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Avia 534 in Czech Service

Avia Bk-534

Avia 534 in Czech Service

Developed from the Avia B-34, the Avia B-534 was a single-seat biplane fighter designed for the Czechoslovak Air Force. First flying o 25 May 1933, it entered service in 1935 with production continuing until 1939. A total of 538 were built serving several air forces during the Second World War.

On 14 March 1939, Germany forced the partition of Czechoslovakia, with Slovakia being declared as the nominally independent Slovak Republic with Germany annexing the remaining “Czech” part of Czechoslovakia as the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia the next day. . At tis time, 328 B-534s and Bk-534s equipped 21 fighter squadrons of the Czechoslovak Air Force. The abrupt nature of the partitioning meant that no B-534s took part in combat with Czechoslovakia.

Most of the Czech Avia B-534s were pressed into service with Germany, mainly as fighter-trainers.

B-534/1: First prototype.

Avia B-534/1 The first prototype.
Avia B-534/1 The first prototype.

B-534/2: Second prototype.

Avia B-534/2 The Second prototype.
Avia B-534/2 The Second prototype.

B-534-I: First production version. (cn’s 2 – 101)

B-534-II: (cn’s 102 – 147)

Avia B-534-II
Avia B-534-II

B-534-III: (cn’s 148 – 173)

B-534-IV: Closed canopy (cn’s 174 – 445)

Bk-534: Cannon version (cn’s 501 – 620)

Detailed Photos

Ski Trials

Avia B-534 undergoing ski trials
Avia B-534 undergoing ski trials

Avia B-534 in Bulgarian Service

Avia B-534 Bulgaria Title

Avia B-534 in Bulgarian Service

Bulgaria ordered 78 Avia B-534 biplane fighters in 1939. These were obtained from Germany which had captured a large number of them. The final aircraft were not delivered until March 1942. At the same time, Bulgaria ordered more modern fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Dewoitine D.520, which resulted in the outdated B-534s seeing little frontline service. However on 1 August 1943, 48 Avias made several passes at Consolidated B-24 Liberators returning from the raid on Ploieşti. Although several hits were scored, none of the bombers were shot down.

Following the anti-German coup of 9 September 1944, Bulgaria switched sides after which the B-534s were used for ground attack.

Hawker Sea Fury

A Hawker Sea Fury ready for take off from HMS Theseus

Hawker Sea Fury

Originally designed for the Royal Air Force as a light Tempest Fighter, the end of the Second World War saw the RAF cancel its order for the fighter. The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm saw the Fury as an ideal option to replace a range of aircraft and ordered it as the Hawker Sea Fury with deliveries beginning in 1947.

The Sea Fury was operated from British and Australian aircraft carriers during the Korean War. Cuba operated the type during the Bay of Pigs invasion, while Iraq donated several to Egypt which operated them during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Burma, Pakistan, Iraq and the Netherlands used Sea Furies for counter insurgency operations.

The links below will take you to pages for the individual operators.

Australia

Burma

Burmese Air Force Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 UB454
Burmese Air Force Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 UB454

Canada

Cuba

Egypt

Royal Egyptian Air Force Hawker Sea Fury
Royal Egyptian Air Force Hawker Sea Fury

Iraq

Netherlands

Dutch Hawker Sea Fury
Dutch Hawker Sea Fury

Pakistan

United Kingdom

West Germany