BULGARIAN AIR ORDER OF BATTLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R005600030066-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2012
• Sequence Number: 66
• Publication Date: June 18, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/30: CIA-RDP80SO154OR005600030066-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/30: CIA-RDP80SO154OR005600030066-1
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/30: CIA-RDP80SO154OR005600030066-1
U L, X..'
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18. Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Bulgarian Air Order of Battle
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
18 June 1954
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL' OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. The following chart shows the total number of aircraft in the Bulgarian Air
Force, by type and whether jet (J) or piston (P) engine:
2. As of the end of 1953, the strength of the Bulgarian Air Force was estimated at
10,000 men of which approximately 500-600 are pilots.
3. The Bulgarian Air Force includes the following training schools:
Pursuit
Fi hter Bomber Transport Reconnaissance
Total
J
130-140
P
20-30
J
0
P J P J
80-90 0 5o-6o 0
P J P
10-20 0 15-20
J P
130-140 175-220
(1) Primary: Kazanluk, and Pleven;
(2) Advanced: Telish; and
(3) Fighter: Karlovo;
b. Bombardier Schools:
(1) Lovech;
c. Mechanics Schools:
(1) Lovech;
I ARMY x
NAVY X AIR Ey. X F81
I I AEC
IA
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/30: CIA-RDP80SO154OR005600030066-1
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/30: CIA-RDP80SO154OR005600030066-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/30: CIA-RDP80SO154OR005600030066-1
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/30: CIA-RDP80SO154OR005600030066-1
d. Radio and Broadcasting:
(1) Sofia;
e. Civil aviation and Military Academy:
(1) Vrazhdebna.
The output of these schools is extremely small because of the lack of instructors
and the paucity of means. Furthermore, a very strict grading of students has
been enforced. It is estimated that a maximum of 100-120 students are trained
annually in all the Air Force schools.
The Bulgarian Air Force order of battle is shown in the following chart:
DIVISIONS
REGIMENTS
Pursuit
1 Pursuit Division (Dobrich)
22 Pursuit Regt.; Dobrich
YAK-11, 15,
17,
23
25 Pursuit Regt.; Dobrich
YAK-11, 15,
17,
23
27 Pursuit Regt; Bezmer
YAK-11, 15,
17,
23
4 Pursuit Division (Dobroslavtsi)
10 Pursuit Division
(Graf Ignatiev)
14.Pursuit Regt.; Karlovo
11 Pursuit Regt.; Gabrovnitsa
18 Pursuit Regt.; Dobroslavtsi
15 Pursuit Regt.; Bezmer
21 Pursuit Regt.; Graf
Ignatiev
YAK-9
YAK-9
YAK-9
MIG-15
YAK-15, 1.7,
23
Fighters
5 Fighter Division (Plovdiv)
17 Fighter Regt.; Krumovo
IL-10
20 Fighter Regt.; Krumovo
IL-10
23 Fighter Regt.; Plovdiv
Reserve Fighter Regt.; Plovdiv
Bombers
PE-2
PE.2
3 Bomber Division (B aichik)
2 Light Night Bomber Division
(Yambol or Stara Zapnra)
4 Bomber Regt.; Balchik
1 Bomber Regt.; Sokolov
TU-2
TU-2
PE-2
9 Light Night Bomber Division
(Stara Zagora or. Yamhcl)
35 Regt.; Stara Zagora
34 tegt.; Stara Zagora
PE-2
PE-2
Reconnaissance
26 Reconnaissance Regt.;
Gorna Oryakhovitsa
8 Reconnaissance Regt.;
Varna, now Stalin
Transport
16 Transport Regt.;
Sofia/Vrazhdebna
The Bulgarian air units are, on an average, at 50 percent
both with regard to personnel and materiel.
AR-78
of full strength
A !~ ~ r I.l~ rT `
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5. The following six airfields are equipped with runways which are 29000 or more
meters in length.
a. Dobrich; runway 29800 meters long;
b. Bezmer; runway 29500 meters long;
c. Chairl Gaol; runway 2,000 meters long;
d. Graf Ignatiev; runway 29000 meters long;
6. Kumaritsa; runway 2,000 meters long; and
f. Gabrovnitsa; runway 29000 meters long.
6. New airfields equipped with concrete runways are either completed (Gabrovnitsao
Ravnets), or are under construction (Kamenets; Nevrokop). A report of fair
reliability informed of the recent fitting out of an import airfield for heavy
aircraft at Lyubenets (N I2-229 E 25-57)9 27 kilometers east-southeast of Stara
Zagora.
1. Comment: Probably a reference to Balchik airfield (N 43-269
E 2811
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/30: CIA-RDP80SO154OR005600030066-1