Other Forces

The Yugoslav Air Force’s S.79

Mission4today

One of the 45 Savoia-Marchetti S.79 bomber bought in Italy on 1938 by the Royal Yugoslav Air Force (more like Air Force of the Army of Kingdom of Yugoslavia/Vazduhoplovstvo vojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije). The Yugoslav S.79s, named S79K, were de facto identical to the same aircraft built for the Italian Air Force, was assigned to 81st Independent Bomb Group and 7th Bomb Regiment. At last three Yugoslav S.79K where lost before the war on as much serious (two fatal) accidents. On the eve of Axis attack against Yugoslavia, 6 April 1941, the 7th Bomb Regiment, based at Dobrič (Užička Požega), leader Lieutenant-Colonel H. Dragić-Hauer, was part of 4th Bomber Brigade, base Ljubic, leader Colonel Petar Vukčević, in turn under the command of the Operational Air Force (Operativno vazduhoplovstvo), had two Bomber Group: 66th Bomber Group, base Preljina (Čačak), leader Major D. Sofilj, with 211th Bomber Squadron, leader Captain K. Boras, strength six S79K, and 212th Bomber Squadron, leader Captain A. Dobanovacki, strength seven S.79K, and 67th Bomber Group, base Dobrič (Užička Požega), leader Major R. Rašković, with 213th Bomber Squadron, leader Captain A. Ikanjikov, strength six S.79K, and 214th Bomber Squadron, leader Captain J. Bošnjak strength seven S.79K. After the outbreak of the war the most important mission of the Yugoslav S.79Ks was the bombing of enemy units in Kačani gorge by seven aircraft of the 66th Group’s 214th Squadron. An aircraft, the plane No.30, in lack of pilot, was flown by Pero Milinković, from Mostar, air force mechanic and reserve pilot. After Yugoslav’s many aircraft tried to fly over to USSR. During one attempt Senior Captain Jeftom Bošnjak was killed. A S.79K, the “White 12” of 7th Bomb Regiment, was used, on 14 April 1941, by the King Pete for escape in Greek sector still occupied by the British Forces landing, escorted by a Yugoslav Air Forces’s Dornier Do 17K, at Paramythia. From this airfield the three-engines with the King on board flew to Egypt where the plane was switched to RAF. Another S.79K abandoned intact on Mostar airfield was seized by the newly born air force of the Independent State of Croatia, NDH-Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska, moved to 2nd Airbase Sarajevo-Rajlovac and assigned to 3rd Wing’s 9th Bomber Squadron of Croat Air Force. Victor Sierra