the type, however, some years later, in 1962, as they needed an intermediate trainer before completing the transition to the MiG-21F-13, four MiG-15UTIs were ordered. In spite the UTI's good flying characteristics, the UTI didn't handle very well on ground and, as it didn't meet the demands of the Finnish Air Force, it wasn't used very much. It served until 7th February 1977 when it's last flight with the Finnish Colours took place.
• Romania: The Air Force of the People's Republic of Romania imported a total of 60 both Aero CS-102 (the Czechoslovak license-built MiG-15UTI) and MiG-15UTIs from 1953 until 1960. Given to the UTIs good flying characteristics and robustness, they were in service until 1992 making it, with more than 40 years, one of the most longeve aircraft to ever serve in the Romanian Air Force.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15

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

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

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chechen_National_Guard

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Chechen_War

6. https://www.ilmailumuseot.fi/tuotteet.html?id=20171/255089

7. http://www.aripi-argintii.ro/aparatdezbor.php?p=24 (translated) 

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis, various European users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis, which basically was an improved variant of the MiG-15, was introduced in 1950 and soon equipped the fighter force of many eastern bloc/Warsaw pact countries. Among those countries, there are the following:

• Bulgaria: After the end of the Korean war, where the MiG-15bis showed its capabilities, in 1955 the old propeller-driven Soviet-build fighters were replaced by MiG-15 and MiG-15bis entering the Bulgarian Air Force in the jet age, even if they had been already operating a very small number of Yakovlev Yak-17 fighters. They were gradually replaced by the MiG-17 during the next years.
• German Democratic Republic: When the Air Forces of the National People's Army was formed in 1956, they were initially equipped with the MiG-15bis which were replaced soon after with the introduction of the MiG-17F/PF and the MiG-15bis was soon relegated to advanced trainer duties.
• Hungarian People's Republic: Like other neighbouring countries of the eastern bloc or Warsaw Pact, until mid-1950s their Air Forces were equipped with World War II Soviet propeller aircrafts even if they received a small amount of Yakovlev Yak-23 as interim fighters. As that material had to be modernized, they received both MiG-15 and MiG-15bis which replaced every previous fighter type and were replaced by the more advanced MiG-17
• Socialist Republic of Romania: The Air Force of the Socialist Republic of Romania received their first jet aircrafts in 1951. They were an amount of Yakovlev Yak-17UTI trainers which were used to train pilots into the usage of jet aircraft. Soon after, in 1954, the Romanian Air Force received both the MiG-15 and MiG-15bis which replaced the old propeller-driven outdated fighters, which, in Romania, some of them were still Messerschmitt Bf.109G-6.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15

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

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Forces_of_the_National_People%27s_Army

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Air_Force

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Air_Force

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, Various European users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was used by every European member of the Warsaw Pact. As both Poland and Czechoslovakia manufactured them separatedly, we will cover them in other post.

• Albania: Back when the Albanian Air Force was created in April 1951, they received some outdated Yakovlev Yak-9 and, on 15th May 1955, they received second-hand MiG-15 that had been used in the Korean War. They were replaced by the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17.
• Bulgaria: When the Bulgarian People's Army Air Force was re-established just after the World War two, they were equipped with propeller driven Soviet aircrafts like the Ilyushin Il-2, Ilysuhin Il-10 or the Tupolev Tu-2. In 1954 they were withdrawn as, since 1951 they had been receiving jet aircrafts like the MiG-15 which remained in service until they were replaced by the MiG-17.
• East-Germany: In the beginning of 1953, one MiG-15 was delivered to the East-German KVP-Luft (Kasernierten Volkspolizei - Air Garrisoned Police) which was the predecessor of the East Germany Air Force. They flew under Soviet colours, but, shortly after, on 17th June, they were taken back by Soviet authorities.
• Hungary: Just like every surrounding countries, the MiG-15 was the first jet fighter to operate with the newly created Hungarian People's Air Force during the early 1950s. They were replaced by the MiG-17 during late 1950s. As we couldn't find graphical evidence of the regular MiG-15 in Hungarian colours, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• Romania: The Air Force of the People's Republic of Romania received MiG-15 in 1952 which served alongside the MiG-15bis and the MiG-17 until 1958, when they were replaced. The drawing should be considered as speculative as graphical evidence of the regular MiG-15 under Romanian colours seems to be nearly impossible.
• USSR: The MiG-15 was the backbone of the Soviet Air Force. It was in service since its introduction in 1949 and served alongside the improved MiG-15bis with the main Soviet Air Force units. It was produced from 1949 until 1953 in various Soviet factories and a total number of 1344 exemplars were manufactured in Soviet soil only at factories in Saratov, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Komsomoslk-on-Amur and Kuybyshev. Most of them were gradually replaced by the MiG-17 when it was introduced in 1952.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15

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

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

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Forces_of_the_National_People%27s_Army

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Air_Force

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Air_Force

7. https://forum.valka.cz/topic/view/53179

8. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters