CONTENTS

Foreword 5

Chapter 1: Legionnaires
A Road into the Unknown 7
The Front of All Fronts 9
In Icy Skies 12
Fiery Spring 20
Time of Vacillation 28
Gustavs Over the Caucasus 35
On the Gates of Tuapse 50
New Challenges 57
Battle Over Kuban 59
Time of Crisis 65
Offspring in the Crimea 71
Fight to the Last 81
Long Way Home 84

Chapter 2: Fighters of the Zvonimir Cross
Terror State 87
Too Little Too Late 91
Every Man for Himself 96

Chapter 3: Bulgarian Arrows
Defending Sofia 103
En Route to Ploiesti 111
Under the Allied Flag 115
Spoils of War 121

Chapter 4: Protectors of the Republic
Guerilla Air Force 123
War Booty 124
Bulgarian Connection 130
Back on First Line Service 134
Marshal’s Guards 137
The Young Regiment 142
Gloomy Year 145
End of the Road 156
Survivors 165

Chapter 5: Camouflage and Markings
Hrvatska zrakoplovna legija 167
Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske 170
Vazdushni na Negovo Velichestvo Voyski & Vazdushni Voyski 171
Vazduhoplovstvo jugoslovenske armije & Jugoslovensko ratno vazduhoplovstvo 173

Endnotes 175

Appendix 1: Provisional List of Claims Achieved With Bf 109s by HZL Pilots 1941 – 1944 177
Appendix 2: Known Losses of Luftwaffe Bf 109s with HZL Pilots 1941 – 1944 183
Appendix 3: Known ZNDH Bf 109 Losses 1944 – 1945 184
Appendix 4: Known Claims Achieved With Bf 109 by VnNVV Pilots Over Yugoslavia 1943 – 1945 185
Appendix 5: Known Bf 109 Deliveries to VnNVV 1941 – 1945 186
Appendix 6: Known VnNVV & VV Bf 109 Losses in Operations Over Yugoslavia 1943 – 1945 186
Appendix 7: VnNVV Bf 109Gs Seized by Luftwaffe at Skoplje Aerodrome, September 1944 186
Appendix 8: VJA & JRV Bf 109 Register 1945 – 1953 187
Appendix 9: VJA & JRV Bf 109 List of Losses & Accidents 1945 – 1952 188
Appendix 10: Reconstruction of the Register of DB 605A & D Engines in JRV Inventory 190
Appendix 11: Approximate Comparison of Ranks 190

Abbreviations 191
Selected Bibliography 192
Selected Archival Funds and Documents 192
Selected Internet Sources 192
Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Color 193

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