Croatian Blenheims

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Has there been any more info come to light regarding the Blenheims that were used by the Croatian A/F in WW2 and Post WW2 ?

Two it seems were interned in Turkey in 1942.
Two others at least survived the War and one was used by the Post War A/F until 1947.
So that is four a/c.
Are details known of any others and their use and eventual fates ?

Thanks
Alex

[Dénes Bernád]

Three (ex-Yugoslav) were sold to Rumania in mid-1941.

[Brian]

Hi Alex

Apologies for hijacking your post, but what are the details surrounding the internment of the two Croation Blenheims in Turkey?

Cheers
Brian

[Larry deZeng]

Setting aside the humiliation of posting here and having the designation "junior", or "newbie" or "novice" or whatever appear beneath my name, especially after originating over 2,000 posts on the old TOCH! prior to December 2005 when R.H. took it "off the air" to change the software, I nevertheless feel compelled to respond to this question since I may be the only one who has the information.

The fledgling air force of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) took possession of 8 Bristol Blenheim I aircraft (serial numbers 1501 - 1508) in June-July 1941, including 3 abandoned by the Royal Yugoslav Air Force at Zemun airdrome, 1 at Nova Topola airdrome, 1 at Sarajevo-Butmir airdrome and 1 at Augustanovac (Topusko) airdrome.

The following notes have been taken from surviving NDH documents, Yugoslav Partisan reports, and German, Italian and Allied documents in my possession. The sole published source used is given below:

20 Nov 41: 7(0) Blenheim I’s on strength (CAF strength return this date). One had already been written off and scrapped by this date.
01 Jan 42: 8th Bomber Sqdn. based at Sarajevo-Rajlovac equipped with Bristol Blenheim I, Caproni CA.210 and Amiot 143M bombers.
09 Jul 42: an officer and two NCOs at Sarajevo-Rajlovac stole Blenheim #1506 and deserted to Turkey, but crashed near Izmir before they could find an airfield.
02 Oct 42: a workshop test crew of 3 at the Belgrade- Zemun overhaul and repair facility stole Blenheim #1502 and deserted to Turkey.
Dec 42: 8th Bomber Sqdn. at Sarajevo-Rajlovac, the only one there to have Blenheims, had 3 or them on strength.
Jan – Mar 43: several still in service with 8th Bomber Sqdn. at Sarajevo-Rajlovac. They were given limited use during Operation “Weiss” in January – March 1943 against Tito’s partisans.
Apr - Jun 43: the 8th Bomber Sqdn. was now down to just two Blenheims and these were used for Operation “Schwarz”. The Blenheims eventually became unserviceable, presumably due to lack of spare parts.
10/11 Aug 43: during a devastating night sabotage attack on Sarajevo-Rajlovac airdrome by partisans, the CAF lost 11 Do 17s and one Blenheim I (serial number not given). The Luftwaffe lost a Do 17, 3 Ju 52s and 2 courier aircraft.
Oct 43: by October, the several serviceable Blenheims had been moved to the 19th Transport and Courier Sqdn. based at Zagreb-Borongaj which used them mainly as fast transports for VIPs, cargo and courier duties.
Feb – Jun 44: one or two Blenheims destroyed on the ground during numerous Allied air attacks on airfields at Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Bihac and Zagreb.
19 Jul 44: Blenheim #1505 was destroyed during a partisan commando attack on Zagreb – Velika Gorica airdrome.
Aug 44: 19th Transport and Courier Sqdn. at Zagreb reported 1 Blenheim I, 8 Bü 131, 1 Saiman and 3 P.V.T. on strength. This was the CAF’s last surviving Blenheim and it was lost to unknown circumstances sometime later, probably the victim of more Allied air attacks which devastated every airfield in Yugoslavia and everything on them by the end of the war.

For photos of Croatian Air Force Blenheims, see: Frka, Danijel, Josip Novak and Siniša Pogačić. La Force Aérienne Croate 1941 – 1945. Collection Histoire de L’Aviation Nº 10. Outreau (France): Editions Lela Presse, 2000. ISBN: 953-97564-0-4. Oversize Hb (heavy card cover). 303p. Profusely illus. Maps. Dwgs. Color profiles. Bibliography. Appendices. Pages 65-66 and 90.

Larry deZeng

[ChrisS]

Hi Alex

There are 8 photos of Croatian Blenheims in 'Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Drzave Hrvatske 1941-1945' By Danijel Frka, Josip Novak and Sinisa Pogacic and five in 'The Croatian Air Force in the Second World' By Tihomir Likso & Danko Canak.

Cheers

Chris

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Chris,

Are the books you mention available in England ?
Alex

[Tony Jones]

Hi

If all the Croation Blenheim were ex Yugoslavian then the batch was deliverd to Yugoslavia 2/40 as YU-BAA-T and given serials 3543-3562, but the c/n appear to be unknown.

Are there any tie ups for Cratian a/c with YU- serials

Tony

[Martin Gleeson]

Hi Larry,

That is fabulous information. Thank you for sharing it with us. I am a great fan of the Bristol Blenheim.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

PS. Amazing what a novice will know !

[Brian]

Hi Larry

I agree with Martin - fabulous material!

Any chance of establishing identities of the the crews of 1502 and 1506 who deserted to Turkey in 1942?

Cheers
Brian

PS: I am referred to as an 'Alter Hase' which apparently translates as 'wise old owl' or 'old seadog'! I'd prefer to be a 'junior'!

[Larry deZeng]

Thanks, Martin and Brian. I've always liked the Blenheim I, too, especially its very unusual and appealing snout. :-)

I don't think the names were given for 1502, Brian, but the U.S. Naval Attaché Turkey report identifies the crew of 1506, I believe. I will have to do some digging around in some boxes in the garage to see if I can find it and I'' have a go at it tomorrow.

Cheers,

Larry