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 48
Chapter 2: Bloody April
Black Dawn 53
On the Adriatic Front 59
Battle for Belgrade 60
Fight in the North 71
Defense Melting 73
Breakdown 81
Stage Closing 90
Zemun Interlude 97
The April War Aftermath 99
Chapter 3: The Wild Battlefield
Bandengebiet 101
On the Reich’s Southern Flank 103
At the Crossroads 110
Mounting Pressure 119
Spring Attrition 125
Defenses Fading Away 144
New Foes on the Horizon 151
Over Batina Bridgehead 154
Up Until the Last Plane Flying 156
Chapter 4: Camouflage and Markings
Vazduhoplovstvo Vojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije 159
Luftwaffe 163
Endnotes 169
Appendix 1: VVKJ Bf 109E-3a Production Numbers Pool 171
Appendix 2: Roster of VVKJ Bf 109E-3a & IK-3 Units in the
Defense of Belgrade, 6 April 1941 171
Appendix 3: VVKJ Fighter Claims, April War 1941 (Provisional) 172
Appendix 4: VVKJ 6.LP Combat Log, 6 – 12 April 1941 173
Appendix 5: Luftflotte 4, Order of Battle for Bf 109E Units,
5 April 1941 176
Appendix 6: Known Claims by Luftwaffe Bf 109 Units Over
Yugoslavia 1941 – 1945 177
Appendix 7: Known Luftwaffe Bf 109 Losses in Yugoslav Campaign and in Yugoslavia 1941 – 1945 182
Appendix 8: Approximate Comparison of Ranks 186
Abbrevations 187
Selected Bibliography 187
Selected Archival Funds and Documents 188
Selected Internet Sources 188
Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Color 189