Bulgarian aviation in World War Two

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Joruel
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Bulgarian aviation in World War Two

#1

Post by Joruel » 28 Nov 2007, 12:53

What do you know about Bulgarian aviation during the WW2? Any of you heard of some Bulgarian aviators? Some battles in the sky over Sofia?

Any of you to tell how Bulgarian pilots are presented in the foreign history, books, stories, if any?

I'm interested of knowing some more about the image of Bulgarian aviators and aviation abroad. Because Bulgaria had real battles, not "symbolic" to defend it's land during "Point Black" operation.

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CB1
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Saw a picture of a Bulgarian D.520 once. Or was it a MS.406?

#2

Post by CB1 » 28 Nov 2007, 13:21

Hi,

A book was published in Hungary (http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/bibl/mil/ww ... 31625.html) about minor axis air forces. There is a chapter included about the BAF as well. I have read it but remember nothing apart from some vague notion that allied heavy bombers attacked the country and I did not understand why as I was under the impression that Bulgaria was not at war with the allies.

Bye,
Krisz


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Joruel
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#3

Post by Joruel » 28 Nov 2007, 14:55

Bulgaria declared war to USA and Great Britain on December 13th, 1941. Of course, it was only "on paper", as we didn't want to fight those countries. But after our country suffered the heavy bombing by Us and GB airforces, our pilots had to struggle against their attacks...quite really.

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KACKO
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#4

Post by KACKO » 28 Nov 2007, 16:46

There is a book named Slovakian and Bulgarian Aces of World War 2 from Jiri Rajlich published by Osprey. You can get it on Amazon or probably E-bay too. Second part of the book is about Bulgarian fighters.

There is also book In the Skies of Europe: Air Forces Allied to the Luftwaffe 1939-1945 by Hans Werner Neulen. I think I saw there chapter about Bulgarian Air Force. But this one is not so good. For example in chapter about Slovak air force I found few mistakes. Probably it took information from some very old sources during communist era when research on this topic was in communist countries almost forbidden.

Actually Bulgaria bought a lot of aircraft from Germans after Czechoslovakia fell apart and Protectorate Bohmen und Mahren was created in Czech part of the country.
They bought some Avia B-534, Letov S-328, I think also Czechoslovak made SB-2 called in Czechoslovakia Avia B-71, some Aero MB-200 etc. but this I have to check. And of course they bought newest Czech fighter plane which 1st prototype flight first time shortly before occupation. It was Avia B-135 and Bulgaria was its only user.

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DenesBernad
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Re: Saw a picture of a Bulgarian D.520 once. Or was it a MS.

#5

Post by DenesBernad » 28 Nov 2007, 21:18

CB1 wrote:A book was published in Hungary (http://www.bibl.u-szeged.hu/bibl/mil/ww ... 31625.html) about minor axis air forces. There is a chapter included about the BAF as well. I have read it but remember nothing apart from some vague notion that allied heavy bombers attacked the country...
I am the author of that chapter. Back then, in late 1980s, early 1990s, we knew very little about the activity of the Bulgarian air force in WW2. Nevertheless, I tried to place Bulgaria among the nations, which fought valiantly against air intruders.

Dénes

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Joruel
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#6

Post by Joruel » 29 Nov 2007, 11:52

DenesBernad, i appreciate your work on that topic, although i can't read your language. In my blogs i am trying to wash away the dust from those forgotten times and to present the heroes of Bulgarian airforces to the young people of today. You can find some interesting pictures especially on http://www.tritesestri.blogspot.com - pictures from the place, where Bulgarian ace Spisarevski crushed in 1943, etc.

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Auseklis
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#7

Post by Auseklis » 29 Nov 2007, 21:35

I would suggest you try to get "Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria" by Fark Ood Publications in 2001. It's in Bulgarian and English and as far as I know at least 4 volumes.

dibo
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#8

Post by dibo » 03 Jan 2008, 16:36

Dear all. Try the following suggestions:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 085#994085

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PanzerKing
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#9

Post by PanzerKing » 11 Jan 2008, 04:03

Bulgaria purchased ex-French Dw.520s and some Bf-109, correct, Denes?

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DenesBernad
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Bulgaria

#10

Post by DenesBernad » 11 Jan 2008, 11:09

That is correct. Slightly over 100 D.520s and over 200 Bf 109s (both Emils and Gustavs). However, some of these aircraft were not purchased, but received as gift from Germany.

Dénes

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KASHANKA
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Re: Bulgarian aviation in World War Two

#11

Post by KASHANKA » 19 Jan 2009, 12:51

Except for the SB-2 (Avia-B71), did the Bulgarian airforce field any other bombers and if yes than what type were they and how many did Bulgaria have?

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Re: Bulgarian aviation in World War Two

#12

Post by DenesBernad » 19 Jan 2009, 12:58

They also used the Dornier Do 17 for reconnaissance and bombing. Other (older) two-engine bomber types were the Aero-Bloch MB-200 and the Dornier Do 23. There were several single-engine bomber types, too, the most prominent being the Ju 87 Stuka.

Dénes

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KASHANKA
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Re: Bulgarian aviation in World War Two

#13

Post by KASHANKA » 19 Jan 2009, 15:52

Thanks for the quick reply.
This site here: http://www.powiat.mielec.pl/poser/samol ... /pzl43.htm
States that Bulgaria bought 54 PZL P-43 bombers (A slightly modified export version of the P-23 Karaś light bomber) from Poland. That seems quite a bit seeing how the polish air industry was operating at that time.
Can anyone confirm these 54 P-43 bombers?

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Re: Bulgarian aviation in World War Two

#14

Post by Auseklis » 19 Jan 2009, 17:55

I have the number of 45 in 1938 + a few more in following years (even in 1941 two more from Germany). So a total of 54 seems resonable.

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Re: Bulgarian aviation in World War Two

#15

Post by KASHANKA » 19 Jan 2009, 21:54

Auseklis wrote:I have the number of 45 in 1938 + a few more in following years (even in 1941 two more from Germany). So a total of 54 seems resonable.
Two more from Germany? That's a mistake, or Germany got them from Romania or other axis nation.
The Polish air force didn't use any P-43 bombers, all produced were exported.

But since the 45 in 1938 is true, than 54 in 1939 makes sense. The polish aviation industry was producing planes both for the airforce and export right up till the outbrake of the war.

Does anyone have any info about the number of other bomber types used by Bulgaria?

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