Austrian Air Force (1927–1938)

Last updated • 4 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Roundel of the Austrian Air Force Roundel of Austria.svg
Roundel of the Austrian Air Force

The Austrian Air Force (Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte) of the interwar period began as a paramilitary organisation (1927) and was secretly built up by the government before union with Germany (1938).

Contents

History

In 1919 the peace treaty meant the Republic of Austria was forbidden to operate military aircraft. In 1927 the paramilitary Heimwehr organisation set up an air corps using Austrian, British and Italian aircraft (dissolved after the Anschluss in 1938). Its emblem was a red-white-red flag, with a white eagle on a green circle at its centre.

In 1928 the Bundesheer (federal army) began secretly training pilots. In further consequence a technical infrastructure was created and aircraft ordered from Italy. In August 1933 the first military aeroplanes ordered by the republic (five Fiat CR.20 biplanes) were supplied. The Bundesheer began secretly equipping flying clubs in Vienna-Aspern and Graz-Thalerhof with Italian-built aircraft (Fiat Ansaldo and Caproni).

In 1936, flight engineer Rosner from the Graz-Thalerhof base won the competition for designing a new national emblem, which was introduced in the same year. The white, equilateral triangle with the point facing downwards in a red disc was a completely new design and had (other than the flag or coats of arms) no prior basis.

The airmens' barracks at Aspern were the only new barracks built in Vienna between the wars. The Austrian government planned the establishment of an air base in the Tulln Basin, however this plan was realised only by the German armed forces (nowadays: Brumowski Air base, near Langenlebarn). The uniform departed from all traditions and followed the international model: Grey jacket with four buttons as well as rocker emblem on the chest, and soft garrison caps more reminiscent of British models.

Secret Military Training (1928–1933):

In 1928, the Bundesheer (federal army) began clandestinely training pilots for the future Austrian Air Force. A technical infrastructure was developed, and orders for aircraft were placed, mainly from Italy. In August 1933, the Republic of Austria received its first military aircraft – five Fiat CR.20 biplanes.

Order of battle

Fliegerregiment Nr. 1

The regiment was set up 1934 and had its location in Vienna.

Commander

Units (as of 1934)

Fliegerregiment Nr. 2

The regiment was set up 1934 and had its location in Graz.

Commanders

Units (as of 1934)

Air defence units

(as of 1938)

Ground units

(as of 1938)

Aircraft

(as of March 1938)

Fliegerregiment Nr. 1

Fliegerregiment Nr. 2

Of the 45 Fiat CR.32 originally procured, 36 were still in service in 1938 and after the Anschluss were handed over by Germany to their Hungarian allies.

The CR20 and CR32 were in their time very modern combat aircraft, however were obsolete by 1938. Their type designation "CR" stood for Caccia (Italian: "Hunt") and the name of the technical designer Rosatelli. "A" in the type designation Fiat A120 stands for the aircraft section of the Ansaldo company, taken over by Fiat in 1926.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf</span> Defunct German aircraft manufacturer

Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG was a German manufacturer of civil and military aircraft before and during World War II. Many of the company's successful fighter aircraft designs were slight modifications of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. It is one of the predecessor companies of today's Airbus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke</span> Type of aircraft

The Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke ("Falcon") was a German aircraft developed in the late 1930s. It was conceived by Kurt Tank as a twin-engine, high-performance fighter, but the Luftwaffe saw no role for the design, perceiving it as intermediate between the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Bf 110. Later prototypes were adapted to two-seats to compete with the Bf 110 in the heavy fighter (Zerstörer) role, but only nine aircraft were built in total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AGO Flugzeugwerke</span>

AGO Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturing company from 1911 until 1945. The initials AGO had a variety of meanings during the company's lifetime, but in its final version stood for Apparatebau GmbH Oschersleben. At its peak, the company employed around 4,500 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Fw 56 Stösser</span> 1933 military training aircraft family

The Focke-Wulf Fw 56 Stösser was a single-engine, parasol monoplane advanced trainer, built in the 1930s in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Focke-Wulf Flitzer</span> Type of aircraft

The Focke-Wulf Flitzer was a jet fighter under development in Germany at the end of World War II.