Foreword 5
Chapter 1: Royal Emils
The Land of the South Slavs 7
An Air Force in Despair 8
Hard Talk 8
Fragile Peace 20
Tumult in the Balkans 37
Pact or War 43
Luftwaffe Gearing Up 49
Chapter 2: Bloody April
Black Dawn 53
On the Adriatic Front 59
Battle for Belgrade 60
Fight in the North 71
Defense Melting 74
Breakdown 81
Stage Closing 90
Zemun Interlude 97
The April War Aftermath 98
Chapter 3: The Wild Battlefield
Bandengebiet 101
On the Reich’s Southern Flank 103
At the Crossroads 111
Mounting Pressure 119
Spring Attrition 125
Defenses Fading Away 146
New Foes on the Horizon 153
Over Batina Bridgehead 156
Up Until the Last Plane Flying 158
Chapter 4: Camouflage and Markings
Vazduhoplovstvo Vojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije 161
Luftwaffe 166
Endnotes 173
Appendix 1: VVKJ Bf 109E-3a Production Numbers Pool 175
Appendix 2: Roster of VVKJ Bf 109E-3a & IK-3 Units in the
Defense of Belgrade, 6 April 1941 175
Appendix 3: VVKJ Fighter Claims, April War 1941 (Provisional) 176
Appendix 4: VVKJ 6.LP Combat Log, 6 – 12 April 1941 177
Appendix 5: Luftflotte 4, Order of Battle for Bf 109E Units,
5 April 1941 180
Appendix 6: Known Claims by Luftwaffe Bf 109 Units Over
Yugoslavia 1941 – 1945 181
Appendix 7: Known Luftwaffe Bf 109 Losses in Yugoslav Campaign and in Yugoslavia 1941 – 1945 186
Appendix 8: Approximate Comparison of Ranks 190
Abbrevations 191
Selected Bibliography 191
Selected Archival Funds and Documents 192
Selected Internet Sources 192
Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Color 193