Balkan Air Force

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File:04 Kane.jpg
Spitfires of the No 352 (Y) Squadron R.A.F. before first mission on 18 August 1944, from airport Canne - Italy, Yugoslav Aeronautical Museum

The Balkan Air Force was a late-World War II Allied air formation. It was activated in Italy on 7 June 1944 to simplify command arrangements for the air support of SOE-operations in the Balkans. The Desert Air Force had been responsible for those operations, but its prime job was the support of the troops of the Commonwealth Eighth Army, thus making operations over the Balkans a distraction.

The Balkan Air Force was a multinational unit. At one point it even included a Soviet transport squadron. It mainly supported the operations of partisans, led by Josip Broz - Tito, against German forces in Yugoslavia, but also provided support to Greek and Albanian resistance organisations. It transported supplies to the partisans, evacuated wounded, dropped agents to help them, and provided air support in their operations against German troops.

Towards the end of its existence, it operated a small number of units from Yugoslav soil to harass the retreating Germans. However, disgreements with Tito meant that all Allied units left Yugoslavia very shortly after the war in Europe ended.

The Balkan Air Force was disbanded on 15 July 1945. During its short existence, it was commanded by the British Royal Air Force Air Vice Marshals William Elliot and George Mills.

Her Majesty's Government files on The Balkan Air Force are classified and closed in perpetuity.

See also

References

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