107th Mixed Aviation Regiment

107th Mixed Aviation Regiment
107. mešovita avijacijski puk
Active 1944-1992
Country  Yugoslavia
Branch Yugoslav Air Force
Type Regiment
Part of Military Aviation Academy
Engagements Syrmian Front
Yugoslav wars
Disbanded 1992

The 107th Mixed Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian: 107. mešovita avijacijski puk / 107. мешовити авијацијски пук) was an aviation regiment established in 1944 as 421nd Assault Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian: 421. vazduhoplovni jurišni puk / 421. ваздухопловни јуришни пук).

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History

421st Assault Aviation Regiment

The 421st Assault Aviation Regiment was established on December 20, 1944, in Laćarak, from Yugoslav partisan aviators with the Soviet Air Force 17th Air Army's 165th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment (165.GShAP). It has become independent form Soviet command and personal since May 1945. Regiment was part of 42nd Aviation Assault Division, it was equipped with Soviet Il-2 Shturmovik ground-attack aircraft. Regiment has took part in final operations for liberation of Yugoslavia. During the combat operations it was based at Laćarak, Krnješevci, Zemun, Nadalj, Bački Brestovac and Sombor airfields.

After the war regiment has remainbeen shortly at Skoplje, and later during the year 1945 it has moved to Niš.

By the 1948 year this regiment was renamed like all other units of Yugoslav Army, so it has become 107th Assault Aviation Regiment.

The commanders of regiment in this period were Dušan Božović and Dimitrije Kovačević. Commissar was Vinko Sever.

107th Regiment

The 107th Assault Aviation Regiment has remain at Niš airport for short time after it's renaming. By 1949 it has moved to Leskovac, where it has remain until 1953, when it has return to Niš. By year 1953 old Soviet Il-2 attack aircraft were replaced with new domestic made Ikarus S-49A fighter planes. In period of their exploitation regiment was to 107th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian: 107. lovački avijacijski puk / 107. ловачки авијацијски пук). With new US-build F-47D Thunderbolt introduced in service by 1957 in stead S-49, regiment was again renamed in to 107th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian: 107. lovačko-bombarderski avijacijski puk / 107. ловачко-бомбардерски авијацијски пук). Thunderbolts have remain in service until 1960.

By order no.319 from August 18, 1960, regiment was transformed in to 107th Helicopter Regiment (Serbo-Croatian: 107. helikopterski puk / 107. хеликоптерски пук) on October 15, 1960. It was equipped with Soviet-made Mil Mi-4 and British Westland S-55 helicopters.

By the 1961 and application of the "Drvar" reorganization for the Air Force, new type designation system is used to identify squadrons, so the three squadrons of 107th Helicopter Regiment have become have become 780th, 781st and 782nd Transport Helicopter Squadron.

In 1964 677th Transport Aviation Squadron equipped with Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Lisunov Li-3 cargo aircraft has been attached to regiment. One year later, 891st Liaison Aviation Squadron with domestic made Ikarus Kurir was also attached to regiment, and in 1966 one more helicopter squadron, 783rd was also assigned to 107th Regiment. In meanwhile, 780th and 781st Transport Helicopter Squadron were reattached to 111st Support Aviation Regiment, and 782nd Transport Helicopter Squadron to 81st Support Aviation Regiment. Both Mi-4 and S-55 helicopters have remain in service until 1973. In period from 1964 to 1973 regiment was known under designation 107th Support Aviation Regiment.

By 1973 it has been again transformed in to Helicopter Regiment and moved to Mostar airport, being part of Military Aviation Academy with task of main helicopter training center. It has been equipped at the beginning with Soviet-made Mil Mi-2 helicopters which were replaced in 1974 with domestic made Soko SA.341 Gazelle helicopters. Regiment consisted from two helicopter squadrons, 782nd and 783rd. In 1988, 783rd squadron was renumbered in to 722nd Anti-Armored Helicopter Squadron being equipped with new Soko SA.342 Gazelle Gama version of tank hunter helicopter. In same year 334th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron was attached to 107th Regiment, so it has become Aviation Regiment. In 1990 334th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron was disbanded.

Regiment was renamed in 1991 in to 107th Mixed Aviation Regiment. During the wars in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1991 and 1992 it was used in combat operations. With withdrawn of Yugoslav People's Army units from Bosnia and Herzegovina, regiment has moved from Mostar airport to Golubovci Air Base in Montenegro in April 1992. It was disbanded by May 1992. Most of regiments equipment and personal has been attached to 97th Helicopter Regiment with 722nd Squadron.

The commanders of regiment in this period were Dimitrije Kovačević, Ljubo Vukčević, Slobodan Alagić, Radovan Daković, Miloš Bogdanović, Vojislav Mikić, Nikola Petrović, Vukadin Živković, Stevan Vukmanović, Života Pavković and Ivan Mihajlović.

Assignments

Previous designations

Organization

1961-1964

1964-1973

1973-1988

1988-1990

1991-1992

Bases stationed

Commanding officers

Date appointed Name
Dušan Božović
Dimitrije Kovačević
Ljubo Vukčević
Slobodan Alagić
Radovan Daković
Miloš Bogdanović
Vojislav Mikić
Nikola Petrović
Vukadin Živković
Stevan Vukmanović
Života Pavković
Ivan Mihajlović

Equipment

References