Aeroplane and Balloon Otdelenie
Role: Reconnaissance/Bomber

After the 1 August 1913 demobilisation following the Second Balkan War, the existing aeroplane and balloon units were amalgamated into a single Aeroplane and Balloon Otdelenie (platoon). It included eight trained pilots and ten serviceable aircraft. In 1914 two aircraft were transferred to the newly opened Aeroplane school.

Also in 1914, five new aircraft were ordered from France and Germany, but the start of the First World War in August 1914 meant that only two Bleriot XI-2s were actually delivered. Fortunately, two Ottoman Turkish Albatros B.I aircraft were impounded in July 1914 when they landed in Bulgaria in error.

Circa September 1915 the unit split into a separate Aeroplane Otdelenie and a Balloon Otdelnie.

The commanding officer is not known.

Air Bases:

Base	Duration
Sofia Central Station	Aug 1913 - Sept 1915

Aircraft Used:

Type	Qty	Service	Badge	Example Serials
Albatros F.2	1	Aug 1913 - 1914
Bleriot XI-2 (2-seater)	4	Aug 1913 - September 1915
Bleriot XIbis (1-seater)	1	Aug 1913 - September 1915
Farman VII	2	Aug 1913 - 1914
Albatros B.I	2	July 1914 - September 1915
'Solun' kite-balloon	1	Aug 1913 - September 1915

Unit Insignia:

Figure 1

References:

• Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria Part II