37th Aviation Division (Socialist Yugoslavia)

37th Aviation Division
37. vazduhoplovna divizija
Active 1944–1959
Country  Soviet Union
 Yugoslavia
Branch Soviet Air Force
Yugoslav Air Force
Type Division
Size 3 regiments
HQ Cerklje
Engagements Syrmian Front
Disbanded 1959

The 37th Aviation Division (Serbo-Croatian: 37. vazduhoplovna divizija, 37. ваздухопловна дивизија) was a unit originally established in 1944 as the 42nd Aviation Assault Division (Serbo-Croatian: 42. vazduhoplovna jurišna divizija, 42. ваздухопловна јуришна дивизија). It was formed from Yugoslav Partisan aviators, trained and equipped by the Soviet Air Force.

History

42nd Aviation Assault Division

The 42nd Aviation Assault Division was established during the December 1944, in Novi Sad, from Yugoslav Partisan aviators with the assistance of the Soviet Air Force 17th Air Army's 10th Guards Assault Aviation Division (165.GShAD). It became independent of Soviet command and personnel in May 1945. The division was part of the Soviet Group of Aviation Divisions, and consisted of three fighter regiments. It took part in the final operations for the liberation of Yugoslavia. During combat operations, its headquarters was at Novi Sad. The division had about 1100 personnel, 114 officers, 254 NCO's and 732 soldiers. Of that number, 253 were pilots and 653 were technicians. It was equipped with 125 Ilyushin Il-2 assault aircraft.[1] In August 1945, the division was reorganized and renamed as the 2nd Aviation Mixed Division (Serbo-Croatian: 2. vazduhoplovna mešovita divizija, 2. ваздухопловна мешовита дивизија).

The commander of the division in this period was Jevrem Bjelica, and the political commissar was Enver Ćemalović.[2]

2nd Aviation Division

The 2nd Aviation Mixed Division was formed on August 3, 1945 from the 42nd Aviation Assault Division with its headquarters in Zagreb. The division was directly under the Command of the Yugoslav Air Force. In 1947, the division was renamed the 2nd Aviation Assault Division (Serbo-Croatian: 2. vazduhoplovna jurišna divizija, 2. ваздухопловна јуришна дивизија).

In 1948, the division was again renamed, becoming the 37th Assault Aviation Division (Serbo-Croatian: 37. vazduhoplovna jurišna divizija, 37. ваздухопловна јуришна дивизија).

The commanders of the division in this period were Jevrem Bjelica and Viktor Bubanj. The political commissars were Enver Ćemalović and Stane Bobnar.[3]

37th Aviation Division

The 37th Aviation Assault Division was formed by renaming the 2nd Aviation Assault Division in 1948. It underwent some minor organisational changes at this time.

In 1949, the division was attached to the 3rd Aviation Corps. It relocated its headquarters from Zagreb to Cerklje. In 1954, it was renamed as the Aviation Fighter-Bomber Division due the replace of Soviet aircraft with US-made fighter-bombers.

It was disbanded on June 27, 1959 under the "Drvar" reorganization plan. Its command was transformed into the headquarters of the 7th Air Command and its units were attached to the 5th Air Command.

The commanders of the division in this period were Viktor Bubanj, Vladimir Bakarić, Zlatko Predavec, Milan Simović and Svetozar Radojević. Its commissars were Enver Ćemalović and Veljko Ražnatović until 1953.[4]

Assignments

Previous designations

Organization

1944-1945

1945

1945-1947

1947-1948

1948-1959

Headquarters

Commanding officers

Political commissars

References

Notes and citations
  1. ↑ Grujić, Zlatomir. Avijacija Srbije i Jugoslovije 1901-1994. Beograd, 1997, p. 162.
  2. ↑ Dimitrijević, Bojan. Jugoslovensko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo 1942-1992. Beograd, 2006, p. 354.
  3. ↑ Dimitrijević, Bojan. Jugoslovensko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo 1942-1992. Beograd, 2006, p. 354.
  4. ↑ Dimitrijević, Bojan. Jugoslovensko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo 1942-1992. Beograd, 2006, p. 354.
Bibliography
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