CIA about the Yugoslav Air Force in 1951.

[Dimlee]

IL-2. This plane, a divebomber...

YAK-9. ... It is operated by two persons.

PE-2. It has one engine...

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP82-00457R008200020014-8.pdf

 

[DDonSS3]

I found it interesting that when I went on an overseas trip to S America, I knew more about what I was seeing aviation-wise than our intel people did.

 

[Dimlee]

I didn't see US reports about the Yugoslavian Air Force from the late 1940s. Some time ago I learned that it was very interesting mix of the Soviet, British and German. Hurricanes, Spitfires of at least two types. BF 109, FW 190, Fi 167, probably something else German. Ju 52, maybe? Yak-3, Il-2, Po-2, Pe-2, Li-2 (as transport and bombers). At a certain point, Belgrad was close to the buying Czech Avia S-92 (Me 262).

 

[GreenKnight121]

In June 1948 Yugoslavia broke off relations with the Stalinist Soviet Union. The country was immediately subjected to extreme political pressure from the Soviet Union and its Balkan neighbours, and the JRV's previous sources of aircraft, spares and fuel were cut off.

In 1951 the Yugoslav Chief of Staff, Colonel-Genera l Koča Popović, visited the United Kingdom to discuss the situation. It was agreed that a substantial shipment of aircraft would be forthcoming. In October 1951, the first de Havilland Mosquito F.B.6 fighter-bombers were supplied. The following year, 150 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighter-bombers were delivered from the USA under a Mutual Assistance Pact.

The first jet aircraft to be operated by the JRV, four Lockheed T-33A jet trainers, arrived on 10 March 1953 and were soon followed by the first of 229 Republic F-84G Thunderjet fighter-bombers. Serials for the Thunderjets were from 10501 to 10729. The first eight Thunderjets, all former 48 TFW aircraft, arrived at Batajnica on June 9, 1953. At the same time, a number of Yugoslav pilots underwent jet flying training in Germany and Colorado, USA. These deliveries substantially improved the combat effectiveness of the JRV. Ten Westland Dragonfly helicopters were obtained in 1954, and in 1956, after numerous delays due to political considerations, 121 F-86E/Canadair CL-13 F.4 Sabres interceptors were delivered.

The Yugoslavian Air Force operated 219 F-84Gs from June 1953 until 1974.

 

[Sabrejet]

Bear in mind that due to changes in Tito's east/west leanings, many aircraft supplied by or via the US Government were not exclusively Military Assistance Program funded. This applies to less than half of the Canadair Sabre 4s (F-86E(M)) supplied ex-RAF from 1956. The first batch were fully MAP-funded but the US Government subsequently decided that Tito was forming closer ties with the Warsaw Pact and deliveries were stopped. It was then agreed that the remainder of deliveries would only be made if Yugoslavia paid outright for the aircraft, which they did. The JRV also gained F-86Ds in the early 1960s, which operated alongside MiG-21Fs for a while.

 

[Dimlee]

I assume that CIA papers on JRV improved a lot in the 1950s. Hopefully, there were no Westland-Sikorsky dive bombers or multi-crew Sabres in later reports.