1 Aeroplane Otdelenie (2)
Role: Reconnaissance/Bomber/Fighter

The second incarnation of 1 Aeroplane Otdelenie evolved from the Aeroplane and Balloon Otdelenie which was created in August 1913 to operate the few remaining aircraft and balloons owned by the Bulgarian Army. Around September 1915 this small unit was split into an Aeroplane Otdelenie and a Balloon Otdelenie. When Bulgaria joined the First World War in mid October 1915 the unit moved to support the advancing First Army on the Serbian front, eventually establishing a base at Belica. In late October 1915 two aircraft were detached to an airfield near Nis but were unable to fly any missions.

In November 1915 the moved south to join the Second Army on the Salonica front, near the river Struma with 4 LVG B.II aircraft. At the same time, an Aeroplane Komanda (detachment) was deployed to Udovo, south of Xanthi with 3 LVG B.II to cover the river Vardar area. In April 1916 this Komanda became 2 Aeroplane Otdelenie.

In 1917 the unit obtained it's first fighter aircraft and was at last in a position to start countering enemy aircraft sorties. In June 1917 a Fighter Komanda (detachment) was established at Levunovo with 2 LFG Roland D.II fighters to allow easier interception of intruding enemy aircraft. (This pair was replaced by 2 LFG Roland D.IIIs in May 1918). However, increasing enemy air superiority meant that by early 1918 reconnaissance missions where increasingly being carried out at night. A number of night bombing raids were carried out in June-July 1918. Daylight missions were mainly left to the faster fighter aircraft.

In mid September 1918 the unit was left without any serviceable aircraft due to enemy action, and was therefore absorbed into 2 Aeroplane Otdelenie.

The commanding officer was Captain Radul Milkov (Sept 1915 - April 1916+).

Air Bases:

Base	Duration
Sofia Station	Sept 1915 - mid Oct 1915
near Pirot	mid Oct 1915 - late Oct 1915
Belica	Nov 1915 - Sept 1918

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Badge	Example Serials
Bleriot XI-2 (2-seater)	2	Sept 1915 - October 1915
Bleriot XIbis (1-seater)	1	Sept 1915 - October 1915
Albatros B.I	2	Sept 1915 - October 1915
LVG B.II	9	Nov 1915 - 1916
Albatros C.III	9	early Sept 1916 - 1917
LFG Roland D.II	2	June 1917 - June 1918
DFW C.V	3	June 1917 - mid Sept 1918
Armstrong Whitworth FK.3	1	8 July 1917 - April 1918		6219
Nieuport XXIV	2	Jan 1918 - May 1918		N4487
LFG Roland D.III	2	May 1918 - mid Sept 1918

Unit Insignia:

Figure 1

References:

• Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria Part II