Bulgarian Air Force

Formed in 1892, as part of the army.
This page covers:

• General Topics
• History
• Organisations
• Aircraft Used
• Markings
• Facilities
• Miscellaneous

	General Topics No source found.
	History
	'Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria, Part I/II/III/IV' by Dimitar Nedialkov Published by Fark Ood, Sofia, 2001 ISBN: X 688 000915/ X 688 000923/ X 688 000931/ X 688 00094X * Four part pictorial history of the Bulgarian Air Force, with dual Bulgarian/English text. 60 pages landscape format each. Vol.1 1892-1913, Vol.2 1914-1918, Vol.3 1920-1939, Vol.4 1940-1946.
	'Bulgarian Fighters, Part I/II/III' by Dimitar Nedialkov Published by 'Propeller' Publishing, Sofia, 2004 ISBN: 954 9669 96 3/ NYP/ NYP * Three part pictorial history of Bulgarian fighter aircraft, with dual Bulgarian/English text. 76 pages landscape format each. Vol.1 1916-1942, Vol.2 1943-1960, Vol.3 1960-2005.
	'Sojusznicy Luftwaffe Bulgaria - Militaria 88' by ? Published by Wydawnictwo Militari, 1999 ISBN: 83 7219 0380 * Polish text history of the Bulgarian Air Force in WW2. 54 pages illustrated with b+w photos and three pages in colour.
	'ХХ Век Българска Авиация 1897-2000. Триумфи и Катастрофи' by ? Published by Еър Груп 2000, 2002 ISBN: ? * Bulgarian text history of Bulgarian military aviation, 1897-2000.
	'Българските ВВС и Студената Война' by ? Published by Еър Груп 2000, 2002 ISBN: ? * Bulgarian text history of the Bulgarian Air Force in the Cold War. Well illustrated.
	Organisations Command structure and commands are explained in above titles. No command histories published. Orders of Battle: Some order of battle data up to 1944 is given in the 'Air Power...' titles.
	Operational Unit Histories: 'Авиацията Обич и Мъка: Иван Петков' by ? Published by Еър Груп 2000, 2002 ISBN: ? * Bulgarian text history of the 11th (18th?) Fighter Regiment at Gabrovnitza.
	Some unit details are given in the above history titles. Support Units: Some unit details are given in the above history titles.
	Aircraft Used Aircraft Designation System: Since 1937 the Bulgarian Air Force has allocated a Military Type Number to each aircraft type. No complete list of these numbers has been published. Aircraft Types Used: The 'Air Power...' series includes a list of aircraft used up until 1945, but appears to miss out some training types. Aircraft Serial Numbers: Aircraft used during the Balkan Wars appear to have been un-numbered. Aircraft used in the First World War retained the German numbering system. Until 1937, clandestine military aircraft then used civil registrations. In 1937 a new system was introduced, which numbered each aircraft type from 1 onwards, in association with its Military Type Number. After World War Two, two or three-digit Soviet-style tactical number were carried, possibly derived from the aircraft construction number. No listing published. Ground Instructional/Maintenance Serials: Numbering system not known. Individual Aircraft Histories: Limited information for current types only in the second title below.
	Current Disposition: 'European Air Arms 2005' by Ian Carroll Published by Mach III Plus, June 2005 ISBN: 0 8981 2986 X * Published annually since 1987. Includes Bulgaria. Order of battle and aircraft serials listing.
	'European Air Forces Directory 2005/06' by Ian Carroll Published by Mach III Plus, June 2005 ISBN: 1 898 129 90 8 * Published bi-annually since May 1997. Includes Bulgaria, with order of battle and listing of limited individual aircraft details.
	Monthly updates are given in 'Scramble' magazine.
	Accidents & Operational Losses: No source known.
	Markings National Insignia Variations: 'Military Aircraft Insignia of the World' by John Cochrane & Stuart Elliott Published by Airlife Publishing, 1998 ISBN: 1 85310 873 1 * Includes colour drawings of Bulgaria national insignia variations, 1912 to present day. Camouflage and Markings: No source found. Unit Insignia: No single source known. Unit codes: Not used.
	Facilities Home Air Bases: 'Klub Krile No.42' (Клуб Криле) by ? Published by Еър Груп 2000, 2001 ISBN: n/a * This issue of the magazine includes a Bulgarian text history of Graf Ignatievo Air Base from World War 2 onwards.
	Overseas Air Bases: Bases outside of Bulgaria were used during the various conflicts of the 20th century. No base histories published.
	Miscellaneous None found.
	Aces: 'Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 58 - Slovakian and Bulgarian Aces of World War 2' by Jiri Rajlich and Stephan Boshniakov Published by Osprey Publishing, 18 Feb 2004 ISBN: 1 841766 52 6 * Good coverage of the fighter aces Stoyan Stoyanov and Peter Bochev, flying Bf 109Gs. [Order this book from UK]
	Leading Personalities: 'Assen Jordanoff and Aviation' by Milka Markowa Totevy Published by s.n., 1998 ISBN: ? * 168 pages.
	Aerobatic Teams: No teams known.