2RHPZ
05-17-2004, 12:39 PM
For whom are interested in combat Air force history during YU wars:
The creation of the Croatian Air Force came in the wake of the declaration of independence by Croatia in late June 1991.
Already in the first months of the war, in the summer of 1991, recognizing the importance of the air power, the Croatian authorities were urgently gathering all available resources to form an air arm, the "Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo" (HRZ - literaly "Croatian War-Air Force"). Initially, only a small number of Police helicopters and aircraft of the local flying clubs, as well as agrar-aviation were available, but these were pressed into service, nevertheless, frequently armed with makeshift bombs and rocket launchers. The first such unit, the so-called “Zrakoplovna Grupa” (Airborne Group) – later re-named into “Eskadrila Lakih Borbenin Zrakoplova” (Squadron of Light Combat Aircraft) was formed actually already on 28 June 1991, at the small airfield Pribislavec, near Cakovec, in northern Croatia, and was equipped with several An-2s, UTVA-75s, and Piper PA-18s.
The original cadre of the HRZ included almost exclusively officers and pilots that previously served with the Yugoslav Air Force (JRViPVO), many of which were highly experienced. The first Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Army (HV), Gen. Tus, for example, was former Commander-in-Chief of the JRViPVO, and a qualified MiG-21- and MiG-29-pilot.
... more (include pictures):
http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/printer_305.shtml
The creation of the Croatian Air Force came in the wake of the declaration of independence by Croatia in late June 1991.
Already in the first months of the war, in the summer of 1991, recognizing the importance of the air power, the Croatian authorities were urgently gathering all available resources to form an air arm, the "Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo" (HRZ - literaly "Croatian War-Air Force"). Initially, only a small number of Police helicopters and aircraft of the local flying clubs, as well as agrar-aviation were available, but these were pressed into service, nevertheless, frequently armed with makeshift bombs and rocket launchers. The first such unit, the so-called “Zrakoplovna Grupa” (Airborne Group) – later re-named into “Eskadrila Lakih Borbenin Zrakoplova” (Squadron of Light Combat Aircraft) was formed actually already on 28 June 1991, at the small airfield Pribislavec, near Cakovec, in northern Croatia, and was equipped with several An-2s, UTVA-75s, and Piper PA-18s.
The original cadre of the HRZ included almost exclusively officers and pilots that previously served with the Yugoslav Air Force (JRViPVO), many of which were highly experienced. The first Commander-in-Chief of the Croatian Army (HV), Gen. Tus, for example, was former Commander-in-Chief of the JRViPVO, and a qualified MiG-21- and MiG-29-pilot.
... more (include pictures):
http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/printer_305.shtml