PaCS)Tlumumpp HegsakoB Dimitar Nedialkov Bb3JYUIHATA MOU! HA UAPCTBO BbATAPUA AIR POWER OF THE KINGDOM OF BULGARIA Yacm II/Part II »@APK* OOL/FARK OOD Compus, 2001/Sofia, 2001Kusama e wsdadena This part was published snoGeanomo endeticmaue u gounancosama nodxpena ‘withthe Kind assistance and financial support ua Pswoaodemeo na axadyunomo deuocenue ‘of the Bulgarian Air Traffic Control Authority Hamar ca rene ‘he Author Kindly hanks ‘om ane era na 24 Hate owen, the Mr Nosden Diches sa nocme aamapam 0 fxarodapa cpa for his courtesy i upping photarchives Alnurrep Hexanos Dimitar Nedialkov BLYIVUNHATA MOML HA HAPCTBO BLAITAPHSL BULGARIAN AIR POWER Mace Parti orapera Bulgarian isp ae Fit edition Koncyarr Haden ce ‘Consultant Nayden Dichey Xyponcme a sopra Mapa Yepnee Cover Art Mary Chernev ocr Cnc Hone Projections Solan Popo Peaterop tv Kpswvone Eitoe Zoie Krachunova Hyena aac Tap Cuan “Transat Peter Sti Koumornpn o5paurea Oo Hues Computer Sting Opin ev Mipeutexerna notroromes Mums Fe Print Pretion Mio Ganev Tear APR OOM Print by FARK OOD Dimitar Noto, Asthor Peter Skip, Translator Marly Chrmey, Artist © Auiryp Heawnos, sxrop 1 Tlvrsp Crt, psoas [© Mapa Hepnice, xoxoBb3AYMIHHAT HOTEHWMA HA WAPCTBO BbJITAPHA B I'bPBATA CBETOBHA BOMHA BULGARIAN AIR POTENTIAL IN THE GREAT WAR 70 Bropara Gakavoxa mola ce orpasna neta nkonownnkaa 1 Nopara w GrsirapeKaTa HPAI, HO Hea note paxbeTO Ha ABT weatyNOLIARAHET. ‘menara va L antyer 1913 s. aeoSubauusaepomsaiuare 1 6 roel ow ca eben ® aspomvaa ik Gara poTa, oT eve tana Boaxyxonaaareniic nap 96-0 € upoxcxto oGiumoro oreteme edpsuipar Texuwecka apyaaina xb" INE jepuune wolicxt Hoa KowuavaneTo Ha Naliop Baci 3zarapon (1) Hanruero na 8 noarorsent muon 10 empapi earera smo ccna neaocrarbo 94 nopuazore yHAuHONNpane Ha HOrpOA nara ce eucrena,oupeseia nanewieto a wiasyeN HoTeMa ‘sua nosous 1 waoxsalint npeauoeroara a TpeTETO ABMEpeIHE A Grate usaanatae sane» steps na apsntra, OcoBeno mina 1 oniccimesio spare supeH nepHox e Opa na HOATOrOD- sara a Kaypime H GabuTa 38 MarepHaO-TENIEEKOTO H TAIONOTO ‘enrypanave a opsauniaerareaasciaoer. Ha neriero xpai sm apa Coos €werpazei xaitra 9a 3 asporumia, nak Tas suno%Da A “bynmsuionmpa aeporsaina paGornia, » xoRrO ca pewosnpannt spate sa Farmar VIL ATbatos® FIL Tipea 1914 rca aac ocnone i ApyT REC KOMTONENET or Guar enereMa, enocoGna a FeneppawoaAy HA MO MEPHOTO cponaavio yonantem Burp, wOetO tpaGna a H03KOTRM THOT, taGinoxsen, Menai Moropa Msphowaxasno To ce vasapa na aerntero 40 rapa Cost, 4 npes ostowpw 1915 r- © paaypuar to yeSen nop a. cme Boye, xoi0 € pba € Xa rape nosiouni expas a8 epconasa w osywaevare, [Tape np Bulgaria's defeat inthe Second Balkan W; and morale, and impacted the great advances made in aviation and aerostatis, After the 1 August 1913 demobilisation, aeroplane and baloon units were wound down to one Aeroplane and Balloon Company within the Aeronautical Park. Along withthe Projector and Automobile Otdelenie, it comprised the Enginering troops Technial Drujina ‘commanded by Major Vasil Zltarov (1). Eight trained pilots and ten serviceable aeroplanes we iient for normal functioning of an hit national welfare sir potential system intended to assist the armed forces using the benefits ‘of the third dimension, This is why the relatively brief peacetime period ‘aw particular attention paid to staff training and equipment acquisition, AA thrce-seroplane hangar was buill at the airfield near Sofia Central Station, and an aeroplane workshop was opened, which repaired two Farman VI and an Albatros FHL ‘Another major component of the overall system for generating air power was put into place in 1914 with the opening of Bulgaria's first Aeroplane School, This would train pilots, observers, and ‘mechanics. Initially at the Station Airfield, in October 1915 it moved to & new training centre with hangars and auxiliary premises for trainers and trainees at Bojurishte Airfield. The fist intake was eight officers and two Feldfebels [NCOs}. After medicals, seven of them went on to trai as pilots: officers Mango Manov, Ivan Milanov, Marko Parvanow. Dimitar Minkov; Ascn Agov and Vladimir Balan, and Feldfebel Hristo Dimitrov (2}. Until July 1915 instructor was Halian Giovanni Sabelli [3], The schoo''s first intake trained on old aeroplanes (a Farman VIL and an Bléviot X1) requiring intensive maintenanceaGnoxareat ¢ aes sucrore cw kana wa eu oF oats ~Albatres” Bu ‘sums nopaan arya na opneeruponka na Guarapexa Tepetopas Kong ‘eatu fr Faaripeoare a open nepontannoro ovate Mpa me cn anararean ¢ momnocr a 100 (imogpxue Hotden aes) The observer as taken his seat in one ofthe two Turkish Albatros Bels which had landed on Bulgarian territory due to disorientation. Seized by the [Bulgarians they were the bes i the Acroplane Otelenie at Bulgaria’ entry in the Great War, blag exceptionally stable, having great range and endurance, ‘and powered by reliable 10h. engines photoarchives Nayden Dicker ru ca ocew oxpepi H thax (peneGet, oF KOH exe Me nate npersest aa ler nocruanar opuuepure Mano Maton, Hatt Maranon, Mapro Topsatioo, Jbasnrrsp Minnsoo 1 Aceu Aron, Bia sp Basan spexnibe6en Xpucro Japon [2]. Texew mmerpyeTop 20 rout 1915 F. € maenusr no sorovop wraumanen Jyxonann CaGext [3] Thapouser ounyex na aepontannioro yaucume ce oOysana wa usuocena atepuamia vac, chevosmia ce or ,Farman VIL i ,Bleriot” XI, 12H ‘cxnaumt cepuomia noxIproKKa, 2Kexanwero 2a peau ene Banaue re pol nopaseaa He06- ‘The desire for revenge after the Balkan Wars led to the creation of proper aeronautical and aeroplane units. However, the lack of resources told on plans to create separate Aeroplane and Balloon ‘Companies within the Technical Drujina. These were supposed t0 ‘comprise an airship, six kite-balloons, 48 aeroplanes and 87 officers, but this was heyond the means of the ruined Bulgarian economy. Apart from this, the start of war in Europe cut Bulgaria off from her main ait suppliers. Thus, just two Blétiot XI-2s of five aeroplanes ordered from France and Germany were actully delivered. Fortuitous coincidence amplified aeroplane numbers when in July 1914 two Turkish Albatros [B-ls landed in Bulgaria by error [4] Enthusiasts tying to construct own-design aeroplanes also eame to the fore. First to attempt flight was Stefan Kalinov, who designed a biplane similar to-a Voisin. Sadly his Dogan’ first est ight on 15 July 10915 ended in tragedy. Climbing to 600 metres it lost speed and stalled [5] killing its designer and passenger Anillery Poruchik Hristo Djindjforov who had taken courses in aviation matters [6] However, the second attempt was successful and marked the beginning of indigenous aircraft design. Teenager Asen Yordanov (later to become known as Asen Jordanoff in the USA) designed a biplane tnd flew it on 7 August 1915. Tests showed it to be successful and the event was the harbinger of future Bulgarian independence in airerat ‘manufacture as a necessary component of air power and a fact assuring a greater degree of self-sufficiency. ‘A Balloon Park Staff commanded by Leutenant Colonel Vasil Ziatarov, and wo Otdelenies were formed in the run up to Bulgarian entry into the War: ~ Aeroplane Otdelenie based at Sofa Station AirfieKi,commanded by Captain Radul Milkov, and with an establishment of 124, including seven pilots, eight observers, It had five serviceable aeroplanes: (wo twin-seat Albatros B-Is, two twin-seat Bleriot IX-2s, and a single-seat Bleriot IX bis [7] = Balloon Otdelenie based near Caribrod, commaned by Caprain Yordan Kazandjiev, with an establishment of 274, of whom 1wo Acronaut Officers, This had a tethered 750 cubic metre Solun kite balloon [8sowuwoerTa or extananero si WHAMOWeNIO weanyXonLpaTesI anaonn noapasseseni,Jimncara wa aderartano epeacraa oBase ara OMe MAPAY TaNOweTE 2a ApAATANE Ha GAO H ACpO- sua pora Kia Textumscexara spy Ho mar Te rps ta pao- sara c pts, 6 sweixon Garowa, 48 eanouera uw 87 opt 1a 7 polite Gxirapena papa. Ocbe Towa cies nasaoro na Ed omicxata noi Barapa ce oka 1 TepTOpHEHO WONKA OT ‘evionrTe AoeTananigy Ha anauowa Tex. Tona eH ea OF pe conuute oF Ste nopasan oF pans Tepvanin cave 38 Mpa cruruar cawo sua ,Blriot* X1-2. Broronponaw enya owara a soratara mm woetma aaa yen cHos GoeH noTeMELEH COM ma rypent bats" BT, kana pe osu 1914 ra nama Tepe vopist nopaiu arya na opwetspora or exes (4) Brom pyse 3a Gharapexoro RI HO ee Ho sant n emryenicT, THA ce sa ero aeponastt coGeTREHA ronerpysiuis spar omrre wa Creat Kasaon, xiio KowerPyi- pa Guat, nexoGen na ppenexna Noisin. 3a coxa, roman "ana 15 ron 1915 rsabspamar Tparnsn6 ora (raKa € nape: ‘ona wanna) tia 600 ws, r¥6H exopocr, mia» enpene ce pas6una [5] saeuo ¢ Kanon w apritepnicxix nopyns 1 xypeneT 10 anauuonno xen XpucroJexinuoepopor (6). Bop ont norara nawaoro na Goarapexoro eaMonerocrpo- eve. Acer Mepranos oue Kato vious cosa evo Gaia, Tse re ma 7 anyer 1915 f normspacinat Kavecraara Ha aeraresmnin My angpar xaro mnpsara yeneusta Gwarapena woxeTpyRus, CoOrmeT0 oo Ce ena 84 ap NA 38 GetewOTO span Ha caMO- yevocrpoeneo Ha spaanara aro HeoGxouN xoMOHeT 3a ein uma Nout, € STO NMOL 1 MOE a OCTHTHE1O-CORA Te Kw nasaovo na Gofiurre elicrns a Tpaara eneronna voli chopapast m6 a Baousnes nape c oman osmosNos Bae wu 3aTapors ape oresemn, mpsKo OcmrypaBanttseitersaATa ap- ~ acporvanwo ore, Gaspano 0 401 rapa Cost ¢ wow tp kanuran Pauya Mivakoa, » cxcran 124 xyunt, oF KoIrTo 7 muiorH, 8 apna yenemno peas Sxrapesa woneppnawa na camoner ena ACen Flopaanon. Hnpantr eimararenen water apeanpucr maT ayer 19181 OF aap Cronos. Caex tna na ID tory yore oct Duna ‘ra Pass Miawon,wovto «owas noctexeneo 2a hte perMeTPHpAMd © HA ‘oven nporoxus ua Mannctepcraov0 na nosis (homens Haden awe) [Aven Yordanov [JordanofT designed Bulgaria's fst succesful indigenous seroplan. Tested on 7 August 1918 by Gayril Stoyanoy, on 10 August i 38 own by Captain Rod Mika, and was granted an Especial Protocol from the Ministry of War (photoarchives Nayden Dicker) The system's intrinsic potential was determined by personnel training and aireaft performance. Training was sufficient, and backed up by actual combat experience. The Balloon Otdelente could ascend 10 500 or 600 metres in calmer conditions (wind speeds up 10 14 metres per second), The aeroplanes could observe enemy objectives up to 200 ‘0r 250 kilometres from base, from heights of between 1000 and 3000 ‘metres and speeds of hetween 95 and 11.Sknvh: adequate by early Great War standards [9], Three German-crewed Fokker ESO/EIL fighters srrived on 27 September to amplify Bulgaria's modest airraft strength. ‘They were basically intended to defend Sofia from air attack and train Bulgarian fighter pilots. Their arrival also coincided with the official start of tition atthe Aeroplane Schoo! {10}Eu oF pave warped -Fokher-EN0 cine ua Antara, C saxcunaanara cx cxopoct oF 140x941 pesere aa eouieeet9 a spounanpanara ¢ mxprenere wi 14a pupa cramuara wa Haperto Baarapan oF men wo kapreana sParabelum” (Ge Janae 01 250 remeron (fromoapcie Haidon tone) delivered to Sofla forthe defence ofthe capital from Entente ai attack. Their 140km/h top speed and synchronised 280-round Parabetlim machine-gun made them the most potent Bulgarian machines (phooarcites Nayden Dicey) naSmoarenm w $ wonpanint cavonera (2 anywecri .Albatros® B-1, 2 _anywecrim ,Bleriot IX-2 m ext extomecrettyBleriot” IXbis) (7) ‘Gasouno ovaeaenne c Kowanetyp ranerax TOpaau Kasanurane, asmpano xpai Lapn6poa » cxcras 274 ayun, or kono saa ofp [H wiagyxonanarent 1 EMH MPEP aMeKOR Garon ,Conytt € ‘eat 750 xy6. [8] Tlorenuiarsr ta pasenpiarara cucteMa octosio ee onpexet ‘or yaaeruero en peas Gofihtxefterona, w aerate HO-TEXIESKI- ‘Te Xapascepucru a anapariee. Basouoro Ov1eeuHe vot mente oF sncowunt 500-600 a mpu orpanivewe wa exopocrra na mrupa 0 14 nce. Jerareamere anapars tiosponaBar sa oe pay hana nporsmunikons oGexrH 1 orctommte 200-250 xx oF GasonoT0 te 1a scout 1000-3000 a eve exopoctu 95-115 xa, KoeTO 6 Another new component of air power hegan its emergence inthe same period, The firs ant-arera units appeared inthe form ofa battery Of six guns ((wo rapid-fire 75cm Krupps seized as trophies at Hardianople, and four slow-tiring 8.7em guns), plus seven machine _gunemplacements with five Madsens and two Hotchkiss guns on special ‘mounts. Intended 10 cover the capital, they took up positions on 27 October 1915: the birth date of Bulgarian air defence forces. The same dlay Engineering Colonel Atanas Rakovski was appointed Head of Air Defence. His appointment Order also det Is arrangements for air and Fere-Dedeagach {11} ‘The aforementioned components of air potential were only intended to assist army units, and to defend strategie targets, By early October 1915 they were ready for combat, but weather did not allow any flying, Sole exception was the Balloon Otdelenie which made an‘ovonapa ia mboTo oF nasaI0TO Ha Thopara eneronta noi [9]. 3a 2a Yorum exposmiara wisaya pte Pouka wa Grarapesae nolext, 1327 ‘errrewnput or Tepwainit ca vanpare 13 nsrpeGnte,Fokker-E80E-I ‘ctepwautra ex, Ocnowiera ust ‘acta € nppaiero ua Cogs or ra na Gwarapers mors wsrpeGiee- ut, Havauteto uae cuanaua it © ot uvaoro Hasao na yuo poLee » acporaaiioro yen, (10) B nasaen eraunit ¢ chopwtt paueto sia ex Wow 2a Buarapun anero na #ixymHoTO pOCTpaHCT bo, Hem Ho-ros capa € pen ‘croameTo 1a nosOOus w1sMOxHOCE poitTe npormoacpo- Floawsnar ce rasan Gopsimponats Gopi Garapen oF 6 opis 2 x0 poerpemut 75-en .Krupp, tiene tutu apensesanero wa Oxpn 4 AG nexopoerpean § nt apres sncua (5 xaprewge Madsen” 12 ,Hotchkiss", nocraven ua cneweaun aor, 0 ‘evioana 2ana%a e npormomsayuntara orGpana ma Cog. Ha 27 os ar sa saestar enowre How, KOerO € 1 PoxczenaTa sara wea [TBO nojicxnre Biarapia, B chu Aen eve Baxnowe; a NaKALINNK Ha cayumara orSpatia ¢ nasiasen nosKowunk mnpsenep Aratac Paxos- cna, kaT0 8 wes ce nocowa Kax Aa Goye Ociypeua JanueATa OT NN ‘aa Euantoro KoMaueanae na nolicnre n Kioeteisue W maxaorte erp renee wocrone npit KyieanGyprar w bope-exearav. [11] Kostnoncimire na wpe oF EpRAnATA CHE rena a nanossnane Ha mayor MpocTPANETAO ca HpENMAMEHN Tepeancia maaor c1ea nopesmun rpennponvteu HOMEY Hoa pebures ifomoapns Heiden awe) In his fighter (photnarchies Nayden Dice) Caribrod on 1 October. Intelligence gained enabled 1 Division vo attack successfully a fortified Servian strongpoin. The data ‘was particulary useful 0 Heavy Artillery Regiment which comprised ‘over 70 per cent of First Army artillery strength, ‘The Aeroplane Ordelenie at last flew on 14 October, A Simultaneous reconnaissance sortie was planned by all five aeroplanes ‘over Pirot and its environs in supporto the advancing First Sofa Tfantry Divicion. The aireraft departed, but were foreed to return by a sharp ather. Strong winds caused Captain Peniu worsening of the w Popkeustev to damage his Bleriot X1 bis on landing [12] The Solin balloon was again raised on 18 October to direct Bulgarian artillery fire. Despite enemy fre, Caprain Yurdan Kazandijev‘Choporrpento opnane «Krupp (72%) npmenecoseno xa erpeia no wxayinn eam wa Casynernn pont omoapsue Haden jnce) A Krupp 7Sem rapid-fire gun adapted for sutbaireraf fring a the Saloni Fr ‘hotoarchises Neyden Diches) rr ADLNG.CA caMo 3a pewananero Ha sauaeH, crop € HYAETE ‘bopamponai n sauurrara na naps erpareriece O6eRTH. Ki Ssaioro Ha oxrownput 1915 F. oraeseusra ca FoTODHL a ce BKIMONA B ho weGaronpusriue wereqponOrHusK YenORKH Baroinoro Gouuste selterous, foraesee Mpabi IBKIMONCHHE € HEUATANETO cH Ha 1 OKTOMBpHE Kali TlapuGpoa. Cuesenrra sa upormsiuaa uoarar ua KosauaieTO Ha |-a.amouus a nocurue yenex mpi araxa ua yxpertetara epeGexa n0- smnuis, OcoSewo noeakitca janie 3a La TexEK apritepaCRH MOE, 1 koro ca konenrpupasi Hat 70°% OF reaxara apmetepust a Tipp psa 8 (CAL pyanpa ese concurs out to depart Belica inthe sping of 1916 (phocarchives Nayten Dicey) na eTapr wa aermue Be er (ihomoapte Maden Jee) ua, upoaersa wa ‘was successful in this task and the objectives were hit. The Balloon (Otdelenie then advanced to Ni, where it remained until early 1916 [13], ‘Over the days that followed the frst sin of 12 newly-ordered LY.G.C-ll reconnaissance aeroplanes arrived in Sofia 14}, The taining cof pilots and observers for them was entrusted tothe Aeroplane School, commanded since 22 October by Caprain Simeon Petov. The firs intake ‘was seven pilots and nine observers. German pilot Franke was the trainer [15], LY.G. crews were fully trained within a month, yet bad weather ‘and rapid developments on the front failed to allow them to see action ‘during the winter. The new aeroplanes were wot marked by any particular Virtue. Their only advantage was in having a Madsen machine-gun foroana ua 14 oxtowmpi e upea- hnpwer mipauer oni 9a yaaeTHe B Goviaure relicrans oF aepor.tano- 10 orezermte. Traaupa ce exaoupe- enen pasy:masareten noser € ya cmiero ta S-re caMorera ® pafoxa tia Tupor, ritevo sacrista Typoa nnexorna copiiexa aususnst, Cano Aerie KKUETT, Ho HLIOTITe cap yuu a waeva oSparen ype no- ‘aus psaKoTO nourapaME Ha MeteD- ponornsnure yeaosux, Cuanet heeep e npwniia xantran Teno Hlonpxeren sn nospesi pst xan nero cvos ,Bleriot” XU bis [12], Ha 18 oxrowwpu Gaower ,Co- ay oTuogo e mst ta Kopura- a or ita Getrapexara apres Bunpeen nporuanxouns oGerpen samrran 1Opaan Kasanuoxnen ye ‘neumo vorrsgnsa sara 1 n0C0- sewnrre em ca noxawenn, CaeaT0%a Garontoro oreteme e MSTerIeHO # Hw, xoaeto ocrana i navaroro wa 1916 r. [13] pes exesnaunere anu na neriune Cox sanousar aa mpnerirar imopmire 6 oF nopasanurre 12 nowt paaysnanaremut canosera LV. C-ll [14]. 3a noxrotonsara ia meron 1 naGeno.res Ha HoBETA TeX wa e mero pemcnmie Tona ja crane » aepontaMoTO yanUIMe, 38 ‘uniro nasianns Ha 22 oxtonpw € nasnaven xanran Cirveou Her pon, B mapaara rpyna ca npuer 7 minors 9 naGosaTesm. Hier- pyxropexata aeiiiocr e nopepeva na repstancms mutor pane [15]. Tpwictuntasre easorerit ea yenoen 8 0-saiKo oT Wecet HO HO an wereoposorsamrre yexowis xox na GoftiTeseficrmtt Te We Bie- ‘ar yeactue w Gol tiosern pes snwara, KavectHor0 Ha nowara TeX: tuna ne nonnana ocengewo noresiu Ha Ooluara ABH cerpenoro it npesmsierao e naSaoxarexcKara xapremnma Madsen, a wom ogee wusotexa kaprewunta(fomoapes Maiden Jee) ‘machine-gun (photoarchies Nayden Dicer) the observer, plus (onsome machines only) a Parabellum forthe plot {16}, However, combat radius was significantly shorter than that of the Albatros B-1 in service. (On 21 and 24 October, the Aeroplane Oudelenie made use of good ‘weather to fly reece sorties over the Ni8 fortifications on behalf of First, [Army Staff [17]. After capture of the city, two Ordelenie aeroplanes relocated to the local airfield along with maintenance and service personnel, However, they filed to fly due to worsening weather and the hasty retreat ofthe Servian army to Greece via Albania and Corfu ‘As the Second Bulgarian Army advanced south into Macedonia, it drew the active attention of Entente aviation, which included aerial reconnaissance and photographing, as well as bombing [18]. Raids were Jaanched against, inter alia, Skopje, Petrch, Gevgeli(Gevgelifa), and 9sa skout or wanunurre murorexaa.,Parabslum {16}. 3a cwerka na toa Gonuitr paige e sa ‘uresm Ho-MLmb OF TO: ka asiypaUTe ce w exeritoaramuesAlbatros* B-I Ha 21 1 24 oxtoumpu aeponiannoro or rene nro GaronpusranTe Yeo H pa sya sa uyacurre a maGa na Topaa apy pit mypaa a Hans yxpenes patos [17]. Cex pensemanero Ha Hur Ha seTaMeTO Kpall pak ce npeasupar a oF eanorerirre wa aepora joTo THEME saeMO € OBe-KBAM H OCHTY= Panam cxcras, Ho Govint oserit He ca Was ant orHoRO Nop BrOMTARAKE Ha NpeMeTO Wt O»psoro orreriane wa cpsGeKaTa apyx Koa AnGarn a Pepa apes ocrpos Kops Chem Hacrommantara na ror Kot Maxen0- ux Bropa Omarapeea apa axruano seictRa [cormlenewara anv, KOSTO OREN BixIyK no pazy:manane 1 bororpaupate nataca Gon Ge ysapu no nacresmaurre notes 18]. ox oer Cxone, Herp mt, Besec np. xoero Hazara npeGaspane va aepon, rune Kysanovo, 0 orauiesananero na dpponra 10 rpHuKara rparutua npenpaita niox0GH0 peae- ae Orpaornatr ce THLTOT=XIHN Han SononyeKarte 1 crpexa ¢ Gopaoworo moprskenne Betmoro speve ofcranoakara nasara npexinpsuero Ha aepo- ranoro orzeaeime 1a wee expoprmim ce CoxyneKa (port. Yor c Kpaiemmo Pyyruinit ea npusnia aziowt4oT9 Ho est Tpera apwnis, puxpunaa cene- powstowera panama na Brora, 3a aa ocurypa wail-nacnure wanpan 1a Cony dot me e upiteno west Bro 10 TReuurax Paap Macon apes eannser Captain Kad Mito in front of a NG. CII wa aerate Be Ttanmnoro oraeacne (homouneue Haiden Jee) CT aftr detailing to Belica Airfield (photoarchives Nayden Dicker) Veles. This compelled the relocation of the Aeroplane Otdetenie. An airfield was prepared at Kumanovo but the front drawing southwards to the Greck border pre-empted its usefulness, and personnel returned to their base airfields to improve skills. Skill improvement addressed ‘overall airmanship, bombing and firing with aeroplane firearms. ‘Meanwhile conditions called for the relocation of the Aeroplane Otdelenie tthe emerging Salonica (Thessaloniki) front, while worsening ‘relations with Roumania compeled the relocation ofthe Baloon Otdelenie to the Third Army which covered Bulgaria's northeastem borderpi apaua, 3a ocvoawo netume € waGpana rpytrowara romans © pas The greater par ofthe Aeroplane Ordelenie was put undee Second epi 400 vi 200 w spall Bena, xterm uuaGw wa apauurra, Tas || Army command in order to cover majo sectors ofthe Salonica font. Base npesmrar sernpa cavonera L.V.G. C-Il, Cretan na6pomna 73 ayunt, || airfield was a 400 by 200 metre strip near Belica, where the Amy's Staff knowuresmo 9 odiatepit or neraresias crcran, Octtonmre minor || was also located. Four LG, C-lls flew there, along with 73 personnel ca KOMAHLINP Ha OFAeseMNEYO KaNTaH Paaya Mivakon x Kauntranae || including nine pilots, Senior pilots were Otdelenie CO Captain Radul emo Honxpvetes u Tipoaa Tapaxsusen (19 || Mitkow and Captains Peniu Popkrustev and Prodan Tarakehiev (191 ‘ner or manera 1 xan EEN HH HOADANIEACHNETO, € KONTO TAHA 8 curypttar Gharapevire woe wa BapaapecsTo Haupansenue, erate ¥iowo upes upaserra wa 1916 t (umoupans Haden uae) us and observers from 2 Aeroplane Otelenie pose with one of tht three TeV a door they served the needs of Bolzaran tops om the Vardar sector (phosoarchives Nayden Dicker)‘ayreaue pay nanaresa eawaaers ,OMW" C-l waKap a ewe cuaces en rarapcknre aeponsanan ortexennn Gaarorapenne wa choeto pasmoodope aa ce upezanar ami a maboweve wa 0 Spanasauure ce Gusrapexm suman wa Conyncrns pon & peaaen Mamas for npene, Cawateror €cnaben © aepoorocnetena, paanoara eve crpe ‘kono vopeacne ¢cnocien 24 nocn x0 60 Sow. Towa nodwan Guatapenre mampanneay rain Hepaersp OF 6a ‘Ghomonpcue Haden Tacs) Though not entirely succesful, the tin-boomed Otto C-lslgnifianty raised Bulgarian Aeroplane Otdeloies potential thanks to being radio equipped and thus able to transmit reconnaissance data immediately. The aeroplane had ‘hmeras, machine guns, and carried upto 60 kilos of bombs, allowing Bulan tirmen to cover many tasks (phovoarchies Nayden Dice) ‘The Staff of 10 Infantry Division, which covered the Aegean ‘coast from the Struma to the Marica, received an Aeroplane Komanda fof 27 personnel including two pilot and three observer officers. The ee LV.G, C-lls arrived at the Onepar pa sepa ores tine ce asamp cao Taada a 2a apwna, achernama na Crpyse Of ‘ove manpanacnne (fomoypens Haden tue) ‘Komanda and its th Relica Airfield, home of | Aeroplane Osten, ws just four kilometres from Xanthi by rail (20). ‘Second Army Saf tthe Struma sector (photarchies Nayden Dicer) ‘The complex patterns of jefield south of tng stimulated efforts at improvingDuo" Cl exer speamponienKos mada wa 10-a nexors snes, npuxpimaia Gesiowopekovo xpallopexue or yer cero na p. Mapina to yernero ap. Crpysta,e upusatena aepoania KoaHa oF over odpepa ca santa niioTH pHa Hamre, KoMaluaara e nex paca na MEcrO- asnaenmero en ~ neruuero veo or rpart Kear [20], © nowoutra wax ypatcnopr. Ha, newt raanopam ca narosapern spire sasnenenn cawonera L.VG, Cell Yenoxanmantero ta noenmara ocranosca CnaMympaH SILT a apa a tor noremwrut na rypxanara. YenopesHo € noxroToRKATa Ha KTOPHA NIKI ETA HGR Tea upes wai ot Fepwaraptsatiowar 3a npucturarmpoirre or noprsastere 13 caNoneta ,O1t0" (C-Lirama svetixoon Gaona, 3aray santana 22-sea nocMOeAY REAL, KONTO ca MCT OT MTN nepcowst va edhopmuspauara ce wow Bapna nonocanieTa Craut. 3a Hosaa-TEITMKA HE MO a sa ce xx 2OGpu aya ~ u caMeueTHe, 1 GaoTe ca oF THN, woHETO He ee HAK-EH Ha ‘ccuoumrre rearpi na noliiara w 2aTkouana KasecrNeHOTO HGOCTABANE Ha GuapeKOTO Ht xovutasaae or nporimina. Enmicrienoro npesiINcrHo ia owe cayonerH e Gopmonara anapa- “ypa (naseMETO 5 TAPHN ET Ha MpexaRATEIeH arapar), € HOMOUEA Ha KOHTO na ee KOPN 4 wor pai Sins ce expow 24 wyseN¥e Ha TO fcphanexo aupiraatnane oracscie, tetereao ‘ipomoapue Hater lave) ‘The Yambol seid hangar was il forthe German 18 Airship Unit which was deployed on the eastern and southeastern apprches (Phowoarchives Nasden Dicher) 0 npanty acenonaderens ‘omar na werobore panos Fae 14 nanayenne or por (Gonvoepte Haden ance) ‘Theimpresive hangar waseaily spt fom the ar, but it was well off Kimi to the enems, deep inside Bulgarian territory (ooarchives Nayden Dicker)a Mercedes* (150 x. €.) na camaner Otto" C1 (ifomoapxue Haitden ‘Iuvea) - tro ner or the ns C's Mere th. es phewrces Napen chr €4 HECHONS LAN puDHET a Ran. Cao vom naarrapane nopaan wesobpars cx waamoca Gaza tibomoapue Haden over) ‘This Otto landed badly: the type had poor lateral ability, rendering i tricky for pilots (photoarchives Nayden Dicker) sheen {lau opunepy or eyvomeTaTe nok ce sano2HANET € HomeTa Gobna Te ‘unxa wa 2 aepousanno o#sesenne, upexctat ‘pncrarar «nasa wacemennp 19164 (Gomoapue aden aver) (iomoapsue aon ave) Saf oficersnnpect 2 Aeroplane Otdlene cysipment at Udovo ‘ew Albatros C-Ils began aviing la eaty September 1916 ‘Alfild(photarchier Nayden Dicker) (photoarchives Nayden Dicher) own cavern ,Atbtros® CHOcbiNT Ha apriniepisia, BhopraenieTo © CECTaREHO OF Kaprewma {Spandau c roo naGnowareas oe a O8erpeIBA Hes MpeswATA ‘noyerbepa. Herons ew ypyzuara mic ta o8cyna porooSopy:saHe- ro (aeporporoeneteva kat 9/12) 3a ex noxeT ca HeOGReyUNA BE acer oro 12 eruxenitnaan ncuka, Cres nner micweworo soece- rte m ennaconire Komi, IBpaGOTERI ® pasypuaTATA a AeTMNCTO ‘oronaSopatopus [21], ce sanpaneer 10 Hasna Ha wieweHepHAITE nojlexs, « ortas 10 Ga na Bropa apuus [22] Tipostmnre » wawia ia noaene wa Goviaue selicrms nt ecreet- novo tia sauawiee HLTaraT 1 pow Na opraxusauonO-maTHaTa expyetypa iia Guaraperowo wiaayxonsananc, Coataewa wistyx0- iabaTemia apysewiia © a6 w Cospint owas noanoaROBHNK Ba- ‘aur 3aarapon [23] Honoto opamposaiue wesnowa w cpcTana cn cee mre ocwonius noxpassete ni ~ 1-0 aeponsanvo orieseune, ziesounpano wa aeTaMe Besa ‘e xostap karan Paaya Mivikos: w epcrasa wy musa 84 ym, OT rowro 6 muon w 7 uaGinosaTem, 6 canoneta L.Y.G. C-ll; ovaeteu ‘ero enipwiaieno Kou Bropa apa, oTOparasatna Crpyvexoro napan- ponanno orzeemt, eHOUpaNO Ha nee Yix0H0 sown xara Husehop Boravou: cecrasa ay ws 56 ty ‘oF outro 6 muzorH HS HaGHOAATE=, 3 caMoneTa L.V.G-C-IL M3 car ‘waatera ,Of0" C-I; ortesennero € npwctaeno xt Thspaa apm, o1- Sparano Bapaaperoro nanpanseme: Acpodorocnnsnca na Co- ppasyanani oF Gusrap- fate eran (omoupns “aden ewe) An aerial photograph of the Bay of Sani: set another succesful pha reconasance ison by Tiguan eres (phesoarchives Nayden Dicher) Paseepaar pasuowocr 94 A¥44 (fomonps Haden uve) ‘A ground radio reeiver Station for_ immediate Teconnaissance data Feception(photoarchives Nayden Dicher) national air potential Deliveries of 13 Otto CIs and (wo kite-balloons ordered from Germany began alongside training of a second pilot and observer intake Meanwhile 22 off from the personne! of the newly created Varna Flying Boat Station depasted for Germany: The new equpment had fee virtues: both aeroplane and balloon types were no longer used on the ‘main theatres of war, and inereased Bulgarian aviation’s quality lag vis-i-vis its adversiries. However, the new aeroplanes did have Bulgaria's first on-board radio transmitters, and were thus suitable for anillery direction, Their armament consisted of a Spandau machine: ‘gun which the observer could fre inthe forward hemisphere. The same sy member also worked the Ikka 9/12 aerial camera. Each sortie used two 12-glass plate cassettes. On arrival, written reportsand photographs copied at the field photo lab [21] were sent onto the Head of Engineering twoops, and thence to Second Army Sta 2: ‘Changesin warfare andthe nature of tasks led to structural ch in Bulgarian aerostatics, with the creation of an Aeronautical Dryjina whose Sofia Sta was commanded by Leutenant Colonel Vasil Zatarov 123}. The new fo neluded these major wnits: = 1 Aeroplane Oxdelenie based at Belica and commaned by Captain Radul Milkov, This had 84 personnel, of whom six pilots and‘mall size of weapons (ohotoarchives Nayden Dicher) wea cancen posanonn 2a — ‘enOWe" 32 Supa (fomoapsne ‘aden ave) Aeroplanes als had mare presale Tasks: this Otto brought bet (ohotoarchves Nayden Dicer) Saronno oreenmte, suexowupano w Pyee e Koxantayp sameran 1Opua Kas raves; ® enerana My Raut 154 xyun oF Kowro 2-sa ofpmepm HaGinonaTenM, 1 3§ ow Gatton; oraenewiero € npiaazeno KKM Tpera apvurs,snerounpava » [o6pysoen TupwraaGnta KoMaHiNa, sacaowpara B SINGon © KoMaNsup nopysuK HxaH Minos; » coeTasa My wunar 32 ayun, KaTo KoMuzaTa e nputaena KoM 18-0 1 aiteso anpiexaGusno oTaeaem ficrmauno or ctauara Gana ¢ upiexant Schutte Lanz" SL-10, 5a sero cexpananante e nocrpoett exit ¢ parsepit 300/60/50 w; ‘aeporinarmto yenue ¢ Gaaono sete Borxypane u kowanmp karorant CHMe- cn Terpon;~ aepottania paGoritanma © KoMananp Kamera Cimeos Fler- pow; Aeporuianno eno € noMrtBautaepomaven RIRON C HANAN Asuerep Caxexapon. ‘Baxen rowtonenr oF cueTenara e aeporantiovo ysHLine, Ko= {To una 5a ocuonHA saa NoATOTORKATA Na MOTH, waGrNOTEIE rexmitveckat nepcouau. TloxGopbr ce namsputka ocwowHo oF ofintep= ‘tat noaoxbuepexts cxctas oF Jleicraamtara aps oF sia ‘OF acponiaaymt xomesany sino, Caea xypea na oGy4e me ce npewintasa w aeportaKoTo Jeno, KoeTO wa a sua a Domina ara epeTas ma GoluuiTe aeporvzantt OT-eACNNN, a tH cnaGaaa Cue CaMOeTH, AYA TEXHMKA, saNacH NACTH A HHCTpS veut [24], B Gaara cneTena, empsania € RoHrrposa a RAAyMMNOTO HpoO- expanemo, nponraana 2a Ce uSIPHACA H PAIPPULA, NAKA K€ 1o- Gan rewmone, xosouenrsr na npormsoaeporutansiara orGpanta, Oc- neat ocuosinire oexri, wollesiTe ha ¢)posa oprauntaypar sanurrara ‘SHLOP mbyxa € nazmrumTe cia M epeaeTHa, npHETocoaRAliKH OGHK- onent oxen op is 2a erpesGa no wosayuat we [25], Thon pko- ‘orcrHoro Ha yen aprintepuiicxy KoMaHLNpA orpautvensere ium Mm {pesctna ce nsnonssar pasyauo, xarO CxY>KAT 38 pupae a Hai seqnore OGeKTH OF TepuTOpHLTa Ha expauara ~ erommara, maa na Thasnoro xowaruunane 8 Kiocrewnes i THIOBIEe H KoMyinnxatnONRTe ‘cropioxeius. Bojisire na fpovtra opranespar muaayuara en oT patra cv enou ena epescrna, Towa ce oriacn x 3a BOE ype heim nyixtove no sepHoMOpeKOrO KpaliGpeAMe H HOPeHETO Hap. tynan (26), Hoxo6na crpyxrypa mpiizasa no-sapspuen mi Ha cucreMara, ‘eocoSna 8 iomsoa enekrspa nocranei pea meatyxOTNARAHETO. ‘quan, Kaxro npes Baxantcxare noi, aka Wu FTapaara everoniia "pant pewarseiic, ve crpykrypiuere wienetnir npesxorctar dart SecxoTo ms ysaxonssante. Ovenitano anropite na nposteniTe ca we Jutre KoMaictnpi a aeporauni H wiatyxonLaawaresim oTAeAeHtU, owro stlicrsar wis ocwona wa onera or Gore aeiicrm. Tow a. ‘nara toa, Ne unenio Te ca-Teopiuere i noetHOTO HSKYETBO Ha BAT ‘ltt oGacrra 1a BiaxyxomananeTo, 18 seven observers, and six L.V.G, C.lls, The Otdelenie was under the Second Army which defended the Struma approaches = 2 Aeroplane Ondelenie based at Udovo and commaned by Captain Nikifor Bogdanov. This had 56 personnel, of whom six pilots and five observers, three L.V.G. C-lIsand three Otte C-s. The Otdelenie was under the Fist Army which defended the Vardar approaches the Balloon Oidelenie based in Ruse and commanded by Captain Yurdan Kazandjiev. This had 154 personnel, of whom two Observer Ofticers, and one kite-blloon. The Otdelenie was under the Third Army located in the Dobrugja ~ the Airship Komanda based in Yambol and commanded by Poruchik Ivan Minkov. This had 32 personnel, and was under the German 18 Airship Unit, co-based with the Komanda and Schutte-Lanz SL-10 housed in & 300 x 60 x 50 metre hangar = the Aeroplane School at Bojuriste commanded by Captain Simeon Petrov = the Aeroplane Depot and an auxiliary Aeroplane Platoon ‘commanded by Captain Dimitar Sakelarow ‘The Aeroplane School which had the task of training pilots, ‘observers, and technical personnel, was an important link inthe system, ‘Trainees were mainly sclected trom among Active Army offices and NCOs, and reserve ranks in the Aeroplane Auxiliary Platoon. After _taluation they went onto the Aeroplane Depot which supplied Aeroplane (Otdelenies with personnel, aireraf, equipment, spares aad tools (24) ‘Anti aircraft defence continued developing as part of the overall system for control ofthe ait, albeit at a slower pace. Forces organised their own air defence using their own ingenuity, mostly by adapting field guns for firing at aeroplanes [25], When led by abe ailery offices, this ‘usually resulted in reasonable use of limited resources, and good cover of prime targets: the capital, the Supreme Command Staff at Kustendil, and installations and communication in the rer, including major fortifications along the Danube and the Black Sea coast [26] This stricture len greater completeness tothe system, rendering ‘it more capable of discharging its tasks. Now, as in the Balkan Wars, structural changes tended to run ahead of formal orders. This suggests that the young airmen in charge of Ozdelenies were quick to apply battle experience1 (1915-1918 1)C nacronmanero na nponerra na 1916 f-awnaumora na Cosrys- ‘iti pour arunttnpa cvowTe AeiCTINs, cHpsaNM HE CAMO C HORE: nero na ssIyiNO pagyaianave p TaRINeeKA H GUSKA onepaTIB roma W € HaNAaHeTO Ha Yaapus HO Bax CHOPIN NyHKTOBE, TH ut oGeRn, erpymaanc Ha wolicku, aprivepicks nos ap. Yenemen e nonersr a Guaapexire exnnaxn wa 21 spr, xorato no sania na miaGa va Bropa apni xatuttautTlewo Flouspseren wa Gawoxerear My nopyaits Apaxiuau upanos eve cavozet LV.G. siransar pasystaanane © hororpapuipare 1a nporuanitea oxo He uaprncap, B exeanauurre iH Tes noseTA ee HpeUpEA 8 pyTuEN ‘Anwaiuorra wa AnTanrara cbilo Yueamvana anasuTeO KOMI cerporo na imamate Gol axa, Coaapar ce yesonu 3a pe- ‘uten COmeDK Bh MiLYXA, OME MOpeve Ne GratrapeKiTE NeTIUE HCE rHo-eero Huntrar 3a pexsar Ha npoTummxoaH caver, Matric With the arrival of spring 1916, aviation on the Salonica front became active, It not only reconnoited in tactical and close operational depth, but also struck major support centres, objectives in the enemy ear, roop concentrations, artillery emplacements, and airfields, On 21 March Second Army Staff ordered Coprain Peni Popkrustev and his ‘Arakilian Diranov to fly their L-V.G. on photographic emy positions near Demihisar. Subsequent days observ saw such sorties hecome routine Entente aviation also increased its activity This created conditions foe genuine air combat, ll the more so because Bulgarian pilots ‘were intercepting enemy aeroplanes ever more often, Both sides were attempting 1 use srcraft to tke deeper and hit strategic objectives. In revenge for German bombing of Salonica, on 17 April a French crew ‘managed to fly unhindered to Sofia and bomb the Station Airfield (27) ‘User or wspmnre npeaerenn wa actuate Boaypunte .Abatros® CAM a Gert ma nnwoako nporwuuuxonn nvaaymnn waazene. How xopocrra wa oF I woven we camo a8 yeu oer [panyananareann enoseri me ea oer fre Gopionn eaprennen (cntsponsorpans 4 cypesawanpes Or HHAOTA MaxwNRKHA NAGAONATEACKS) rH Mpana xOCraTNO unin (Gomoapuua Hauer tes) 0 138 oFBpana ua Cogn, Koro neve e Gua "The new reece machines wer fow huney Tor aerial combat, bt ther 16k speed and twin machine uns (one synchronised for forward fring, and one movable Tor abservero 20 ration) made them fated adversary (photoarchives Nayden Diche)tweTo na nosoGn aM ce Nasir HopaIHEOnITITE Ha. Bere erp aa no. ANNALARA 9a HaHACAME Ha Yap w-rosaNA HBO ‘aia ao erparernecra tiem, B orrosop wa repwautexsre GowGapsn- poukit ia Coys, na 17 anpue ippenex eximanx yensisa Gesnperstter "ao Cospst aa xirypaw GomGW Rap eTHMIETO 0 pis 1916. cagoner Farman 40 npecusa fporrronara anu ce nacowsa Koa crommmra, 3a a npersternar seiRCTONATA Hd npomummxooi exunx, nutter Kamran Tpoxan Tapaxses n nopy- Creat 3apaaiion ¢ L.N.G, Texxara u 6apia paryavanarema Ma- nia ne e cnocoBia sa joromt nenpwrtent.JleTuuTe 30ers 4 pyri nporumiuxosu cavanera waa Grarapenire nose Kpa Her= prs. HaGinosaresstr ri oGerpesma Gopsonara ci kapreammia w te ce ‘ovkatewanar Kb risa TepirTOpHR. Topa e epsnT mazyeN Coit, nnpovesen or Gxrapexara nocia anna, pO peamo HINTS ane na Gopsono asoprsxenne [28]. CxGitero e moxasaremHo w Geste- ‘01108 era oF Golnara neimocr Ha Grearapexara aswa Taroronxara ita chraamexestre nojixn 3a 1uaupamre ner rnavex sleicraws pes exespaunrre wecemt e osenri%a. Tosa npe- urstuncea tacemante Ha Gofiara neiniocr va StarapesnTe aepontasin, foraesetnts, cmpaanawail-newe ¢ pasynanaresuM eTeMs, OKI32 Ce cemicTnenioro epescrpo KoNattrsauero Ha Gkarapertte noficK et pe- arpa actexaario na auiaxara, Yact or noneTITe ca HEKPINEHN Ha foneparuma saosin, KaTo MNpopMamniATa OF TAX € MsnOAsHANA pI ‘aiaeaeTo a yaapu oF mya nO KopaGu K OGeTH Ha npoTHBIKA, Brarapexirre cxunxu eMouerpupar sucok nporbecnonaunnstM 1 ixecTo » Tpy;uUTE YenONN 1a NHLOTONACORIETE MHCHH Hat Sera ‘or mporunnnnsa TepuTOpHB, Hapacarara axruaniocr mpuaryanana Kowarugranero a noliKat ye na Avrarara na Baswanens# Tearp 1a noiinara sa mpesnptewe Mepkot 2 youtbae 1a nporumostsayunra OTGpana wa wocKiTe ‘Gene m paisa, Ocnex senor epestetma Hapactna Ht Opost 1 osposirremre ,Nicuport* XI C1 Bede" [29]. Baerire wepra ca ps- ‘oma nee no-Aeer0 Grtrapeure cavoreTs na ce sanPamrt € MpoGol- vu a enovtre aera, Ha 14 owt 1916 r. oF apriniepulicxns orea & oppezeno nitioro 1 easier L,V.G, ot 2-0 aeporanio ores On 21 April a Farman 40 crossed the frontline and made for the capital, Capiain Prodan Tarakchiev and Poruchik Stefan Zarzanoy ‘departed in their L.G-Y. to intercept the enemy. Slow and heavy, the tecce machine failed to keep up with its objective, The Bulgars noted four more foreign aircraft over Bulgarian positions at Petrich. The ‘observer fired at them with his machine-gun and they fled over Greek territory This was the first instance of arial combat in which Bulgarians had used aeroplane firearms [28]. The event marked a new escalation inthe use of Bulgarian air arms, ‘Over the coming months, Entente preparations for an offensive became obvious. This additionally intensified Aeroplane Ordelenies activity, especially in reconnaissance: the sole means at Bulgarian disposal t react tothe threat, Some sorties were at operational depth, with data obtained used for air strikes on enemy shipping and installations. The Bulgarian crews demonstrated high professionalism ‘and courage in the difficult conditions of hours-long missions over enemy-controlled territory. The intensified use of air power compelled Entente forces in the Balkans to strengthen ther ant-airraft defence. Apart from an inerease in ant-airraftatillery, this involved a greater use of Nieuport XI C1 Bobe fighters [29]. This led to more and more Bulgarian aeroplanes returning to base with fire damage. On 14 June 1916, the propeller of a 2 Acroplane Ordelenie L.V.G, (crewed by pilot Poruchik Ivan Milano and observer Poruchik Nikola Dremsizov) was damaged. They landed fon enemy-held territory, but returned safely after five days in hiding Go A second Bulgarian aeroplane was forced down on 8 July. This time it wasa | Aeroplane Otdelenie L.VG...partof whose undercariage was ripped away by anti-reraft fire, which also damaged the engine. ‘The aeroplane entered a neat-vertical dive, but pilot Feldfebe! Hristo Dimitrov kept his head and managed to land normaly. This saved his life, and that of his observer Poruchik Hristo Skutunow. Both made it back to their units after two dramatic days in hiding (31) Data obtained from Bulgarian crews sorties made it clear that a significant aeroplane strength was being assembled at airfields close 0 the frontline. They posed a threat both to Bulgarian Southern Front 21re uporwa epan Bulgarian aeroplane Oueteies began pting ew Albatros y sanowway aa ce upemsop acne wonnre ~Albatros™ Cl ‘span na 1916 Hp remo Gypro nopaaw Aodpara wagrovomxa aa chcrana (omogpsss Maden eee) sin late 1916 Pilot and observer training was relatively ick due to good experience on he art (photoarchives Nayden Dicer) exis nopys Hat: Matzaos (ration) nopysn: Htxoca canon, Te xa JApes pwysuereamo Ha TepuTopi, 2a. NpOTMENAK ee netanenew 1pyaeH npexox ce aaupsr » evoeTo nospasteneHte Bo) Ha 8 sont naa props Grarapesn canoer, rem erat 1-0 aepo- | rranno orsesermte. JemTen chapi orien wacr OT KonECHIKA a G wana LY.G. 1 nospessa smirare sy. Anaparer sanowsa 1a naa own orneetio, mutorsr dpevahesea Xpucro JLusapos sanaswa ca za cpeme sewsrra » pean wa Kauswte, Towa my spore 2a 03H 1 ‘xunora a raGmoxzTent nopysn Xpucro Cxyrynoe, Jawa ce 0 {upar 10 cnonre nofiexs exe ape srartten ¢ panties. tenon sama [31], 2 ‘oops, and also fo the capital. Sofia was within the operational radius ‘of most Entente strike-capable aircraft. The Farman 40/41 in particular ‘vas a threat. Ithad proved itself asa reliable and stable platform with sufficient range and endurance, and good performance which made Intercepts very hard for Bulgarian and German crews. The increased threat of airstrikes against objectives within Bulgaria compelled senior soldiers to look at ways of improving the aeroplane fleet and purchase fighters. The new aircraft would defend the capital and fight for air superiority over the frontlines. These ideas were only partially fulfilled The frst Albatros C-Ills arrived in early September 1916: 18 combat machines and eight trainers [32]. The aircraft had reasonable hines and to Bul LYV.G sand Otto C-ls, However, ina superiority terms they performance superior fo enemy recce(Or nocrisnunne jan or onepa- runwuere peilaone na Giwapexare exina- va cTana seHO, He eTpynnAHeTO Ha Ha neta, Gam 30 sa na CETpIKOC- owen, ynemaa onaeHoeTta ne cao 44 Gnarapexwe nolicki na ]Oxta (ppour, no 1 Hestoeperetmen 2a cro: tara. Tae w o6xpara na parmyea na li- cermig 1a noweveto cawoem wa Arran ara, enocoOit a saviaea yap oF saxuyxa. 3a noxoGint omit eped (hus ce miamupar vese nosanire rman 40/41, xowro ce npoaawat pax Tuveexara Golina aelinoct Karo nail aecautre H cTabiernH senop, € nocrarina AAEM MposTrANTe ocr a moera m ekopoerii xapakepl ‘cruk, panene npexnaa i oF Gtr ap- ‘fare Hrepsanexire exITEERH MOTO TPY- sen. Hapacuarara onacnoct oF sy vn wamatemi# epemy oGexTHC a TepuEro~ strana uapermovo Kapa noetHOTO PAKO- DOCTHO J TpeH BEAMOKHOCT 1 O6HO- senate a caNRETING IPR, BRONTE Mo W socTasara wa wsrpeOiemt, KOUTO ta tanurranar He caMo CrOsIMTa, Ho 1a nonst GopGa a roenexerHO was ppourronara sums. Tox crpewex ¢ ysoatemaopen KacrisHo. B avaiovo wa cenemapu 1916 f, sanounar Aa npueTurar mopauTe Albatros C-ll. laprivuara ¢ or 18 Govt 8 yseGun wan (32), Cawosennre ca ¢ x00pi 2a apewero cx eraremio-rextimeckt Xap TepHCTHRH W UpentaXoAcxar Ho Gofluts eX NOTeHIUKAT KAKTO MpOTHD- kone paxyanaresmnt caNO.IEH, Yaka W exetLADRTHpattITe 10 MO- eww Guarapexiere aepor.zamin noapanseseis L.V.G. u Oto" C 3a peumnaneTo Ha sasaHrTe HO MsitylNHOTO NpOTHRAGAPCTHO Te O6a- Ye Me Morar aa ce cpanusAT € nlomuuETe ce Ha Coxyiext d)poir ‘8 xaunara wa worpebnrea 4Fokker-E80E- no Ha cnusokara seu se acwonov9 muapiogcnne na eaers 792-04 ‘oxponn pana eaprounua. Casaserae a Butrapua ca nuopiatenn cena euosnuaevaxpenicha yeranonk ,Parabelum, Ha Hanasona ppout ou toneno a ne, to 28 avopara natoaua wa 1916 , rem canoacrn weve ca cra anno oevape'm 3414 Saar eerna apennanne (Gonoapies Heiden frvee) A oler ESWE-AH cockpit during a combat mission: the 7.2m synchronised ‘machine-guns leaey visible, Bulgarian machines hd singe ved Paraben ‘it, white Western Front machines usualy carried two machine-guns by late 1916 the aeroplane was tow old to be un effective nterceptor (photarchives Nasden Dicker) 3crane ma ene Guna Farm: 1 coputenoro nee Gomoapne Haden Juves) ‘The Farman FA brought down near Sofa it was over year before Entente eres dared return othe Bulgarian capital (hotoarchives Nayden Dicker) ‘enetwannanpanu wetpesiTenmit sepon- 1 or tuna Nieuport” Ha 3 toom Guna © xapaxteprara sa raackanurre nin KoTeTPYRIOIR eT vax Coops 1 xmipas 4 GowGu. Tosa ce nonrapa n na 15 cerrenupu [33]. Corn ce npuxpupa or moszyunn nantateHa ceamerneno or 6 seni arapen (18 ‘opto or pars ene TeNa HOH) 11 aprewnm, npucnocoden 3a pe: 6a no wraxyumut ues (34). Yact or pas- ere oSerpermar manarent, Ho Bei peayrramo, Hanupauurre ce na erue Baoxypumie 3 eaworera .Fokker-ESOVE- If ne wunrar nopasut KueHoTo ononecT=HaH oer na Teximaa 2a nos1o6i aelleraus. CxOuruero doopenpa yetumt- fra 3a nprmexaitew Cherome Ka FoTORNOCT 1a TEM MaKAp H CNHO- iva cient ua warpeSinreanara anna, Peay e noc Ha 30 cemresp fora nopesmusT HenpisrTe pba a Ce MOBIL 100- Ko n Guarapexoro misty upocTpaHeTHo, omerwa a xBBp.t 2 Gos ie MpKY HO HenoAOMpauuETe spun xcITenH Ha CresHMATA, OcweN ices oSerpes or aewrra, 8 NeGeTo ca NTH sa HeTpEOH- ‘eI MoHONLINa, mLIOTAPAKH OF Hopy’M Mapso TTypuaiton mds. ‘bebe Barnep. Te naGupar auiconua oxoa0 3000 Mt araxypar mpo- Trintanonus cawoer oF aowaTa 2a sovaKnane Han Braas. JIpyrt 3 yeu ,Albatros* C-IIL xproxar nat crommiara, 22 apex 4 to the specialist Nieuport fighters which had appeared over the Salonica Fron ‘On 3 July an enemy biplane with pusher propellers reached Sofia ‘dropping four bombs. Another raid followed on 15 September [33] Sofia was protected by just six anti-aireraft hatteries with 18 guns of Various types and calibres and 1] machine-guns adapted foranti-ain use [34]. Some ofthis hardware fited atthe enemy, but without results The three Fokker ESOVE-IIIs at Bojurishte airfield failed to scramble ‘due to the lateness of the alert, and to being unprepared for rapid deployment. The raids focused attention on measures to bring this symbolic fighter foree into some state of readiness, The results we seen on 30 September when the successive enemy to penetrate deepnraxareas, ako yenee:ma ce imeaxue or warpebuerene [35]. JIpyaxwure te Yous ZoBexCAT no eRAIANETO Hea AayMecTINN dpe GMT cre enocen eximare ~ nomtopysm Bpauiko Haywoni m xanpat Mo- pe Poa, soir nat xpaii Core. Cpfexnsrogpntepn apanimainas ue Nocmrarampan, Ocrana 0 18 st 0 pas ia nolinara aaeano eve enos épperckt era 'B ctmoro apes neve ce moss yop Goene w KO JLoGpy= roca, Buarapexara Tpera aps naviact peumrenio nopaaeune 1a pysrnomere noviexs put Tyspaxant 1 JJoOpus. Batowworo ortesente ‘aura avelixonin Gaston ,Conyit xpall Pyce u ocurypana c aonece ‘ni aprisepnitesere Garapen ta Toa yuacroK oT dppowra. Ha $ cen rewpu exeana wropo ssuitrane worosanao oF Tyrpaxan, Jlonecente 14 OF mitMyxa ca npeanannasenst 2 KONAHUUHANETO Ma 4-3 NBN catlenpeseso reare kopITpaT Ors Ha peaeNUATe ap- ‘reps nospartenesuis, Tes Aelicrons nya rossaMo suadene 3a Geporo onan na KpenoctT:. [36] “ottoro npese © npxena nopesiara axis na Ga zene aa Gute in wa 17 centesmpyt peas raxara na KySaswncexra ownuis, Satasure ca ceuueTe ~ HaGrnoxesme Ha npoTuBuuKOMHETe NO- cau KOpUrNpaAe OF Ha aprivepusra. AKTHOH ca aelicrsNETA via 18 w 19 cerrrewpi te ca oF pewianamio amare 2a yereMOr ‘orpasnante na Koverpayanpe, npeampule OT pyCKO-PyMTeKITE BOeKI nia Tom ysaersac or Gpona.{37] Toarompenara nosa srara va KyGauuuexata nos or Tpera Snarapera apsnia ean cue efhopspanero sa 2-0 GaoHHO OTAe- neve e KOMLUAP NOpYK Heat MittsOR, KOeTO pasmosara Coe swell ow Gaaou ,Ospunt, [pw 3anoweanero a onepaiurra noapaszesennero ‘ocitrypana KostnimaneTo Ha CGopiata sunita. Hrsps0 GaxoHHo OF se1ette KOPHTAOC Ma TexKI PEIN no wa I= KOM aH, KATO AOHECEHUTA OT RRIAYKA RRACHT CHOTA w OOwTA O- {eawonKa H sonpmacsT 38 Gupss upoGUD a OFGpanara Ha pyeKo- pyarsttxara /loSpyioxauicka apsuis, Bore ha conpenena, maienpeta nota ~ anawirremo xopotesit, Te me crept 24 oxomTe eicraIst Ha apyrieTe dppoutove 8 Thepsa- 1a cneronia nova, Tona © npuiia Gaomnrte oTaeseMW# TpysIHO Aa ‘ear Gop30 acraMUtTe HolcKIL I GEp20 NoMeHSHIDTE ce YC rane wa Brae elon 6a Ralsing a Bu ran Kt-halo akan (photearchives Naydem Dicer) 2 nabinoacmne wa pyobnentre ‘ordpanreann aonuunn xpat Tytpaxa (omogpewe Haid uvee) to observe Roumanian defensive positions 25Enum or asGnrpoct, samp ce oF Gocm fer Hl xpuiere anwar nopaxenwrra, KONTO € HaNees sporunoacponaawnara apraepan 1a (ihomoapne Haden tere) A Alhatrs back from rece: the wings show damage by enemy antalreraft fre photoarchivs Nayden Dicker) omit yenssat sa peaesupar esa 7 Bovis to ABETUTANETO Ha Grearaperarre sem a0 serrara na yan. Taw Te ce stenonupar w Ty ‘a [38] 1 sonnumar eas sa HaGsosemne Ha juExEHETO Ho PERI 1a, Ho onenxa na maGa na Tera apy nospartezemnrastenouerpi- par mcox npombeconamesnst n ehexrinnocr. B obo 34 Goin ann (OF Haxanoro Ha woenmTe Jeter Ha JoSpysexancKss ippowr cape stenm Gago 250 jowecenm we Kopurupaut OrsiT ua aptitepusTA tno 140 oGexra na nporinica{39] Bunpexit teGnaronpismovo cxoTHONIeHNE Ha ciMTe BHA NBs)~ ama Conynert pont, rat aeperuaere ovieern ao pasta 1916 stntmanat 290 Gollu nosera. OGuoro nosentTe, ocHeCTHENH Or 26 ‘over Bulgaria tried wo drop two bombs over the metropolitan populace He was met by intense anti-airraft fire and by two monoplane Fighters. Piloted by Poruckik Marko Parvanoy and Veldvvebel Wagner, they climbed 10 3000 metres and engaged the enemy over Vlada, on the approach to Sofia, Another three Albatros C-llls trainers circled over the capital, ready to inteeept the enemy if he managed to evade the Fighters [35]. Ths colletive effort succeeded in downing the twin-seat French biplane with a mixed crew of Padporuénik Branko Naumovig and Caporat Maurice Roibles near Svoge. The Servian officer was badly wounded and hospitalised. He recovered and was, together with his French colleague, a prisoner of war until the cessation of hostilities.ease KOMOEHTN Ha CTEM a GharapeKara MLAIyIA MOU, € 524 (nkowrremo y4eGi, enermiatia 1 38 OFHTaHE Ha HORA wate aGsnoenne, sano pasystanane 1 pexorocumpoosa, Fossa vac ‘or pax samn,puusar€ weaaynno bororparpupane na paayananare Oba ‘, KoeTO TO yrinpxsasa KATO OcHOREH CTOCOG 4a RRAYIO Paya sae, Bawso 40% of Gone nosera menos HaneIRaHETO Ha GON Sapaupomsioro wropiaseime ia caonerite, a Ha 35: ‘nanpyauuc oaeTH w seuNeTaKIS 38 MpeXRaT Ha NpOTHRNMKOAN AeTaTeA- Anapam, Te. 58 MpupuBane wa CTOSMIEA HHA RAPHE OBERT Guocr 20 bporrronara suis, Maouenenocrra Ha awnaiwonnaTa extn HaTara ATO OeHOREH CHOC %a Gol AelicTRAK HoeIeIORa- ‘Temurre wsmrramus no sasnxa Ha maGoneTe ta woke PaswoodpasieTo ia sayasite, KOWTO ce HSITNIRAT OF CaMO= Jeri, KONCTPYNPANH MPemINMHO Ja HoHIEME Ha WHsAyuIHO pasysHaRa= 1 OTKARA Ha TEPMANKOTO HOCTIHO H.THPAARHO PAOHOEHO e na crpanara Taka aesawere d)powToRN HETpeGHETEME NOM -Albateos® Cll no apene wa paxymanareen water (Gomoapue Hater avee) ‘An Albatros CH during a reconnaissance mission (phowarchives Nayden Dicher) Exumaser w eauoaerst ca roronn a Goch naaer w MoraT aa upMer an ounyen na uataresn (fomogpswue Haden Lue) (Crew and weroplane are ready fr thee miso: engine sae allows ( hatarchives Nayden Dicker) Dogged fighting had by now erupted in the Southern Dobragja, Bulgaria's Third Army delivered decisive blows to the Roumanian Tutrakan and Dobrich. The Balloon Otdelenie raised the Solum balloo near Ruse and helped dineetanillery on this stretch of front. A second, | ascent was made southwest of Tuteakan on 5 September. Reconnaissance \was supplied t 4 Division command, and artillery direction was performed for the division's gunners, This proved significant in the citadel’ rapid capture (36) Bad weather caused a delay before the Balloon Otdelenie could deploy again on 17 September before the storming of the Kubadin Positions, The tsks were again to spot enemy positions and direct atilery fire. Action on 18 and 19 September was decisive for the successful repelling of the counterattack by Russian and Romanian forces (37) a0 ‘doomoapsus opoan Hado.oe) ‘The Varna seaplane bas at Peynerdik began is history in early ly it was home toa German unit ‘spring 1916: in (hoarchves Yordan Nikolor) npexior neGuaronpwsriara oBcrauonxka 1a 3anauna dppowr. Taw mmapmurre eckaapien, cnetairpavit 2a aanoionatte a MpewTaxon- Coro man misayxa upes posene ta Bbsayite Goese, Hlorreu HAA ‘ra npoaykiuit na repsanickara apnauwontia npostuuenocr. 3a aa owmeticnpa orvacn# TexHexorismoTo wsOcranaNE Ha GrrapeKara anwanis oF Ta3u wa nporuBHKa, 0 xpat na 1916 r. w uapeTHOTO npuctarar u octaniamrre ot 26-re won Albatros" C-IIl. Te ea eve auiasiremmo no-ronesit mraNcxOCTI OF Jocera wpnonaMaHNTE B Ool- i YenomistcavonerH, Ho CoO He oTrOBApAT Ha wSHeKRANNUATa 38 nogene a Hacranarenei mimes Gail, a npit HameeTo tia GoMGo- Bo Btopixene caxnt ce myKIasT oF msTpeGuTeAKO mpuKpurtue. He aocturar it mitiovie. Or 15-rTe noeuHocityseum OT BTOpILE BHNYCK 1a aepomsiamHoTo Yau 2apypunsar neTHOKa C HaMbOT essa no 40 ‘aca. Jlecerte waGimonatesm samspummar noaroronKara en € 110 5-6 28 Equn or wsponre pasyonas Friedrichshafen FFS3e c aca news, e KocTo pasnara Pyeus wa Toon Tear Ha oii One ofthe fis Friedrichshafen Fe reconnaissance ss ‘and well-armed they were way aad of anything Rusia could oer om this theatre yrennm casioners, mpeserean 4 Ganara a Heiuepasene. vtepaw u audpe auopeaceun 24 upewero cH caMoners Gomoapcue Hopdan Haxasoe) es toarriveat Peynerjik: modern (phooarchives ordan Nikos) “The peparation of a new attack on Kubadin by the Third Army coincided with the formation of 2 Balloon Oudelenie commanded by Poruciik Wvan Minkov and flying the Odrin kite-balloon, As the attack began, the Ordelenie supplied the Joint Division command with dat, while 1 Balloon Ordelenie directed fre by the heavy guns of I Cavalry Division. Air observation injected clarity us to the overall state of things ‘and helped the rapid breakdown inthe joint Russo-Roumanian Dobra Army. Combat on ths front was similar to today's mobile warfare, its rapid pace markedly in contrast with the attrition of trench warfare elsewhere in the Great War. This caused the Balloon Otdelenies to lag ‘behind the advancing forces: amid the switching progress of the conflict they marked just seven day’ in action before Bulgarian forces reached the Danube Delta. Once there, they took up a base in Tulcea [38] and. ‘were detailed to observe river trafic. Nevertheless, Third Army Stafassessment oftheir effectiveness and professionalism was high, In the 34 days of action since the ‘opening of the Dobrudja Front they had filed almost 250 dispatches and directed artillery against objectives (39} Despite the unfavourable fire 140 enemy balance of fores inthe air over the Selonica front, Bulgarian Aeroplane Otdelenies there few 200 sorties by the close of 1916. The overall number of lights by all components of the Bulgarian air power system was 524 =| (including training, special- ] purpose, and test flights) [40] +} Sorties involving observation and Tnrapev sepMancn acri Ao rouocanaeren worpeGwren ample ‘Gomoupue Nopdan Huxesoe) olgarian and German airmen pose with 4 Rumpler seaplane fighter (ohotoarchives Yrdan Nikon) sera [41]. Janpnmar ce 8-re aeviu oF Tepwati, noarorwent 2a novet 142 nope, Te octlonanar spROTO HoscaMOAETHO Tlospas- renente (cawocrorTesa XILIpOTLTaHITa KOMAWLIA) 8 NCTOpHATA Ha ‘Snaraperara auuauns, rnopiaeeno c Hetupu_ Friedrichshafen FF 33e. Brarapeuire exnmant paonavianio aelicraar enaMecti € repyai- ‘uae cn xoer, nouns paper Gan Telivepspsu (oan oor Bapna) [42]. Bonpesu yenexsre na Gharapexara apa na nara bporra, 06- nara exparerieexa oGcrasionka %a crpanara craa wee Wo-ueGaro- npusrnta. Ha 23 noewnpw 1916 . 1pHUkoro mpabuereserBo, os Hte- a na mppxanvere or Anranrara, sino woliexu or roam mpucsersar ia tepuropi, oGxnaua wots Ha LlaperBo Bratrapa serial reconnaissance dominated this number. Most involved aerial photography, thus establishing it as a ajocintelligence-gathering method. Almost 40 percent of combat sorties involved use of aircraft bombing facilities, and over 35 per cent were patrol or interception fights in defence of the capital and of important | ‘objectives close to the frontline. The paucity of aeroplanes led 10 tconsecutive sorties becoming the normal method of work “The diversity of tasks discharged by aeroplanes built and intended ‘mainly for aerial reconnaissance led to requests to Germany for frontline fighters. This was turned down, German political and military leadership citing difficulties on the Western Front. There the frst squadrons formed specifically for gaining air superiority through dogfighting were absorbing Germany's entire manufacturing capacity. Partial ‘compensation for Bulgaria's increasing technology gap was the arrival by the close of 1916 of 26 new Albatros C-llls. While significantly ‘more poten than then-current aeroplanes, they were stil mot upto proper | serial combat, ne iter escort whenever carrying heavy bombs. 29Onno Guaraposnre exumcen oF a ‘nouroromkara enn Tepsianns, teiicraar cuanecrno Cue eaone cx40 on {yHacreat w cRCrana na y1apwnte rpYIN (fomodpsue Hopdan Hasse) Bulgarian seaplane crews had trained in Germany din alongside ther German collegues (phorarchires Yrdan Ni Hasatoro wa 1917 r. sanapna GrarapeKoro wiasyxonumanae » npuGmicnreano chuiara opranusautonna erpyxrypa, Hastenenne §Macruna mpi oxoHATEANOTO MpHWERIaHe H CLOTHETETE € HOCIHO- ‘penemture marove a Hinxcnepiara apyAamta, npwers w cpesara na 1916 r. Ocnen aeporiaiara rpyna Hox KoMArLtRancro Ha Kamal Paays Miuaxos ce opwmpa Gasiouta ¢ KoNarianp kaurrant }Opsan Ka- sauupawes. Hoporo Biaayxonianare.iio Gopauponauie wow Be re Baron u raso{oGunuoto orxeenme w NpoxTKARA Jae SHHO- ‘uypa ws Tyva,Fpersprsurara pasmureenerevea, cnoco6ia a tenepl pa masctyumara Mom, MOE sa Guske spasena » nperrteaci Hadi rypa T ou. Acponuianurre orzesemes pasnonarar ¢ 11 anywect pany mae seam arapara Albatros", ,Otto™ w LW.G, O60 canonetTe 1a Guarapo-repwaniexata abnausouuta tpynponka va Conyneni ¢ppost Ne wagon, panr 35 nspann sama, eveaentw 8 nonpaeenn [43]. 30 ‘There was also a pilot shortage. OF the 15 soldiers forming the second intake ofthe Aeroplane school just five graduated as pilots with some 40 hours in the ait: The ten observer graduates had jst five or six lights each [41]. The eight pilots sent to Germany for flying over the sea returned to establish Bulgaria's first seaplane unit: the Independent Seaplane Komanda, flying four Friedrichshafen FP 33es, The Bulgarian crews initially flew with German colleagues and used the Peynerdik Seaplane station south of Varna [42], Despite the successes of Bulgarian arms on two fronts the overall strategic situation was worsening, On 23 November 1916 the Greek ‘government declared war on Bulgaria under Entente pressure, Entente armies had been on Greek territory for yeas The stat of 1917 found Bulgarian aerostates and aviation units largely unchanged. Changes came only after the Engineering Drujina ‘wartime establishments approved in mid-1916 were filled. Apast from the Aeroplane Group commanded by Captain Radul Milkov, 2 Balloon Group was formed under the command of Captain Yurdan Kazandjiew This new unit comprised the two Baloon Ordelenies and the Gas Production Ordelenie, and continued to be based in Tulcea. The developed air power system took the shape shown in Figure 1 ‘The Aeroplane Ordelenies hac! 11 twin-seat reece machines of Albatros, Otto and L.V.G. manufacture. Altogether, Bulgarians and Germans on the Salonica front never had more than 35 serviceable seroplanes in eight units [43]. On this strategic theatre the Entente had 72 French and British airraft divided between 12 squadrons [44]. On the Dobnudia Front, Bulgarian Baloon Otdelenies Faced Roumanian, French and Russian aviation units with some 80 combat aircraft 145). Despite this exceptional imbalance of forces the first winter months of 1917 sae relatively litle ation in te ar. Both sides flew recce sorties to observe {enemy activity at tactical, and occasionally operational, depth. During such sorties in carly March, Bulgarian pilots found enemy troop concentrations at the bend of the River Cherna. Thanks to aerial reconnaissance data and detailed photographic mapping of Various enemy installations at depths of 60 to 80 kilometres in the enemy rear, BulgarianAwatrrara pasmonara na To31 erparerivecxi ear yp na poituara exe 72 anapara ppenicka n Gpuraiesa Kot- crpyxitis a mar w 12 eckaspwnt [44]. Ha JloGpy- exavcwn ppour epeuy Garoumere ovaenennie mpo- Tat wa Neereauara ow —— Irmoctonr panucen, pene pean aman | ES coe — oeeeeeees es eee cass game | [en ro ee eee ese eee ee mann cus i hte mpi nor necexm na 1917 peat yen Manegonet ese "pit omOcHTeNHO enioxoiina wisayunNa OGcraANONKA, ponents | aie acon eee 3 | cteerersan Cal atria | Sareea seas” [eamoacoe ||| meee || eee eee eee aaey ares scents | | aceeel ‘rm owt Tip noi secre mes map ans | ‘Simeon ra ae Zante or nba psy mana rTamne peel eat ete eee eee coves |l| [sama | |ommere [I ceene, ||| samen || oGekrH Ha npoTHBHMKa B AAGOUMA 60-80 KM B He- es Station Oxdelanie_ Okdelonie_ eae ogi na, Gtrapexoro KoMatimaite Hawpewe ce Noa ores 2a orGirnewe yaapa,flpeve aeponan innx opranrsupar nocrosno Hato rene ua ope re 1 an rowytmncarnnr, Hezanicno ve onpeseent howe 2a pasymanane Hanmer B uposTa SO XC ICIONETITE ea exp € CORA CreNEK HA PHC ‘or epee nporumiatkonn wapeSirreMt, MtoroHaeo- ‘ba paGora w xpysuuire suit noni Ha enxprTe ‘aGimut, novOxET OF uuupopwaiui kext maGoneTe oF nein pannus Ocrana nlocrosueH. ToBa e H OcHOBHIUET MpHTIOS Ha Gwarapexara annanist R yenexa wa orSpanitreanara onepaues a Suarapesute aps ua Cosynexs ¢pporr. B anpuvtexire Goewe 1a 1917 r amoieunere a Awraurara, ysacroarn w araxata, nowacHT aa ‘urremm aary6n, Heyenexnr maara oneparia nays 8 perpyrr paste na eiuurte, roeTo ce cea ocnonno oF extnaxeuTe 1a 1-0 aepO- ao oTaeIesNe, Hpunysew se sejiermET Ha npexeHER pay H ‘avai 1 anwanwonnara Texsmxa. Hoa exam, Koro oBexTIETe 2a ‘one Tepomane veveua na ocurypnesuure xounonenre Paarl ne ‘Support Component Subsystem Karetane command prepared for the attack in good time. The two Aeroplane Otdelenies organised constant monitoring of maritime and rail ‘communications. Although some reconnaissance penetrations were beyond 80 kilometres, involving great rik of encountering enemy fighters and exhausting the crews in their open cockpits, the stream of data to staffs at all levels was constant. Indeed, this isthe main contribution of Bulgarian aviation to the suecessful defence ofthe Saloni Feont. Entente divisions involved in the April 1917 offensive suffered significant losses. 31enesuan wa 2-0 aeponstanno oraeae 7 fiomoapus Haider ven) Tnspection of 2 Aeroplane Otdtenc at Udove, 1917 (phaoarchves Nayden Dicer) ‘ssymo pasystasane ce naxaapar wxno ot Cozy, [ToxoGun nose | pip Npornntkowa TepirTopint HB YexosNs a NOONE sMORHOCTH Ha nporimowtanynmara my orGpauta, Exunaxire yeneMno wono.ear ‘PorooSopyasaiero 1a cavonetTe, HoH ie nponyeKar utaMoxOeTTa a GowGaprnpar panyananannrre oGextH. KosGuuupaviero na sissTe fe pyTINN AeiNOET nopaxtt Hee no-FONeMlN HERO a AnHaNNOHN Tipes mepara niosomia na 1917 1 ea wamnenn wt at 40 1 ra 94 Kopurpane OFM a aprHLIepiseTa HL 3a persTeTEANE Ae Cermvera va nporvatmiconata aprictepi pes wnarrmpate Hao ne peseromur selieras na Grrapex Garapen. Te sopra 2 This blow compelled them to regroup thei frees, a regrouping in turn monitored by 1 Aeroplane Otdelenie crews flying tothe limits of their seroplanes’ combat radian ceilings. n some cases aerial reconnaissance targets lay south of Saloica, Such sorties required great effort and heroism. from the crews, often involving three hours or more in the ai over anti-ar defences, The crews used aeroplane cameras with grea proficiency ind used opportunities to bomb objectives under reconnaissance, Such ‘combinations of tasks were becoming routine, not Teast da tothe rowing unserviceabiity of aeroplanes. Artillery direction sorties, and sorties pretending to direct forthcoming artillery fie amounted to 40 in the first half of 1917, Such sorties were of inestimable value 10 the Bulgarian infantry during the by enemy forces on 21-23 April 1917. three-day artillery bombardme(homo Hain anes) cult mission, bat i was hs observer's Caen py omoapus Haden ave) “The aftermath of dif freed landing (photoarchives Neve B‘Ewan wa Albatros C-Il e aac weerara cx» ovxpnrara kaGnna n cxannane wa curuaaa ta waawrane (homonpven Heiden Jevee) “This Albatros CII crew aWals orders to depart (pkatorchives Nayden Dice) xaspar neuen HOMO cxire nonone 10 npe ra aprintepulicka noaroTooKa Ha CwIraMe J, ONTO MpealveCTHa HaCTbATTEMTE Hat ar ce sa, em paanin exmnIeTH || Pare ground attack somes were also flown, often simultaneously by two oF more aeroplanes as a way of increas For instance, on 23 June 1 Aeroplane Otdelenie dropped 200 kilos of joc mauacaueTo ua yanptno sen || bombs over enemy gun batteries at Dova Tepe from four airraft. The 4— Bosocanoserare .Friedrichshafes™ FEM, ea © no-wanxn passe forerunnar no-Golin i noventraa a caonze nperoecrnenni fro ma pen Hausen ree) re compact, yet mo less deadly than i ppredecewor: goed aerodynamics allowed plots to use the 180Knvh at thelr ‘disposal to evade pursuing Rusian machines photoarchives Nayden Dickey) ‘sperm inten, Fp tows xaro enoeo6 2a Bolin eer penentuts none c ued a Ge HOCTUTHE NO-FOANINAILTATHOCT, & OTM exert na yaapa, HoaoGin ea aelicrasra a 23 yon, koraTo 2-0 acporviantio ovaenerne ¢4 canosera xstps 200 x GouGu PY pO ruanikoou Garapen pu Jfowa tene 1 rH roxas [46 BBupio paanierue Top anvanuora sa sora, Ha 10 wait 1917 5 ‘crana dbaxr oressmiero Ha msppoTo Grsrapexo ARKO HOspA- llesene or eYpystypata sa repwatexara xwapocranuse wan Bap [47]. Jo woweita zazasrre ce wamtsniaear or repuacxn noapaaese ua, w sro cueTan rimcar i GrarapeRu RoenHIOcay eu, Ce 06)~ ‘remevo n Fepuainns a. sere TexsHUL HOcTeNeHHO Ce Hpeaaba AB vontara rexniaKa H cnopioKenioeraTltinep.cxtK, xnueTO © NOCTO- sata aueaoKaNUIs a RocHHOMOPCKATa aBHauDA, Fopesser Goen eH ta Beye canoctosremoro ibopsmpowarine © a 31 stat 1917 r; Maas tum noaontepJTesprep Autonion w-erapun nosodpmuep Crespan Bue fem yuacrnat » GontGapaponsara na neocaNoseruara crannuta Kpall Cyan w enctana na yaapnara rpyna che caoer Friedrichshafen FF 33e, Obinusrr Goes pest 3a naKacsne Ha yaapa wxiNONRA 6 ROsIOCA- xan or 2 wsrpedirreana unt .Rumpler*. Xexpewere | ste was succes, he ates ong neural (6) ‘Naval aviation was growing rapidly. On 10 May 1917, th Bulgarian naval aeroplane unit was formed atthe German Seaplane Staion rear Vara [47], Until then, naval sorties hal been flown by Geeman units to which Bulgarians had been seconded, After training in Germany, plots and technical personnel gradually took over the equipment at Peynerjik First day of action forthe newly formed unit was 31 May 1917, Junior NCO Lefter Antonov and Senior NCO Stefan Viasev bombed the Sulina seaplane hase as part of a group of Friedrichshafen FF 33es. The battle onder involved six airraft and two covering Rumler fighters. The 8 and 1Wekilo bombs thrown by the Bulgarian erew hit the tapet. Similar aerial tw sas wells reconnaissance and monitoring soies were to continue | over the summer months — 12 of them altogether. Due to ow activity on | the Dobrudia fron, the erews were then detailed to monitor the protective minefields (48) ‘An intensification of action on the Salonica Front characterised flew in support of its troops. Typical Entente sorties involved penetrations of up to 30/or 40 kilometes into the Bulgarian rear. As | nproved, March and April saw air strikes on support centres 1918. Making use of its numerical superiority, Entente aviati activel ‘Goasen oF orten a nperneoaeponsaniata apritaepat cM 1eNERH vurpedures .Nieyport™ (fomogpe Hamden we) AAmenemy Nieuport downed by antiaireaft artery (photoarchives Nayden Dicker) 35ilitary objectives. This brought the lack of Bulgarian ‘no machines able 10 or Grarapexms exunax §-10-korpawonn GowGi nonwar # uexra, |) and major paint GowGapsupane oF sxsayxa, wosene na |) frontline fig uno pasystanane w naGnoxette, npoxvxaRaT ripe? wim, rom |] cover Bulgarian positions, communications, and communities close 10 anryer, kaTo oS ca namaaneint 12 aanaen, Cre Towa, nopaga une |] the frontline. The sole fighter unit covering the entre 280km front was sara aatanoc 1a 6 titer wa HoSpy:zxaicks pour, exu- || the German 38th unit with six serviceable Halberstadt D-IIs [49]. naxure nox aGmoxerHe Ha yonUITE HoseTa [48] [Expetience showed this to be extremely inadequate. The frst Roland 5s into renewed focus: there wei panic, aKnoro 34 tepMaMORHTE eT ‘uarapexata annanns roma € wapenwt kaacuveckn pontonn wsrpebres, woiro necro Ma BuopLacene (Bomoapxs Haden utes) A Roland D-l prior toa fest Might at Hojurbhte: de to poor handling these aeroplanes didnot see ation on the Western Front and were relegated o secondary theatres such a the Balkans The machine was Bulgaria's fst proper fighter (photoarchives Nayden Dicer) 36DAEMW, CV wo apene ua nocrsnna wa nope jm NOecrBa ata ROMMENCHPA HUGREHOTS HEwHINONETHO HA NOTH tuna (homogpee Haden vee) |AD.EW. CV in preparation for # second sortie within a day: the type had great combat potential thanks to is good design and aerodynamics. However fo Few ‘were om hand to dent enemy strenght (photarchives Nayden Dice)aes Bin er ti Le ONES e awn oF nepeore apetaaupanu ce ua nanena aerate Guarapexs a7 mca na muastacr apenia sayedp, pms ‘anona, Tata ce noeuusar aipasina ¥ aepoutaoenc ‘One ofthe first Bulgarian Hhters structural f Coayntexin dypour, Hanonnaixn ‘utesenoTo cx mpessaxoucrno, anwar na AWTaNTara ce onitRa ake io 2a HoT eHOITE HojieNN, PasysHana OGeKTH w ZTANGONNA 30-40 rw » pastionaxenmero na Gusrapexae nocit 1 € noxOGpata- Xapaxrepio 48 nopeanar so na MeTeopaTOrHUTE YeHONHR HpeD Mapas aoa Aa Ha 1 Yaa OT ska Ho OPIN LYHKTONE HL OGEKTH € HAO HORIINO vapor peutenne wa Konctpyeropa ta akpetn rope service at a el aerodrome isle the heen upper wing and fuselage: this improved seradynamics and strength but role oro TH woepeb TE — 0-ce sanpyaimna gunoro npatemane (homogneue Hadden ue) is gresteat dandvantage — ts lack of frre vito come by the Proper aiming (photoarhives Nayden Dicker) D.lls for Bulgarian Aeroplane Otdelenies were assembled at Sofia Airfield as late as June 1917 [50]. Each Oxdelenie received two ‘aeroplanes, with two held back as backup and for defence of the eaptal The Roland had & poor reputation: visibility was extremely poor, as was manoeuvrability. Nevertheless, they improved Bulgarian units’ ificantly. Six new D.EW. C-V reconnaissance arcrat were Manoeuvrabl | also taken on ste ‘and fas, they were among themaser, Tona 1noctps npobeMa or ann ‘cara a ¢bpostroni rpeSiream 98 pepe OF Bisyxa wa Gtrapentre nom Tepop Hacesewn wecTa GziB0et 10 dypon- ronava aus. Ha items 280-xit10Metpon ‘hpour eamicmenoro waxpeGuremo noxpas- reaenne Ma eHvosinrTe OF Hewrpame ‘ium e 38-0 repyaatero ortenewe, paso amo ¢ 6 npupan ,Halberstadt® D-I [49], Omer or Govtwre selicrows noxamna, we Tes CHIN ca xpaiino Heaocrar uN, Eaga npes von 1917 f- na sera Cog ca exo. ‘nm rppente 6 usrpetirrens ,Roland™ D-IL [50], npeamasnayem sa Guarapexire aepo- ‘trait orneenmn, Te noayanar no na ca aera, a ocranare ama €a mpesRIeH 3a eseps inpmnperne a. cresumara or mst ‘am nanasenm, Mauunutre ne ce nonsbar © a0Gpa penyrauns nopasm xpaio orpaime- Nara RIEUMOCT OF KaAGwTe n epantnrTemKO eaoGpara ct wamewpewocT, Ho Te swaviTe;MO NlonaK nore ava Gatrapensre aeporiat Hoapaseenit, Tony eM ca W 6 HOR pasysiavarenui DEW. C-, woiro Gaaroxapernte na enone sanepe- ocr m ekopoer ca ext OF Hait-IOGpure Ma W enon Kae H ToC sa ehermmstio npormmoxelicrove mon meaayumuiTe Goeve, Cito Taxa ze ca oGopy anit i € Gop.unt pauocrautunt Telefunken’ e paswye na selierome oxon0 50 Ks, NomOAAML MpeAANAE Ha soMeCeNN 3a Gonere n pean sauté oF apewe, Hpormaniosire nerui woGarnar na wanna w xtaGounna va repuropusra, sacra or Gwarapewure wollen, w rpextantattero WM & suawtreano sarpysen. Tova noneia 0 petuemtero 2a ce cops pa srpeGirenma xowaiuta oF cxerana na I-o aeporaauo oF para aeponiana ,Roland D-IL a auuiorwre nw opysine Hae ¥sy- on n noxnopysnn: Baasunwp Basa a30an0 © oGeayapan nepcOHat a neriue 3a sacaxa Teynono, sa. 10 KM xO oF seTIMe Ber ianoupauo @porona werpebresno Hoapassesen Theft Bulgarian frontline fighter plots pose with tet first Roland D- at Levumovo (Gomoapuue Haden Jute) (Photoarchivet Nayden Dicker} best machines in ther class, and were fully up to effective dogfighting They were also fitted with Telefunken radios with ranges of some SOkmn, enabling immediate reporting of data to staf Enemy pilots avoided penetrating Bulgarian-held territory too deep. This rendered intercepting them extremely difficult. For this reason, a Fighter Komanda (detachment) was created from 1 Aeroplane Otdelenie crews. Along with supporting personnel, its two Roland D- Us piloted by Poruchik wan Uzunoy and Podporuchik Viadimie Balan ‘ook up an ambush airfield some ten kilometres south of Belica Airfield ISI]. The first Bulgarian fighter pilots had the necessary experience ‘nd had taken part in dogfights over the Salonica Froot using ungainly rece machines. Podporuchik Balan had also flown Albatros C-llls on the Wester Front during the Battle of Verdun, [As carly as 7 July Balan made two interception somtis, but both failed in their mission. The following day Uzunov and Balan caught up 9