Czechoslovak Air Force
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Czechoslovak Air Force (''Československé letectvo'') or the Czechoslovak Army Air Force (''Československé vojenské letectvo'') was the
air force An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...
branch of the Czechoslovak Army formed in October 1918. The armed forces of Czechoslovakia ceased to exist on 31 December 1992. By the end of the year, all aircraft of the Czechoslovak Air Force were divided between the Czech Air Force and the Slovak Air Force.


Organization

On 30 October 1918, the establishment of Aviation Corps (''Letecký sbor'') marked the beginning of the Czechoslovak Air Force. Under the First Republic, the air force was an integral service of the Czechoslovak army. During peacetime, the army aviation was a subordinate agency of the Ministry of National Defence within its 3rd Department of Aviation (''III. odbor (letecký) Ministerstva národní obrany'') under the command of
divisional general Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...
Jaroslav Fajfr (as of October 1938). It was anticipated that individual squadrons and flights would be attached to various field corps and
divisions Division may refer to: Mathematics *Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication * Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division Military *Division (military), a formation typically consisting of 10,000 t ...
in case of war with Germany. After the liberation of Czechoslovakia in 1945, the air force was once again organized as an integral part of the army within following ministerial departments: * 1945–1950: Air Force Command of the Main Staff (''Velitelství letectva hlavního štábu'') * 1950–1957: Air Force Command (''Velitelství letectva'') In mid-1950s, following the example of
Soviet Air Defence Forces The Soviet Air Defence Forces (; ) was the air defence branch of the Soviet Armed Forces. Formed in 1941, it continued being a service branch of the Russian Armed Forces after 1991 until it was merged into the Air Force in 1998. Unlike Western ...
, the State Air Defence (''Protivzdušná obrana státu'', PVOS) was formed alongside the Air Force. * 1957–1966: Air Force and State Air Defence Command (''Velitelství letectva a protivzdušné obrany státu'') * 1966–1969: Main Department of Air Force and State Air Defence (''Hlavní správa letectva a vojsk protivzdušné obrany státu'') * 1969–1976: Department of Air Force and State Air Defence (''Správa letectva a vojsk protivzdušné obrany státu'') In 1976, the State Air Defence formed its own command (1976–1990). * 1976–1990: Air Force Command (''Velitelství letectva'') – see also Air Forces Command structure in 1989 In May 1990, the State Air Defence (PVOS), Air Defence of Ground Forces and Frontline Aviation were merged to form an integrated branch of the armed forces – the Czechoslovak Air Force and Air Defence. * 1990–1991: Air Force and State Air Defence Command (''Velitelství letectva a protivzdušné obrany státu'') * 1991–1992: Air Force and Air Defence Command (''Velitelství letectva a protivzdušné obrany'')


History


Under the First Republic 1918–1938

When the
First Czechoslovak Republic The First Czechoslovak Republic, often colloquially referred to as the First Republic, was the first Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovak state that existed from 1918 to 1938, a union of ethnic Czechs and Slovaks. The country was commonly called Czechosl ...
was founded in October 1918 it was landlocked and surrounded by potentially hostile neighbours. Its government realised the need for an air force, and quickly founded one with the motto "Our sea is in the air". From
Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
the new republic inherited only three military airfields and a handful of Hansa-Brandenburg aircraft. In the First World War few Czechs or Slovaks had served in the Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops or naval air corps, or in exile in the
French Air Force The French Air and Space Force (, , ) is the air force, air and space force of the French Armed Forces. Formed in 1909 as the ("Aeronautical Service"), a service arm of the French Army, it became an independent military branch in 1934 as the Fr ...
or
Imperial Russian Air Service The Imperial Russian Air Service () was an air force founded in 1912 for Russian Empire, Imperial Russia."''12 августа 1912 года приказом по военному ведомству вопросы воздухоплавания ...
. Much of Austria-Hungary's manufacturing companies were Czech, therefore Czechoslovakia could quickly develop an aircraft industry. At first it tended to build foreign designs of aircraft and aero engines under
license A license (American English) or licence (Commonwealth English) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another part ...
. As the industry developed it designed more aircraft and engines of its own. Czechoslovak aircraft builders included
Aero Aero is a Greek prefix relating to flight and air. In British English, it is used as an adjective related to flight (e.g., as a shortened substitute for aeroplane). Aero, Ærø, or Aeros may refer to: Aeronautics Airlines and companies * Aero (A ...
, Avia, Beneš-Mráz, Letov,
Praga Praga is a district of Warsaw, Poland. It is on the east bank of the river Vistula. First mentioned in 1432, until 1791 it formed a separate town with its own city charter. History The historical Praga was a small settlement located at the e ...
, Tatra and
Zlín Zlín (in 1949–1989 Gottwaldov; ; ) is a city in the Czech Republic. It has about 75,000 inhabitants. It is the seat of the Zlín Region and it lies on the Dřevnice River. It is known as an industrial centre. The development of the modern city ...
. Engine makers included ČKD,
Walter Walter may refer to: People and fictional characters * Walter (name), including a list of people and fictional and mythical characters with the given name or surname * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–19 ...
and Škoda. Aero (''Aero továrna letadel'') was in the Vysočany quarter of
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
. Its mixed construction (wood, metal, and fabric covering) and all-metal aircraft were competitive in the early 1930s, but by 1938, only its MB.200 (a licensed Bloch design) was not totally obsolete. Avia (''Avia akciová společnost pro průmysl letecký Škoda''), a branch of the enormous
Škoda Works The Škoda Works (, ) was one of the largest European industrial conglomerates of the 20th century. In 1859, Czech engineer Emil Škoda bought a foundry and machine factory in Plzeň, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary that had been established ten ye ...
(''Škodovy závody'') heavy machinery and military industrial enterprise, was different. Founded in 1919 in a former
sugar refinery A sugar refinery is a refinery which processes raw sugar from cane or sugar extracted from beets into white refined sugar. Cane sugar mills traditionally produce raw sugar, which is sugar that still contains molasses, giving it color ...
in the eastern Prague suburbs of Letňany and Čakovice, Avia made entire aeroplanes. Many of its engines were licensed Hispano-Suiza designs. It build the standard Czechoslovak fighter aircraft of the late 1930s, the B-534, of which a total 568 were built. The B-534 and its derivatives were among the last
biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...
fighters in operational use. The state-controlled Letov factory (''Vojenská továrna na letadla Letov'') was also in Letňany, where in the late 1930s it employed about 1,200 people. It built the Š-28
reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...
and army co-operation biplane, of which more than 470 were made. The entire airframe was welded together, not bolted or riveted. The Letov factory was the only Czechoslovak plant that made metal propellers. By the late 1930s Czechoslovakia's
bomber A bomber is a military combat aircraft that utilizes air-to-ground weaponry to drop bombs, launch aerial torpedo, torpedoes, or deploy air-launched cruise missiles. There are two major classifications of bomber: strategic and tactical. Strateg ...
aircraft were obsolescent and the speed with which
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...
was becoming a threat did not give Czechoslovak manufacturers enough time to develop a new bomber of their own. So in 1937 the government bought Tupolev SB twin-engined
medium bomber A medium bomber is a military bomber Fixed-wing aircraft, aircraft designed to operate with medium-sized Aerial bomb, bombloads over medium Range (aeronautics), range distances; the name serves to distinguish this type from larger heavy bombe ...
s from the
Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
, plus a license to build more in Czechoslovakia as the Avia B-71. 60 Soviet-built SB bombers were delivered in April and May 1938. This was followed by Avia and Aero building 101 of the B-71 version. The training of air force recruits had developed from a course of several months in the 1920s to two years by the late 1930s. In 1936 '' Reichsmarschall''
Hermann Göring Hermann Wilhelm Göring (or Goering; ; 12 January 1893 – 15 October 1946) was a German Nazism, Nazi politician, aviator, military leader, and convicted war criminal. He was one of the most powerful figures in the Nazi Party, which gov ...
wrote "The Czechoslovak Air Force must be considered as one of the leading air forces as regards personnel, and, considering its limited financial possibilities, more than satisfactory with regard to material and equipment".


Crisis and occupation 1938–1939

As the Sudeten crisis with Germany worsened, the Czechoslovak Army and Air Force partly mobilised on 21 May 1938 and fully mobilised on 23 September. The air force had more than 100 airfields and 1,300 aeroplanes, of which 650 were front-line aircraft. But on 29 September the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
and
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
agreed to let Germany annex the Sudetenland, which German forces then did without Czechoslovak armed forces being allowed to resist. The Munich Agreement was followed on 2 November 1938 by the
First Vienna Award The First Vienna Award was a treaty signed on 2 November 1938 pursuant to the Vienna Arbitration, which took place at Vienna's Belvedere Palace. The arbitration and award were direct consequences of the previous month's Munich Agreement, whic ...
, in which Germany and
Fascist Italy Fascist Italy () is a term which is used in historiography to describe the Kingdom of Italy between 1922 and 1943, when Benito Mussolini and the National Fascist Party controlled the country, transforming it into a totalitarian dictatorship. Th ...
allowed
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
to annex southern Slovakia. Then on 15 March 1939 Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, created the
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was a partially-annexation, annexed territory of Nazi Germany that was established on 16 March 1939 after the Occupation of Czechoslovakia (1938–1945), German occupation of the Czech lands. The protector ...
rump state and allowed what remained of Slovakia to become the Slovak Republic. Germany allowed Slovakia to keep a small army and air force, but it ordered the puppet government of Bohemia and Moravia to dissolve its armed forces. The ''
Luftwaffe The Luftwaffe () was the aerial warfare, aerial-warfare branch of the before and during World War II. German Empire, Germany's military air arms during World War I, the of the Imperial German Army, Imperial Army and the of the Imperial Ge ...
'' confiscated all Czechoslovak Air Force aircraft. All Czechoslovak aircraft factories were converted to produce German aircraft and engines. The ''Luftwaffe'' tried to recruit demobilised Czechoslovak airmen to non-combat roles such as ferry flights and meteorological flights, but without success. It also confiscated Czechoslovak aircraft and tried to get Czechoslovak airmen to fly them to Germany. But of seven Czechoslovak pilots who took off from Hradec Králové airfield in
Bohemia Bohemia ( ; ; ) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. In a narrow, geographic sense, it roughly encompasses the territories of present-day Czechia that fall within the Elbe River's drainage basin, but historic ...
, none reached Germany. Three flew to
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
, two reached the USSR and the other two crash-landed their aircraft, without injuring themselves but rendering their aircraft beyond economic repair. Thereafter Germany gave up trying to use Czechoslovak airmen. Emigration was strictly controlled and former air force personnel were not allowed to leave the country. But many Czechoslovak airmen got themselves smuggled into Poland. Of these a few joined the
Polish Air Force The Polish Air Force () is the aerial warfare Military branch, branch of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as ''Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej'' (). In 2014 it consisted of roughly 26,000 military personnel an ...
but most continued to France.


Second World War 1939–1945

Czechoslovak pilots who joined the Polish Air Force went into action in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. Many fought with distinction and 55 were decorated. Josef František was among those awarded Poland's highest military decoration, the
Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', ) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was established in 1792 by the last King of Poland Stanislaus II of Poland, ...
. After the USSR joined the invasion of Poland its forces captures some Czechoslovak airmen. Others escaped as Poland fell, first reaching
Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
and then going ''via'' the Balkans and Syria or Lebanon to join their compatriots who had already reached France. At first France insisted that all Czechoslovak airmen join the Foreign Legion. Only after France had declared war on Germany did it agree with the Czechoslovak National Committee in Paris to let the men transfer to the French Air Force and restore their ranks. They needed to be re-trained to fly French aircraft, but some completed their training in time to fight in the
Battle of France The Battle of France (; 10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign (), the French Campaign (, ) and the Fall of France, during the Second World War was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembour ...
in May and June 1940. Of these, seven were awarded France's highest military decoration, the ''
Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...
'', and five received the '' Médaille militaire''. 70 Czechoslovak airmen, including Josef František and Karel Kuttelwascher, were awarded the '' Croix de Guerre''.


RAF Volunteer Reserve 1940–1945

After France capitulated to Germany on 22 June 1940, many Czechoslovak airmen escaped ''via'' either France's Atlantic or Mediterranean coasts or from
French North Africa French North Africa (, sometimes abbreviated to ANF) is a term often applied to the three territories that were controlled by France in the North African Maghreb during the colonial era, namely Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. In contrast to French ...
. They reached the United Kingdom, where Brigadier General Karel Janoušek quickly secured an agreement with the UK War Department for them to join the
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was established in 1936 to support the preparedness of the U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF) in the event of another war. The Air Ministry intended it to form a supplement to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force ( ...
(RAFVR). On 12 July 1940 an Inspectorate of the Czechoslovak Air Force was established, with Janoušek as Inspector-General with the RAF rank of
Air Commodore Air commodore (Air Cdre or Air Cmde) is an air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes ...
. A Czechoslovak depôt was created at RAF Cosford in
Shropshire Shropshire (; abbreviated SalopAlso used officially as the name of the county from 1974–1980. The demonym for inhabitants of the county "Salopian" derives from this name.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West M ...
. The RAF quickly created new squadrons formed of Czechoslovak pilots. The first fighter unit was No. 310 Squadron RAF, which was formed on 10 July 1940 and immediately joined in the
Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain () was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force ...
. By the end of July a bomber unit,
No. 311 Squadron RAF No. 311 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF was a Demographics of Czechoslovakia, Czechoslovak-manned bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force in the World War II, Second World War. It was the RAF's only Czechoslovak-manned medium bomber, medium and heav ...
, had been added. Further Czechoslovak fighter units followed: 312 Squadron by August 1940 and 313 Squadron in May 1941. Czechoslovaks quickly adapted to the structure, tactics and aircraft types of the RAF.
Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British i ...
Hugh Dowding, who led
RAF Fighter Command RAF Fighter Command was one of the commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It operated throughout the Second World War, winning fame during the Battle of Britain in 1940. The ...
in the Battle of Britain, later recalled:
I must confess that I had been a little doubtful of the effect which their experience in their own countries and in France might have had upon the Polish and Czech pilots, but my doubts were soon laid to rest, because all three squadrons swung in the fight with a dash and enthusiasm which is beyond praise. They were inspired by a burning hatred for the Germans which made them very deadly opponents.
From 1940 until 1942, 311 Squadron was part of No. 3 Group, Bomber Command. The Group commander said 311 "put up a wonderful show" and had "the finest navigators in Bomber Command". A preponderance of air force personnel who escaped from occupied Czechoslovakia were aircrew. The RAF had a shortage of Czechoslovak ground crew, so the new squadrons continued to rely in part on ground crew from the UK and other nationalities. And numerous Czechoslovak airmen were posted to more than 60 other RAF units, including 11 front-line squadrons. Enough Czechoslovaks were posted to No. 68 Squadron RAF to form an entire
flight Flight or flying is the motion (physics), motion of an Physical object, object through an atmosphere, or through the vacuum of Outer space, space, without contacting any planetary surface. This can be achieved by generating aerodynamic lift ass ...
. No. 68 Squadron even adopted a Czech motto, ''Vždy připraven'' ("Always ready"). Czech
fighter ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...
Josef František, acclaimed by one wartime author as "the greatest of all Czechoslovak pilots, perhaps one of the greatest fighters of all time", served in the
Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain () was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force ...
in No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. Karel Kuttelwascher, a night fighter ace nicknamed the "Night Reaper", served in No. 1 Squadron.


Soviet Air Force

Other Czech and Slovak pilots fought against Germany under Soviet command. The Air and Air Defence Forces of the postwar Czechoslovak People's Army celebrated 17 September 1944 as the birth date of their force. On that date, a fighter regiment, manned by Czechoslovak personnel, was formed in the Soviet Union. It grew into the
1st Czechoslovak Mixed Air Division The 1st Czechoslovak Composite Air Division (; ) was the air arm of the Czechoslovak armed forces in the Soviet Union during World War II, operating under the operational command of the Soviet Air Force. It existed during 1944 and 1945, being m ...
which fought on the Eastern Front.


Slovak Republic Air Force 1938–1945

After the German partition of Czechoslovakia in 1938, Slovakia was left with a small air force (''Slovenské vzdušné zbrane'' or SVZ) equipped primarily with Czechoslovak aircraft. In 1939 the SVZ defended Slovakia against Hungary in the
Slovak–Hungarian War The Slovak–Hungarian War, or Little War (, ), was a war fought from 23 March to 31 March 1939 between the First Slovak Republic and Hungary in eastern Slovakia. Prelude After the Munich Pact, which weakened Czech lands to the west, Hungari ...
, and fought alongside German forces in the Slovak invasion of Poland. In the German invasion of Russia the SVZ provided air cover for Slovak forces fighting against the USSR on the Eastern Front. During the campaign Slovakia's obsolete biplanes were replaced with German combat aircraft, including the
Messerschmitt Bf 109 The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a monoplane fighter aircraft that was designed and initially produced by the Nazi Germany, German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt#History, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW). Together with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the ...
. The air force was sent back to Slovakia after combat fatigue and desertion had reduced the pilots' effectiveness. Slovak air units took part in the Slovak National Uprising against Germany from late August 1944.


Under the Third Republic 1945–1948

Towards the end of the Second World War, General left Britain for the Soviet Union, where he was supposed to take over command of the Czechoslovak Air Force in the USSR. However, he only arrived on 1 May 1945, when the war was almost over. Vicherek was happy to serve an
Eastern Bloc The Eastern Bloc, also known as the Communist Bloc (Combloc), the Socialist Bloc, the Workers Bloc, and the Soviet Bloc, was an unofficial coalition of communist states of Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America that were a ...
Czechoslovakia, and on 29 May 1945 he was appointed the Commander of the Czechoslovak Air Force. In August 1945 the RAF's four Czechoslovak squadrons, numbers 310, 311, 312, and 313, all relocated to Czechoslovakia and became part of the Czechoslovak armed forces. By then 310, 312 and 313 squadrons were equipped with Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX aircraft and 311 Squadron was equipped with
Consolidated B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models desi ...
heavy bomber Heavy bombers are bomber Fixed-wing aircraft, aircraft capable of delivering the largest payload of air-to-ground weaponry (usually Aerial bomb, bombs) and longest range (aeronautics), range (takeoff to landing) of their era. Archetypal heavy ...
s. The Spitfires were flown to Czechoslovakia with long range "slipper" fuel tanks to give them enough range for the journey. On 15 January 1946 311 Squadron became the Czechoslovak ''6 letecká divize'' ("6th Air Division") at Havlíčkův Brod in southeastern Bohemia. In May it was divided into ''Letecký pluk 24'' and ''Letecký pluk 25'' ("24th and 25th Air Regiments"). ''Letecký pluk 24'' was given the name ''Biskajsky'' ("Biscay") and initially equipped with Mosquito FB Mk VI
fighter-bomber A fighter-bomber is a fighter aircraft that has been modified, or used primarily, as a light bomber or attack aircraft. It differs from bomber and attack aircraft primarily in its origins, as a fighter that has been adapted into other roles, wh ...
s. ''Letecký pluk 25'' was given the name ''Atlanticky'' ("Atlantic") and equipped with Petlyakov Pe-2FT aircraft. Under German occupation, Aero and Avia had built Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters for the ''Luftwaffe''. In order to expand Czechoslovakia's fighter complement beyond the three squadrons of Spitfires transferred from the UK, Avia continued building the Bf 109 as the Avia S-99. However, an industrial accident soon destroyed Avia's remaining stock of Daimler-Benz DB 605 aircraft engines, so Avia substituted the Junkers Jumo 211 engine and associated propeller. The resulting hybrid aircraft was called the Avia S-199. The Jumo engine and propeller had been made for
medium bomber A medium bomber is a military bomber Fixed-wing aircraft, aircraft designed to operate with medium-sized Aerial bomb, bombloads over medium Range (aeronautics), range distances; the name serves to distinguish this type from larger heavy bombe ...
s and had the wrong performance characteristics for a fighter aircraft. This gave the S-199 poor handling, particularly during take-off and landing. Production ended in 1949 and Czechoslovakia withdrew its last S-199 aircraft from service in 1957. From 1945 the Air Force also had 56 Soviet-built Lavochkin La-7 fighters, which were quicker and manœuvred better than the Bf 109 and S-199. The Czechoslovak aircraft industry continued to produce single-seat (Avia S-92) and two-seat (Avia CS-92) variants of Germany's jet fighter the Messerschmidt Me 262 after World War II. From August 1946, a total of nine S-92s and three two-seater CS-92s were completed and test flown. They were introduced in 1947 and in 1950 were supplied to the 5th Fighter Squadron, becoming the first jet fighters to serve in the Czechoslovak Air Force. These were kept flying until 1951, when they were replaced in service by Soviet jet fighters. Both versions are on display at the
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
Aviation museum in Kbely.


Under Communism 1948–1989

The Spitfires were Czechoslovakia's primary fighter aircraft until the 1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état, after which the
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia ( Czech and Slovak: ''Komunistická strana Československa'', KSČ) was a communist and Marxist–Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992. It was a member of the Com ...
purge In history, religion and political science, a purge is a position removal or execution of people who are considered undesirable by those in power from a government, another, their team leaders, or society as a whole. A group undertaking such an ...
d air force personnel who had served in the RAF. Many ex-RAF personnel, including Air Marshal Janoušek and
Hawker Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s–40s which was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was overshadowed in the public consciousness by ...
pilot
Josef Bryks Josef Bryks, Order of the British Empire#Current classes, MBE, (; 18 March 1916– 11 August 1957) was a First Czechoslovak Republic, Czechoslovak Cavalry, cavalryman, fighter pilot, prisoner of war and political prisoner. In 1940 he escaped th ...
, were tried on false charges and given long prison sentences. Czechoslovakia sold all its Spitfires to the nascent Israel in 1948, in a secret arms and military training deal. In 1955 Czechoslovakia became a founder member of the
Warsaw Pact The Warsaw Pact (WP), formally the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance (TFCMA), was a Collective security#Collective defense, collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Polish People's Republic, Poland, between the Sovi ...
. The Czechoslovak Air Force was equipped with Soviet aircraft and followed its doctrines and tactics. Mostly Mikoyan-Gurevich aircraft (MiGs) were bought. MiG-15, MiG-19, and
MiG-21 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (; NATO reporting name: Fishbed) is a supersonic jet aircraft, jet fighter aircraft, fighter and interceptor aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan, Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB, Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Its nicknames in ...
F fighters were produced under licence; in the 1970s,
MiG-23 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (; NATO reporting name: Flogger) is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is a third-generation jet fighter, alongside similar Soviet aircra ...
MF were acquired, followed by MiG−23MLs and
MiG-29 The Mikoyan MiG-29 (; NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is a twinjet, twin-engine fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s, the MiG-29, along with the large ...
s in the 1980s. In 1951 the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Air Defence Districts of State Territory were created, at about the same time as the creation of the 15th Fighter Air Corps. The 15th Fighter Air Corps controlled the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 166th Fighter Air Divisions at various times; the 166th Fighter Air Division later became the 2nd Fighter Air Division. From 1964 to 1969 the 10th Air Army included the 46th Transport Air Division, of two regiments of helicopters and a transport regiment. The 11th Radio Technical Security Battalion ( Czech: ''11. prapor radiotechnického zabezpečení''; cover number: VÚ 5960) was established on 1 September 1963 by the renaming of the 11th Ground Navigation Security Battalion, as part of the Air Force. From its inception until 15 October 1968, it was deployed at the Tri Duby Airport near
Sliač Sliač () is a small spa town located in central Slovakia, on the Hron river, between Banská Bystrica and Zvolen. The town is known for its healing hot springs and for an Sliač Airport, airport which has been used for military as well as civil p ...
, subsequently, until 1 September 1973, it was deployed at the Piešťany Airport, and from 1 September 1973 until 1 September 1992 at the
Přerov Přerov (; ) is a city in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 41,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Bečva River. In the past it was a major crossroad in the heart of Moravia in the Czech Republic. The historic city centre is we ...
Airport. In May 1987 two Czechoslovak Air Force jets were scrambled to try to bring down a Czechoslovak engineer attempting to escape his home country via a home-built
ultralight Ultralight aviation (called microlight aviation in some countries) is the flying of lightweight, 1- or 2-seat fixed-wing aircraft. Some countries differentiate between weight-shift control and conventional three-axis control aircraft with aile ...
aircraft. After flying about to the West German border, the refugee's aircraft ran out of fuel, and he landed safely in a Bavarian forest, just before the Czechoslovak fighters could intercept him. In the 1980s and early 1990s the Czechoslovak Air Force consisted of the state air defence command, with air defence fighters, surface to air missiles, and air defence radars, and the 10th Air Army, responsible for ground forces support. The state air defence command had 2nd Air Defence Division (
Brno Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...
) with 8th Fighter Air Regiment, radars, and surface to air missiles, and the 3rd Air Defence Division ( Žatec) with the 1st (
České Budějovice České Budějovice (; ) is a city in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 97,000 inhabitants. The city is located in the valley of the Vltava River, at its confluence with the Malše. České Budějovice is the largest ...
), 5th ( Dobřany), and 11th Fighter Air Regiments (Žatec), and the 71st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade and 185th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment. 8th Fighter Air Regiment was based at (
Ostrava Ostrava (; ; ) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic and the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It has about 283,000 inhabitants. It lies from the border with Poland, at the confluences of four rivers: Oder, Opava (river), Opa ...
) (Mošnov) from 1959 until 1 April 1985, whereupon it relocated to Brno (Tuřany). It was equipped with the MiG-21 from 1965 to 1991. 1st Fighter Air Regiment at České Budějovice was equipped with MiG-21s from 1964, and was disbanded in 1992. The 10th Air Army had two air divisions and a total of six regiments of fighters and attack aircraft. There were also two reconnaissance regiments, two transport regiments, three training regiments, and two helicopter regiments. In 1990 the 10th Air Army, with headquarters at
Hradec Králové Hradec Králové (; ) is a city of the Czech Republic. It has about 94,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Hradec Králové Region. The historic centre of Hradec Králové is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech R ...
, comprised the 1st Fighter Air Division (HQ
Bechyně Bechyně (; ) is a town in Tábor District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,800 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument zones, ur ...
, included the 9th Fighter Air Regiment at the same base until 30 June 1990), the 34th Fighter Bomber Air Division (HQ Čáslav, which Air International in July 1991 reported as comprising the 6th & 20th (Su-22), and 28 (MiG-23BN) FB Regiments, plus the 9th Air Defence Regiment with MiG-21bis), the 47th Reconnaissance Air Regiment (Ostrava-Mošnov), the 10th Signal Regiment, the 11th Helicopter Regiment, the 1st Composite Transport Air Regiment, and the 30th Attack Air Regiment ( Pardubice Airport, with Su-25Ks). It was disbanded on 1 October 1990 and succeeded by the 1st Mixed Air Corps. Between 1945 and 1968 the Czechoslovak Air Force operated several regiments from Hradčany airfield: * 46 Bomber Division (46. letecká bombardovací divize) between 1951 and 1955. * 24 Bomber Regiment (24. letecký bombardovací pluk) between 1952 and 1954. * 25 Bomber Regiment (25. letecký bombardovací pluk) between 1952 and 1954. * 17 Fighter Regiment (17. stíhací letecký pluk) between 1955 and 1964. * 26 Fighter Regiment (26. stíhací letecký pluk) between 1956 and 1958. * 30 Fighter-Bomber Regiment (30. stíhací bombardovací letecký pluk) between 1958 and 1959. * 2 Fighter-Bomber Regiment (2. stíhací bombardovací letecký pluk) between 1964 and 1968.


State Air Defence, 1980s

Reportedly from January 1976, the 7th Air Army was disbanded and replaced by the State Air Defence Command with the 2nd and 3rd Air Defence Divisions, which existed until 1990. The State Air Defence Command moved from Prague to Stará Boleslav in 1981. The details are based on the Czech
Ministerstvo narodni obrany
' website, which lists all units of the Czechoslovak People's Army in existence between 1954 and 1989, with their location, subordination, equipment and changes over time. * Air Defence Command in Stará Boleslav (named: 7th Air Defence Army until 1976) ** Air Defence Central Command Post in Stará Boleslav ** 7th Headquarters Battalion in Stará Boleslav ** 17th Signal Regiment in Stará Boleslav ** 7th Electronic Warfare Battalion in České Budějovice *** Command and Control Company *** On-board Radar Jammer Company *** Radio Navigation and VHF Signal Jammer Company ** 7th Air Defence Signals and Electronic Support Maintenance Battalion in Stará Boleslav ** 7th Air Defence Maintenance Battalion in České Budějovice ** Air Defence Weather Center in Prague ***
Slovakia Slovakia, officially the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest. Slovakia's m ...
Weather Forecasting Center in
Bratislava Bratislava (German: ''Pressburg'', Hungarian: ''Pozsony'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Slovakia, Slovak Republic and the fourth largest of all List of cities and towns on the river Danube, cities on the river Danube. ...
** Air Defence Training Center in
Karviná Karviná (; , ) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 49,000 inhabitants. It lies on the Olza (river), Olza River in the historical region of Cieszyn Silesia. Karviná is known as an industrial city with t ...
training troops for anti-aircraft missile units ** Air Defence Radio-technical Training Center in Zvolen training troops for radio-technical units


2nd Air Defence Division

* 2nd Air Defence Division in
Brno Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...
** 2nd Air Defence Division Command Post in Rebešovice *** Ground Control Intercept 1 - Tuřany radar station *** Ground Control Intercept 2 - Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí radar station *** Ground Control Intercept 3 -
Hlohovec Hlohovec (, Hungarian ''Galgóc''), is a town in southwestern Slovakia, with a population of 21,508. Name The name comes from ''*Glogovec'', the Old Slavic name for a place densely overgrown by hawthorn. The Hungarian form ''Galgóc'' was ado ...
radar station *** Ground Control Intercept 4 - Močiar radar station *** Ground Control Intercept 5 - Mierovo radar station ** 2nd Headquarters Battalion in Rebešovice ** 8th Fighter Regiment at Brno–Tuřany Airport *** 8th Fighter Regiment Command Post *** 1st Fighter Squadron flying MiG-21PF *** 2nd Fighter Squadron flying MiG-21PF *** 3rd Fighter Squadron flying MiG-21PFM *** 31st Air Base Battalion *** 17th Electronic Support Battalion ** 76th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in Brno defending the city of
Brno Brno ( , ; ) is a Statutory city (Czech Republic), city in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. Located at the confluence of the Svitava (river), Svitava and Svratka (river), Svratka rivers, Brno has about 403,000 inhabitants, making ...
*** 76th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade Command Post at Brno–Tuřany Airport *** 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Rohozec with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 2nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Ketkovice with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 3rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Vranovice with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 4th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Kobeřice u Brna with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 5th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in
Brno-Líšeň Brno-Líšeň is a city district of Brno, Czech Republic, in the northeastern part of the city. It consists of the cadastral territory of Líšeň (), originally a town that was annexed to Brno in 1944. The cadastral territory has an area of 15.71 ...
with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 6th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Sokolnice with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 7th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Ořechov with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 8th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Omice with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 1st Technical Division in Neslovice *** Anti-Aircraft Missile Group of the 76th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in Rapotice **** 9th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Rapotice with S-200 Vega long range air defence systems **** 10th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Rapotice with S-200 Vega long range air defence systems **** 2nd Technical Division in Rapotice ** 77th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment in
Ostrava Ostrava (; ; ) is a city in the north-east of the Czech Republic and the capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region. It has about 283,000 inhabitants. It lies from the border with Poland, at the confluences of four rivers: Oder, Opava (river), Opa ...
defending the city of Ostrava *** 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Oldřišov with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 2nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 3rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in
Nový Jičín Nový Jičín (; ) is a town in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 23,000 inhabitants. The historic centre of Nový Jičín is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument reservati ...
with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 4th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Frýdek-Místek with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 1st Technical Division in Frýdek-Místek ** 186th Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in Pezinok defending the city of
Bratislava Bratislava (German: ''Pressburg'', Hungarian: ''Pozsony'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Slovakia, Slovak Republic and the fourth largest of all List of cities and towns on the river Danube, cities on the river Danube. ...
*** 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Lozorno with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 2nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Pezinok with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 3rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Rohovce with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 4th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Kalinkovo with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 5th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Stupava with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 6th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in
Devínska Nová Ves Devínska Nová Ves (, , ) is a borough of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Its western borders are formed by the Morava River, which also forms the national border between Slovakia and Austria. Devínska Nová Ves is notable mainly for its ...
with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 7th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Rusovce with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 8th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Most pri Bratislave with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 1st Technical Division in Viničné ** 2nd Radio-technical Brigade in Brno *** 22nd Headquarters Battalion in Brno *** 61st Radar Battalion in Brno **** Command Post of 61st Electronic Battalion in Brno-Tuřany **** Command Company in Sokolnice **** 610th Radar Company in Sokolnice operating the Tuřany radar station **** 611th Mobile Radar Company in Moravské Budějovice **** 612th Mobile Radar Company in Božice **** 613th Mobile Radar Company in Lavičky *** 62nd Radar Battalion in Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí **** Command Post of 62nd Electronic Battalion in Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí **** Command Company in Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí **** 620th Radar Company in Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí operating the Stará Ves nad Ondřejnicí radar station **** 621st Mobile Radar Company in
Chropyně Chropyně () is a town in Kroměříž District in the Zlín Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,600 inhabitants. Administrative division Chropyně consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): *Ch ...
**** 622nd Mobile Radar Company in Polička *** 63rd Radar Battalion in
Hlohovec Hlohovec (, Hungarian ''Galgóc''), is a town in southwestern Slovakia, with a population of 21,508. Name The name comes from ''*Glogovec'', the Old Slavic name for a place densely overgrown by hawthorn. The Hungarian form ''Galgóc'' was ado ...
**** Command Post of 63rd Electronic Battalion in Hlohovec **** Command Company in Hlohovec **** 630th Radar Company in Hlohovec operating the Hlohovec radar station **** 631st Mobile Radar Company in Starý Hrozenkov **** 632nd Mobile Radar Company in Šurany *** 64th Radar Battalion in Zvolen **** Command Post of 64th Electronic Battalion in Močiar **** Command Company in Zvolen **** 640th Radar Company in Močiar operating the Močiar radar station **** 641st Mobile Radar Company in Cerovo **** 642nd Mobile Radar Company in Veľká Ida *** 65th Radar Battalion in Mierovo **** Command Post of 65th Electronic Battalion in Mierovo **** Command Company in Mierovo **** 650th Radar Company in Mierovo operating the Mierovo radar station **** 651st Mobile Radar Company in Moravská Nová Ves **** 652nd Mobile Radar Company in Zohor **** 653rd Mobile Radar Company in Rusovce ** 22nd Signal Battalion in Brno ** Weather Radar and Meteorological Center Brno


3rd Air Defence Division

* 3rd Air Defence Division in Žatec ** 3rd Air Defence Division Command Post in Větrušice *** Ground Control Intercept 1 - Lažany radar station *** Ground Control Intercept 2 - Stod radar station *** Ground Control Intercept 3 - Třebotovice radar station *** Ground Control Intercept 4 - Nepolisy radar station *** Ground Control Intercept 5 - Planá radar station *** Ground Control Intercept 6 - Drnov radar station ** 3rd Headquarters Battalion in Žatec and Větrušice ** 1st Fighter Regiment in České Budějovice *** 1st Fighter Regiment Command Post *** 1st Fighter Squadron flying MiG-23MF *** 2nd Fighter Squadron flying MiG-23MF *** 3rd Fighter Squadron flying MiG-23MF *** 4th Fighter Squadron flying MiG-23ML *** 1st Air Base Battalion *** 6th Electronic Support Battalion ** 11th Fighter Regiment in Žatec *** 11th Fighter Regiment Command Post *** 1st Fighter Squadron flying
MiG-29 The Mikoyan MiG-29 (; NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) is a twinjet, twin-engine fighter aircraft designed in the Soviet Union. Developed by the Mikoyan design bureau as an air superiority fighter during the 1970s, the MiG-29, along with the large ...
*** 2nd Fighter Squadron flying MiG-29 *** 3rd Fighter Squadron flying MiG-29 *** 23rd Air Base Battalion *** 5th Electronic Support Battalion ** 71st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in Drnov defending the
Central Bohemian Region The Central Bohemian Region ( ; ) is an administrative unit () of the Czech Republic, located in the central part of its historical region of Bohemia. Its administrative centre is in the Czech capital Prague, which lies in the centre of the regio ...
with the capital Prague *** 71st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade Command Post in Drnov *** 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Přestavlky with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 2nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Kačice with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 3rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Zdejcina with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 4th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Stará Huť with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 5th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Bukovany with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 6th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Přehvozdí with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 7th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in
Vlkava Vlkava is a municipality and village in Mladá Boleslav District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 500 inhabitants. Administrative division Vlkava consists of two municipal parts (in brackets population according t ...
with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 8th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Byšice with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 9th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Miskovice with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 10th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Jeneč with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 11th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Točná with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 12th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Velké Přílepy with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 13th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Přelíc with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 14th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Bratronice with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 15th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Mořina with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 16th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in
Mníšek pod Brdy Mníšek pod Brdy () is a town in Prague-West District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 6,400 inhabitants. The historic town centre and Skalka area are well preserved and are protected as an Cultural monument (Czec ...
with S-125 Neva mobile air defence systems *** 1st Technical Division in Chyňava *** 2nd Technical Division in Stará Boleslav *** Anti-Aircraft Missile Group of the 71st Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade in Dobříš **** 17th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Dobříš with S-200 Vega long range air defence systems **** 18th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Dobříš with S-200 Vega long range air defence systems **** 19th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Dobříš with S-200 Vega long range air defence systems **** 3rd Technical Division in Dobříš ** 185th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment in Kralovice defending the city of
Plzeň Plzeň (), also known in English and German as Pilsen (), is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the Statutory city (Czech Republic), fourth most populous city in the Czech Republic with about 188,000 inhabitants. It is located about west of P ...
*** 2nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Bochov with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 3rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Pernarec with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 4th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Přeštice with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 5th Anti-Aircraft Missile Division in Nové Mitrovice with S-75M Volkhov high-altitude air defence systems *** 1st Technical Division in Hadačka ** 3rd Radio-technical Brigade in Chomutov *** 33rd Headquarters Battalion in Chomutov *** 51st Radar Battalion in Hrušovany **** Command Post of 51st Electronic Battalion in Lažany **** Command Company in Lažany **** 510th Radar Company Lažany operating the Lažany radar station **** 511th Mobile Radar Company in Mikulášovice **** 512th Mobile Radar Company in Martiněves *** 52nd Radar Battalion in Stod **** Command Post of 52nd Electronic Battalion in Stod **** Command Company in Stod **** 520th Radar Company in Stod operating the Stod radar station **** 521st Mobile Radar Company in
Poleň Poleň is a municipality and village in Klatovy District in the Plzeň Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 300 inhabitants. The village of Poleň is well preserved and is protected as a village monument zone. Administrative division Poleň ...
**** 522nd Mobile Radar Company in Zhůří **** 523rd Mobile Radar Company in
Katovice Katovice is a market town in Strakonice District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,300 inhabitants. Geography Katovice is located about west of Strakonice and northwest of České Budějovice. It lies on the bor ...
*** 53rd Radar Battalion in Třebotovice **** Command Post of 53rd Electronic Battalion in Třebotovice **** Command Company in Třebotovice **** 530th Radar Company in Třebotovice operating the Třebotovice radar station **** 531st Mobile Radar Company in Třeboň **** 532nd Mobile Radar Company in Přední Výtoň **** 533rd Mobile Radar Company in Horní Vltavice **** 534th Mobile Radar Company in Nová Bystřice *** 54th Radar Battalion in Nepolisy **** Command Post of 54th Electronic Battalion in Nepolisy **** Command Company in Nepolisy **** 540th Radar Company in Nepolisy operating the Nepolisy radar station **** 541st Mobile Radar Company in Chrášťany **** 542nd Mobile Radar Company in Senožaty **** 543rd Mobile Radar Company in Adršpach *** 55th Radar Battalion in Planá **** Command Post of 55th Electronic Battalion in Planá **** Command Company in Planá **** 550th Radar Company in Planá operating the Planá radar station **** 551st Mobile Radar Company in **** 552nd Mobile Radar Company in Hřebečná *** 56th Radar Battalion in Drnov **** Command Post of 56th Electronic Battalion in Drnov **** Command Company in Drnov **** 560th Radar Company in Drnov operating the Drnov radar station **** 561st Mobile Radar Company in Jesenice **** 562nd Mobile Radar Company in Břasy **** 563rd Mobile Radar Company in Ratiboř ** 23rd Signal Battalion in Žatec ** Weather Radar and Meteorological Center Žatec


After Communism 1990–1992

In November and December 1989 the
Velvet Revolution The Velvet Revolution () or Gentle Revolution () was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations against the one-party government of the Communist Pa ...
ended Communist rule in Czechoslovakia. In 1992 the Slovak Republic voted to leave the federal republic, which was dissolved on 1 January 1993. The assets of the former air force were divided 2:1 in the Czech favor, and thus the Czech Air Force and the Slovak Air Force were formed. The 18 MiG-29s then in service were divided 1:1 between the new countries. A 1992–93 reorganisation resulted in a completely new structure of the Czech Air Force which came into effect in 1994., accessed March 2012 One of the first units which closed down as a direct result of the transfer of a large number of aircraft to Slovakia was the 9th Fighter Bomber Air Regiment (9. SBoLP) at
Bechyně Bechyně (; ) is a town in Tábor District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 4,800 inhabitants. The historic town centre is well preserved and is protected as an Cultural monument (Czech Republic)#Monument zones, ur ...
.


Equipment list

*S-102(MiG-15) - 853 *CS-102(MiG-15UTI) - 2013 *S-103(MiG-15bis) - 620 * MiG-17F - 30 *S-104 - (MiG-17PF) - 457 * MiG-19P - 27 *MiG-19S - 12 *S-105(MiG-19S) - 103 *MiG-19PM - 33 * S-106(MiG-21F-13) - 194 *MiG-21PF - 40 *MiG-21PFM - 9 *MiG-21R - 25 *MiG-21MA(MiG-21M) - 24 *MiG-21MF - 102 *MiG-21US - 13 *MiG-21UM - 32 * MiG-23MF - 13 *MiG-23ML - 16 *MiG-23BN - 32 *MiG-23UB - 8 * MiG-29A - 18 *MiG-29UB - 2 *Yak-17 - 1 * Su-7BM - 64 *Su-7BKL - 31 *Su-7U - 7 * Su-22M4 - 49 *Su-22UM3K - 8 *Su-25K - 34 *Su-25UBK - 1 * Il-28 - 90 *Av 14/24 - 4 *Av 14FG - 10 *Av 14T - 10 *Il-14T - 10 *Il-14P - 16 *Il-28RT - 30 *Mi-24D - 38 *Mi-24DU - 2 *Mi-24V - 30 *L-29 - 400 *B-228 - 116 *CB-228 - 116 *An-26Z-1 - 1 * MiG-15 - 36 *Mi-1 -78 *Mi-2B - 93 *Mi-2R - 86 *Mi-4A - 90 *Mi-8T - 98 *Mi-8P - 90 *Mi-17 - 76 *An-2 - 90 *An-2T - 90 *An-12BP - 90 *Il-28U - 90 *An-24A - 90 *An-24B - 90 *An-26 - 89 * Ts-25 - 2


References


Bibliography

* – PhD thesis, Faculty of Arts, School of Humanities * * * * * * * {{refend


External links


Global Security entry

Official Czech Army site
1918 establishments in Czechoslovakia 1992 disestablishments in Czechoslovakia Air forces by country Disbanded air forces Military of Czechoslovakia Military units and formations disestablished in 1992 Military units and formations established in 1918 Military units and formations of the Cold War