Initially flying Italian-supplied Flat G.50s, the Croat forces suffered heavy losses during 1942 whilst flying alongside JG 52 in the southern sector of the Russian front. Despite this, a significant number of kills fell to future aces such as Cvitan Galic and Mato Dubovak during this time, and when the units re-equipped with Bf 109G- 10s in 1943, battle-seasoned Croat pilots started to rack up impressive scores. This book reveals how, by 1944, Croat air groups were defending Yugoslavia from British and American air raids, and in the final months of the war a handful of surviving pilots fought on until final defeat in May 1945.

Author Biography

Boris Ciglic is a member of the Yugoslav Historical Research Group attached to the Yugoslav Air Force Museum in Belgrade. He has spent many years detailing the history of the Croatian Air Groups, and has unearthed some terrific material. Dragan Slavic has been an associate of the Yugoslav Aeronautical Museum since 1978 and has established himself as one of the leading experts on the Croatian Air Force. In addition to more than sixty articles published in numerous Yugoslav aviation magazines, he has also assisted prominent aviation historians, contributing to books such as 'Horrido', 'Aeronautica Italiana nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale' and 'April 1941'. This is his first book for Osprey. Arguably the finest profile artist in the business, John Weal's love of German aircraft makes his work a treat for students of the subject. He has written several Aces volumes, and two books on the JU 87 in the Combat Aircraft series.