Balkansko ratno vazduhoplovstvo i njegova borbena dejstva iznad Bosne i Hercegovine
Balkan Air Force and Its Combat Engagements in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Summary/Abstract: Allied air force combat engagements in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be roughly divided in three phases. First from October/November 1943 until May 1944; second from May to September 1, 1944; and third from September 1944 until the end of the World War Two. During second phase Allied operations over Balkans became so intensive that Balkan Air Force (BAF) in June 1944 had to be established. Even if Balkan Air Force followed Allied strategy on Mediterranean Theater of Operations, from mid-1944 it almost entirely constituted air force of the Yugoslav People’s Liberation Army under command of Royal Air Force, BAF was composed of and operationally controlled by units of 8 nationalities, had top strength of 19 combat and 6 transport squadrons and coordinated all air actions over Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. Unprecedented success of BAF was accomplished during withdrawal of German Army Group “E” from Greece on routes via Bosnia and Herzegovina from beginning of September 1944 to beginning of operations for final liberation of Yugoslavia. During operations for final liberation of the country, BAF provided tactical support to YPLA units. This article tries to use insight in available archive documents to synthetize BAF war effort put in actions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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