117th Fighter Aviation Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
: 117. lovački avijacijski puk / 116. ловачки авијацијски пук) was an aviation regiment established in 1944 as 112th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
: 112. vazduhoplovni lovački puk / 112. ваздухопловни ловачки пук) formed from Yugoslav partisan aviators, trained and equipped by Soviet Air Force.
17th Air Army's 168th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (168.GIAP). It has become independent form Soviet command and personal since May 1945. Regiment was part of 11th Aviation Fighter Division, it was equipped with Soviet Yak-1M fighter aircraft. Regiment has took part in final operations for liberation of Yugoslavia. During the combat operations it was based at Veliki Radinci, Nadalj, Klenak, Mađarmečke and Lučko airfields.
By the 1945 new Yak-3 fighters have been introduced in service. After the war regiment has moved shortly to Slovenia, being based at Ljubljana airfield, but it has return to Pleso airfield near Zagreb. In period from 1946 to 1947 it has been dislocated several times between Mostar, Ljubljana and Novi Sad, due the crisis in north-west of country. In 1947 it has based at Pula.
By the 1948 year this regiment was renamed like all other units of Yugoslav Army, so it has become 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment.
The commanders of regiment in this period were Sava Poljanec, Đuro Ivanišević, Mile Ćurgus, Radovan Daković, Mihajlo Nikolić and Nikola Lekić. Commissar was Mile Rodić.
. In 1951 regiment has moved to new build Batajnica Air Base, where it has remain until 1960.
Regiment was reequipped with new domestic made Ikarus S-49A aircraft, being first unit of Yugoslav Air Force operating first Yugoslav post-war fighter. Fighters were handed to it official by Marshal Josip Broz Tito
on May 21, 1950. By the 1953 S-49A aircraft were replaced with US-build Republic F-84 Thunderjet fighter-bombers. First pilot of Yugoslav Air Force trained to fly on Thunderjet aircraft was lieutenant colonel Milorad Ivanović, commander of 117th Regiemnt. In that period regiment was renamed to 117th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
: 117. lovačko-bombarderski avijacijski puk / 117. ловачко-бомбардерски авијацијски пук). In 1956 Thunderbolts were replaced by , which remain in service with regiment until 1959 when it was replaced with F-86E Sabre jet fighters. Same year has changed its name back to 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment. By 1960 Regiment has left Batajnica and dislocated to Pleso.
By the 1961 and application of the "Drvar" reorganization for the Air Force, new type designation system is used to identify squadrons, so the two squadrons of 83rd Fighter Aviation Regiment have become 124th and 125th Fighter Aviation Squadron.
F-86E aircraft were replaced in 1963 with F-86D Sabre which remain in service to 1968. In 1967 first MiG-21F-13 fighters have arrived, as replace for Sabers. Next year, 1968, regiment has moved to newly build Željava Air Base
. It was the largest military airport with underground hangar complex in Yugoslavia. This base hes remain the home of Regiment until the 1991, when all Yugoslav People's Army units have left complex and destroyed it. 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron has been attached from 82nd Aviation Brigade
to 117th Regiment, being equipped with MiG-21R reconnaissance fighter jets. MiG-21F-13 fighters were replaced with MiG-21PMF version in 1970. New MiG-21bis aircraft were introduced as replace for MiG-21PMF in 1983.
Regiment has took action during the war in Croatia. 351st Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron of 82nd Aviation Brigade
, armed with IJ-22 Orao
and IJ-21 Jastreb
reconnaissance attack aircraft, has been dislocated from Cerklje to Želajva, joining 117th Regiment and being later by order from August 30, 1991 disbanded, with equipment and personnel integrated in to 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron. On August 30, 1991 MiG fighters have intercepted Boeing 707 with Uganda registration, which was smuggling arms for Croatian forces, and force it to land. That aircraft has been later sequestered whit its illegal cargo. Two weeks later Croatia Airlines
DC-9 was forced to land at Split. When HQ of 5th Corps at Zagreb was overtaken by Croatian forces on September 15, jets have flown over city in which was alarmed an air threat. Several positions of Croatian forces and TV repeater tower have been attacked in next days. On October 25, pilot of 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron, Croat Rudolf Perešin
has defected from Željava to Klagenfurt, Austria. He has later joined Croatian Air Force, but his MiG-21R with military registration 26112 has remain in Austria.
On January 7, 1992, an AB-205 helicopter of the European Community Monitor Mission entered Croatian air space. The Yugoslav People's Army required at the time that incoming aircraft request its permission because they wanted to deter ongoing efforts to arm the badly outgunned Croatian Army. Pilot Emir Šišić
received orders to intercept the helicopter. He took off from Željava air base in a MiG-21bis with military registration 17214. Over the town of Novi Marof
near Varaždin
, he received confirmation to shot down the helicopter. The attack killed five observers. This incident has been used by Croatian propaganda and brought a bad international reputation to Yugoslav People's Army and Serb side in conflict. As reaction General staff, commander of Yugoslav Air Force in that period, lieutenant general Zvonko Jurjević has been suspended.
On February 4 another pilot, Danijel Borović, has defected on MiG-21bis. That aircraft was first MiG of Croatian Air Force. Borovic has provided information to Croatian media that pilot who has shot AB-205 was Emir Šišić.
Battles around Želajva airbase have became more intensive as the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina started. After order for withdrawal of Yugoslav People's Army from Bosnia in spring 1992, 117th Regiment has left Željava in April 22-24. Air base has been used for air evacuation of remaining personal and families of Army members from Bihać. Underground complex was destroyed in May and never again used. Squadrons of Regiment have moved to Serbia, beign dislocated to Ponikve Airport
, where 117th Regiment has been soon disbanded with it's 125th Squadron also disbanded, 124th Fighter Aviation Squadron being attached to 83rd Aviation Brigade and 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron assigned to 204th Aviation Brigade.
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
: 117. lovački avijacijski puk / 116. ловачки авијацијски пук) was an aviation regiment established in 1944 as 112th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
: 112. vazduhoplovni lovački puk / 112. ваздухопловни ловачки пук) formed from Yugoslav partisan aviators, trained and equipped by Soviet Air Force.
112th Fighter Aviation Regiment
The 112th Fighter Aviation Regiment was established on December 25, 1944, at Veliki Radinci, from Yugoslav partisan aviators with the Soviet Air ForceSoviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
17th Air Army's 168th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment (168.GIAP). It has become independent form Soviet command and personal since May 1945. Regiment was part of 11th Aviation Fighter Division, it was equipped with Soviet Yak-1M fighter aircraft. Regiment has took part in final operations for liberation of Yugoslavia. During the combat operations it was based at Veliki Radinci, Nadalj, Klenak, Mađarmečke and Lučko airfields.
By the 1945 new Yak-3 fighters have been introduced in service. After the war regiment has moved shortly to Slovenia, being based at Ljubljana airfield, but it has return to Pleso airfield near Zagreb. In period from 1946 to 1947 it has been dislocated several times between Mostar, Ljubljana and Novi Sad, due the crisis in north-west of country. In 1947 it has based at Pula.
By the 1948 year this regiment was renamed like all other units of Yugoslav Army, so it has become 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment.
The commanders of regiment in this period were Sava Poljanec, Đuro Ivanišević, Mile Ćurgus, Radovan Daković, Mihajlo Nikolić and Nikola Lekić. Commissar was Mile Rodić.
117th Fighter Aviation Regiment
The 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment remain at Pula by the 1948, but same year it was relocated to Cerklje, where it remain until 1949 when it has relocated to Zemun, with new task of defending the capital city BelgradeBelgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. In 1951 regiment has moved to new build Batajnica Air Base, where it has remain until 1960.
Regiment was reequipped with new domestic made Ikarus S-49A aircraft, being first unit of Yugoslav Air Force operating first Yugoslav post-war fighter. Fighters were handed to it official by Marshal Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
on May 21, 1950. By the 1953 S-49A aircraft were replaced with US-build Republic F-84 Thunderjet fighter-bombers. First pilot of Yugoslav Air Force trained to fly on Thunderjet aircraft was lieutenant colonel Milorad Ivanović, commander of 117th Regiemnt. In that period regiment was renamed to 117th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
: 117. lovačko-bombarderski avijacijski puk / 117. ловачко-бомбардерски авијацијски пук). In 1956 Thunderbolts were replaced by , which remain in service with regiment until 1959 when it was replaced with F-86E Sabre jet fighters. Same year has changed its name back to 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment. By 1960 Regiment has left Batajnica and dislocated to Pleso.
By the 1961 and application of the "Drvar" reorganization for the Air Force, new type designation system is used to identify squadrons, so the two squadrons of 83rd Fighter Aviation Regiment have become 124th and 125th Fighter Aviation Squadron.
Željava Air Base
Željava Air Base, situated on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina under Plješevica Mountain, near the town of Bihać in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the largest underground airport and military airbase in the former Yugoslavia and one of the largest in Europe.-History:Construction...
. It was the largest military airport with underground hangar complex in Yugoslavia. This base hes remain the home of Regiment until the 1991, when all Yugoslav People's Army units have left complex and destroyed it. 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron has been attached from 82nd Aviation Brigade
82nd Aviation Brigade
The 82nd Aviation Brigade was an aviation regiment established in 1945 as 42nd Bomber Aviation Regiment The 82nd Aviation Brigade (Serbo-Croatian: 82. avijacijska brigada / 82. авијацијска бригада) was an aviation regiment established in 1945 as 42nd Bomber Aviation Regiment The 82nd Aviation...
to 117th Regiment, being equipped with MiG-21R reconnaissance fighter jets. MiG-21F-13 fighters were replaced with MiG-21PMF version in 1970. New MiG-21bis aircraft were introduced as replace for MiG-21PMF in 1983.
Regiment has took action during the war in Croatia. 351st Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron of 82nd Aviation Brigade
82nd Aviation Brigade
The 82nd Aviation Brigade was an aviation regiment established in 1945 as 42nd Bomber Aviation Regiment The 82nd Aviation Brigade (Serbo-Croatian: 82. avijacijska brigada / 82. авијацијска бригада) was an aviation regiment established in 1945 as 42nd Bomber Aviation Regiment The 82nd Aviation...
, armed with IJ-22 Orao
Soko J-22 Orao
The Soko J-22 Orao is a twin-engined, subsonic, close support, ground-attack and tactical reconnaissance aircraft, with secondary capability as a low level interceptor. It was designed as a single-seat main attack version or as a combat capable two-seat version for advanced flying and weapon...
and IJ-21 Jastreb
Soko J-21 Jastreb
|-See also:...
reconnaissance attack aircraft, has been dislocated from Cerklje to Želajva, joining 117th Regiment and being later by order from August 30, 1991 disbanded, with equipment and personnel integrated in to 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron. On August 30, 1991 MiG fighters have intercepted Boeing 707 with Uganda registration, which was smuggling arms for Croatian forces, and force it to land. That aircraft has been later sequestered whit its illegal cargo. Two weeks later Croatia Airlines
Croatia Airlines
Croatia Airlines d.d. is the national airline and flag carrier of the Republic of Croatia. Based in Buzin, Zagreb, the airline is a member of Star Alliance and operates domestic and international services. Its main base is Zagreb Airport, with focus cities being Dubrovnik and Split...
DC-9 was forced to land at Split. When HQ of 5th Corps at Zagreb was overtaken by Croatian forces on September 15, jets have flown over city in which was alarmed an air threat. Several positions of Croatian forces and TV repeater tower have been attacked in next days. On October 25, pilot of 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron, Croat Rudolf Perešin
Rudolf Perešin
Rudolf Perešin , a Croatian fighter pilot in the Yugoslav People's Army , defected from Željava Air Base to Klagenfurt, Austria in 1991, during a reconnaissance flight because he wanted to help his homeland Croatia during the Croatian War of Independence. He was the first pilot to desert from the JNA...
has defected from Željava to Klagenfurt, Austria. He has later joined Croatian Air Force, but his MiG-21R with military registration 26112 has remain in Austria.
On January 7, 1992, an AB-205 helicopter of the European Community Monitor Mission entered Croatian air space. The Yugoslav People's Army required at the time that incoming aircraft request its permission because they wanted to deter ongoing efforts to arm the badly outgunned Croatian Army. Pilot Emir Šišić
Emir Šišic
Emir Šišić is a former pilot of the Air Force of the SFR Yugoslavia and later FR Yugoslavia who was involved in a controversial air encounter that resulted in five deaths, for which he served prison time.- Military career :...
received orders to intercept the helicopter. He took off from Željava air base in a MiG-21bis with military registration 17214. Over the town of Novi Marof
Novi Marof
Novi Marof is a town in north-western Croatia, located south of Varaždin and east of Ivanec, in the Varaždin county.The population of the municipality is 13,238 , distributed in the following settlements:* Bela, population 62...
near Varaždin
Varaždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
, he received confirmation to shot down the helicopter. The attack killed five observers. This incident has been used by Croatian propaganda and brought a bad international reputation to Yugoslav People's Army and Serb side in conflict. As reaction General staff, commander of Yugoslav Air Force in that period, lieutenant general Zvonko Jurjević has been suspended.
On February 4 another pilot, Danijel Borović, has defected on MiG-21bis. That aircraft was first MiG of Croatian Air Force. Borovic has provided information to Croatian media that pilot who has shot AB-205 was Emir Šišić.
Battles around Želajva airbase have became more intensive as the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina started. After order for withdrawal of Yugoslav People's Army from Bosnia in spring 1992, 117th Regiment has left Željava in April 22-24. Air base has been used for air evacuation of remaining personal and families of Army members from Bihać. Underground complex was destroyed in May and never again used. Squadrons of Regiment have moved to Serbia, beign dislocated to Ponikve Airport
Užice-Ponikve Airport
Užice-Ponikve Airport also known as Lepa Glava is an airport in the western part of Serbia...
, where 117th Regiment has been soon disbanded with it's 125th Squadron also disbanded, 124th Fighter Aviation Squadron being attached to 83rd Aviation Brigade and 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron assigned to 204th Aviation Brigade.
Assignments
- 11th Aviation Fighter Division (1944-1945)
- 42nd Aviation Assault Division (1945)
- 3rd Aviation Fighter Division (1945-1948)
- 44th Aviation Division (1948–1949)
- Independent Regiment (1949)
- 44th Aviation Division (1949–1959)
- 5th Air Command (1959–1964)
- 5th Air Corps (1964–1966)
- 15th Air Defense Division (1966–1983)
- 5th Corps of Air Force and Air Defense (1986–1992)
Previous designations
- 112th Fighter Aviation Regiment (1944-1948)
- 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment (1948-1953)
- 117th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (1953-1956)
- 117th Fighter Aviation Regiment (1956-1991)
1961-1968
- 83rd Fighter Aviation Regiment
- 124th Fighter Aviation Squadron
- 125th Fighter Aviation Squadron
1968-1991
- 83rd Fighter Aviation Regiment
- 124th Fighter Aviation Squadron
- 125th Fighter Aviation Squadron
- 352nd Reconnaissance Aviation Squadron
Bases stationed
- Veliki RadinciVeliki RadinciVeliki Radinci is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Sremska Mitrovica municipality, in the Srem District, Vojvodina province...
(1944) - NadaljNadaljNadalj is a village located in the Srbobran municipality, in the South Bačka District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 2,202 people ....
(1944) - KlenakKlenak (Ruma)Klenak is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Ruma municipality, in the Srem District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 3,246 people .-See also:*List of places in Serbia...
(1944) - Mađaremečke (1944-1945)
- LučkoZagreb AirportZagreb Airport , also known as Pleso Airport after the nearby suburb of Pleso, is the main international airport of Croatia and also a Croatian Air Force and Defense major fighter jet base. Located 10 km from the central railway station in Zagreb, it served 2,071,561 passengers in 2010 and is the...
(1945) - PlesoZagreb AirportZagreb Airport , also known as Pleso Airport after the nearby suburb of Pleso, is the main international airport of Croatia and also a Croatian Air Force and Defense major fighter jet base. Located 10 km from the central railway station in Zagreb, it served 2,071,561 passengers in 2010 and is the...
(1945) - LjubljanaLjubljanaLjubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
(1945) - PlesoZagreb AirportZagreb Airport , also known as Pleso Airport after the nearby suburb of Pleso, is the main international airport of Croatia and also a Croatian Air Force and Defense major fighter jet base. Located 10 km from the central railway station in Zagreb, it served 2,071,561 passengers in 2010 and is the...
(1945) - MostarMostarMostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
(1945) - Novi SadNovi SadNovi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
(1946) - LjubljanaLjubljanaLjubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
(1946) - MostarMostarMostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
(1946-1947) - Novi SadNovi SadNovi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
(1947) - LjubljanaLjubljanaLjubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
(1947)
- PulaPulaPula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
(1947–1948) - Cerklje (1948-1949)
- ZemunZemunZemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...
(1949-1951) - Batajnica (1951-1960)
- PlesoZagreb AirportZagreb Airport , also known as Pleso Airport after the nearby suburb of Pleso, is the main international airport of Croatia and also a Croatian Air Force and Defense major fighter jet base. Located 10 km from the central railway station in Zagreb, it served 2,071,561 passengers in 2010 and is the...
(1960-68) - ŽeljavaŽeljava Air BaseŽeljava Air Base, situated on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina under Plješevica Mountain, near the town of Bihać in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the largest underground airport and military airbase in the former Yugoslavia and one of the largest in Europe.-History:Construction...
(1968-1992)
Commanding officers
| Date appointed | Name |
|---|---|
| Sava Poljanec | |
| Đuro Ivanišević | |
| Mile Ćurgus | |
| Radovan Daković | |
| Mihajlo Nikolić | |
| Nikola Lekić | |
| Milorad Ivanović | |
| Nikola Milikić | |
| Nikola Mijatov | |
| S. Mileusnić | |
| Vladimir Žanović | |
| Nikola Maravić | |
| Ilija Zlatić | |
| Aleksa Ristić | |
| Marko Kulić | |
| Božidar Stefanović | |
| Zijo Varešanović | |
| Vladeta Kostić | |
| Bogdan Mihovilović | |
| Mahmut Skadrak | |
Equipment
- Yakovlev Yak-1MYakovlev Yak-1The Yakovlev Yak-1 was a World War II Soviet fighter aircraft. Produced from early 1940, it was a single-seat monoplane with a composite structure and wooden wings....
(1944–1948) - Yakovlev Yak-3Yakovlev Yak-3The Yakovlev Yak-3 was a World War II Soviet fighter aircraft.Robust and easy to maintain, it was much liked by pilots and ground crew alike....
(1945–1948) - Yakovlev Yak-9/PYakovlev Yak-9The Yakovlev Yak-9 was a single-engine fighter aircraft used by the Soviet Union in World War II and after. Fundamentally a lighter development of the Yak-7 with the same armament, it arrived at the front at the end of 1942. The Yak-9 had a lowered rear fuselage decking and all-around vision canopy...
(1947/1948–1950) - Ikarus S-49A (1950–1953)
- F-84G Thunderjet (1953–1956)
- F-86E Sabre (1956–1963)
- F-86D Sabre (1963–1968)
- MiG-21F-13 (1967-1971)
- MiG-21PMF (1970–1979)
- MiG-21R (1968–1992)
- MiG-21bis (1978–1992)
- Soko IJ-21 JastrebSoko J-21 Jastreb|-See also:...
(1991–1992) - Soko IJ-22 OraoSoko J-22 OraoThe Soko J-22 Orao is a twin-engined, subsonic, close support, ground-attack and tactical reconnaissance aircraft, with secondary capability as a low level interceptor. It was designed as a single-seat main attack version or as a combat capable two-seat version for advanced flying and weapon...
(1991–1992)