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Avia B-534 in Slovak Service

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Avia B-534 in Slovak Service

With the partition of Czechoslovalia on 14 March 1939, Slovakia inherited 71 Avia B-534 biplane fighters. Two squadrons participated alongside Luftwaffe units in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. They were later deployed to Ukraine in 1941 during the invasion of the USSR. In 1942, one squadron was returned to Slovakia for anti-partisan operations. By 1943, obsolescence and a lack of spare parts relegated them to training roles.

During the National Slovak Uprising of September-October 1944, a B-534 shot down a Hungarian Junkers Ju 52, the last confirmed aerial victory of a biplane fighter.

A crash landed Slovak Avia B-534. During the Polish Campaign and the ‘Phoney War’ period, Slovak aircraft carried dual roundels — Slovak Avia 534

Avia B-634 Biplane Fighter

Developed from the Avia B-534 biplane fighter, for the Czech Air Force, the B-634 incorporated numerous modifications in order to increase performance. Despite these changes, and the airframe being significantly more aerodynamically cleaner, it was only marginally faster than its predecessor. This was primarily due to increased weight resulting from the changes. As a result only two prototypes were built.

Avia 534 in German Service

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

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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.