Royal Yugoslav Air Force

Royal Yugoslav Air Force
Jugoslovensko kraljevsko ratno vazduhoplovstvo Југословенско краљевско ратно ваздухопловство Jugoslovansko kraljevo vojno letalstvo
Emblem of the Royal Yugoslav Army Air Force
Active	1918–1941
Country	Yugoslavia
Allegiance	King of Yugoslavia
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
HQ	Petrovaradin (1918–1936) Zemun (1936–1941)
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Dušan Simović Borivoje Mirković
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Bomber	Dornier Do Y, Bristol Blenheim, Dornier Do 17, Caproni Ca.310, Savoia-Marchetti SM.79
Fighter	Hawker Hurricane, Ikarus IK-2, Hawker Fury Mk.II, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Rogožarski IK-3
Trainer	Rogožarski SIM-X, Rogožarski SIM-XII-H, Rogožarski PVT, Rogožarski R-100, Bücker Bü 131

The Royal Yugoslav Air Force (Serbo-Croatian Latin: Jugoslovensko kraljevsko ratno vazduhoplovstvo, JKRV; Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic: Југословенско краљевско ратно ваздухопловство, ЈКРВ; (Slovene: Jugoslovansko kraljevo vojno letalstvo, JKVL); lit. "Yugoslav royal war aviation"),^[1] was the aerial warfare service component of the Royal Yugoslav Army (itself the land warfare branch of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). It was formed in 1918 and existed until 1941 and the Invasion of Yugoslavia during World War II.

Some 18 aircraft and several hundred aircrew escaped the Axis invasion of April 1941 to the Allied base in Egypt, eventually flying with the Royal Air Force in the Northern Africa initially and then with the Balkan Air Force in Italy and Yugoslavia, with some even going on to join the Soviet Air Force, returning to Yugoslavia in 1944.

Germany distributed captured Royal Yugoslav Air Force aircraft and spare parts to Romania, Bulgaria, Finland and the newly created Independent State of Croatia.