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Avia 534 in German Service

Avia Bk-534, Flugzeugführerschule FFS A/B 72 in Markersdorf / St. Pölten, ca. 1941

Avia 534 in German Service

Germany confiscated a large number of Avia B-534 fighters from Czechoslovakia, subsequently using them as fighter trainers in several fighter pilot training schools. They were also used as glider tugs and target tugs.

Three aircraft were fitted with arrester hooks and had their structure strengthened for evaluation as a carrier based fighters to equip the Graf Zeppelin. As the aircraft carrier was not completed this project went nowhere.

In 1940 B-534s were used to represent Polish PZL P-11 fighters in the propaganda film Kampfgeschwader Lützow.

Fighter Trainers

Propaganda Film

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.