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| CroatiaCroatian Air Force
1941 to 1945
Wings (lower surfaces) | 
Tail and upper right wing |
|
An official directive issued on 20 May of 1941 established the Sahovnica as the
national insignia of the newly created Croatian air force. This consisted of a shield with
twenty-five white and red squares arranged alternatively in five rows, with the first square
being white. This insignia was to be carried on the upper surface of the starboard wing,
both wings undersides, and on both sides of the tail. This marking was usually applied with
a thin black or red outline.
Example: Morane-Saulnier MS.405/406/410
Wings (upper surfaces) | 
Fuselage & Wings (lower surfaces) | 
Tail |
|
4.Zrakoplovstvo Skupina (Bf.109) | 
5.Zrakoplovstvo Skupina (Do.17) |
|
Although nominally part of the Croatian air force, the Hrvatska Zrakoplovna Legija -
HZL (Croatian Air Legion) was integrated within the Luftwaffe and under German command. The
aircraft of these units carried full German markings, only the ustasa emblem applied under
the cockpit denoted the nationality of the crews. In the case of the fighters of 4.
Zrakoplovstvo Skupina , or 15(Kroat)./JG52, the insignia was adorned by stylized white (or
silver) wings with a thin red (sometimes black) outline.
Example: Dornier Do.17/Do.215
Example: Messerschmitt Bf.109G Gustav
1945
Fuselage & Wings | 
Tail |
|
On 24 February of 1945, a stylized clover leaf in the shape of a cross, known as the
Zvonimir's Cross, was adopted as the new national marking. This black cross insignia rested
on a clearly German-inspired white cross with black outline. It was applied in the six
standard positions, except that the fuselage cross was situated in a mid-position, just
behind the cockpit. The tail coat-of-arms, complete with ustasa 'U' and knotwork, was
carried on both sides of the fin, taking up to 2/3 of its cord, so most of the times it
extended onto the rudder itself.
Example: Messerschmitt Bf.109G Gustav
Example: Messerschmitt Bf.110
1945 to 1991
On 29th November 1945 Croatia become part of Yugoslavian and did't have its own air force.
1991 to 1993
Fuselage & Wings | 
Tail |
|
A new Croatian Air Force (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovsto) was created in late 1991 after
the former Yugoslav republic declared its independence. The new Croatian state coat-of-arms
was adopted as the national marking on the fuselage sides and upper port wing, while the
national flag was carried on the tail as fin flash. Note the five Croat regions 'shield
crown' added to the Sahovnica and that the first square is now red, not white.
Example: MiG MiG-21/J-7 Fishbed/Mongol
1993 to Present
Fuselage & Wings | 
Tail |
|
New national markings were introduced by the HRZ between June and August of 1993. A
dark blue roundel with two red squares set diagonally was applied in the six standard
positions (only on the fuselage sides on helicopters), while the state coat-of-arms, which
had been previously used as a roundel, was now carried on both sides of the tail. Since the
end of the war with Serbia in 1995, the Croatian air force has been renamed HZS - Hrvatske
Zracne Snage.
Example: Soko J-20/P-2 Kraguj
Example: Mil Mi-8/Mi-17/Mi-18 Hip
by Stephen Sender
Last update: 03/12/2005 |
