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Avia 534 in Czech Service

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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.

B-534/2: Second prototype.

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

B-534-II: (cn’s 102 – 147)

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

Avia B-534 undergoing maintenance — Avia B-534 with panels removed

Ski Trials

Avia B-534 in Bulgarian Service

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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Bulgaria ordered more modern fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Dewoitine D.520, which resulted in the outdated B-534s seeing little frontline service.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.

Japanese Cruiser Tone

Japanese Cruiser Tone

The Imperial Japanese Navy heavy cruiser Tone was launched on 21 November 1937 and completed on 20 November 1938. Designed as a scout cruiser, she carried six floatplanes in addition to her main armament of eight 20cm (8-inch) guns. To optimise aircraft capacity, all of the four main turrets were concentrated forward, while the rear of the ship held the floatplanes.

Tone participated in most of the major naval engagement of the Pacific War, finally being sunk at Kure on 24 July 1945 by aircraft from the US Navy light carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26).