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WNr. 464068, Str. Josip Cekovič, 2. ZLJ (Zrakoplovno Lovačko Jato),
Iesi airfield, Italy, April 1945
WNr. 464444, Maj. Carlo Miami, CO of 2
o
Gruppo Caccia, ANR,
Aviano, Italy, February 1945
After the Red Army’s summer offensive in 1944
on the southern front and its troops’ entry
into Hungary and Romania, the German High
Command had to address the security of its
positions in the Balkans. One of the components
of this effort was the Croatian Air Force.
To strengthen it, the delivery of thirty new
Bf 109Gs was arranged in three stages during
October 1944. By November 1944, the Croats had
already received ten Bf 109Gs. On December 1,
1944, these aircraft landed at Lučko airfield near
Zagreb and were assigned to the 2. Zrakoplovno
Lovačko Jato (ZLJ). Subsequently, the 2. ZLJ
was incorporated into the Defence of the Reich
and stationed at Borongaj airfield. In January
1945, additional Bf 109Gs were delivered, making
the 2. ZLJ the only combat-ready unit on this
section of the front. Its combat operations
were diverse, engaging Soviet forces, domestic
Communist forces, USAAF and RAF units.
The Black 10 aircraft had its original German
crosses repainted. Also a yellow fuselage band
was overpainted as well as a yellow V on the
bottom of the wing. On April 16, 1945, Str. Josip
Cekovič defected to Iesi airfield in Italy with this
aircraft.
After the declaration of Italian Social Republic
on September 18, 1943, a puppet state on the
territory of Italy occupied by German military
under the command of Benito Mussolini,
Germany allowed this Republic to establish its
own military force consisting of four divisions.
Its air force component called Aeronautica
Nazionale Repubblicana consisted of two
fighter plane groups (Gruppo Caccia), torpedo
groups (Gruppo Aerosiluranti Buscaglia) and
several transportation squadrons. In 1945, both
fighter plane squadrons flew Messerschmitts
Bf 109G-6/G-10/G-14. The commander of
2
o
Gruppo Caccia was Maggiore Carlo Miami.
His aircraft was camouflaged with RLM 74/75/76
colors. The staff marking was asymmetrical on
the right side of the fuselage, probably due
to the 24V electric plug. The German crosses
were retained, only on the upper surface of the
wing they were oversprayed with dark green
and Italian insignias were added. The fuselage
emblems were supplemented with Italian
insignia in the shape of a postage stamp.
KITS 12/2024
INFO Eduard34
December 2024