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Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945): Air Force

Air Force flag
Aircraft markings

See also:

Air Force flag

Air Force flag - Images by Željko Heimer, 27 December 1999

The Air Force flag (photo, photo) is prescribed by Decisions Zakonska odredba o zastavi zračnih snaga Nezavisne Države Hrvatske i o oznaci državnosti na aeroplanima zračnih snaga Nezavisne Države Hravtske, adopted on 20 May 1941 and published on 24 May 1941 in the gazette of the armed forces Vjesnik vojnih naredaba i zapovjedi za cjelokupnu oružanu snagu Nezavisne Države Hrvatske, No. 9.

Article 1.
The flag of the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia is made of 25 rectangular fields, white and red (blood color), ordered in turn in 5 rows, so that in the first upper row the starting field is white. The rectangles are in a ratio of height to width of 2:3. The flag is bordered with a blue border in width 1/6 of the height of one field. In the first two fields of the first (upper) row is set an eagle in black-silver colour. The flag shall be hoisted on the Air Force Commands and on all airfields from sunrise to sundown.
Article 2.
The nationality marking is a shield of 25 rectangular fields, white and red (blood color) ordered in turn in 5 rows, so that the first field is white. This marking is carried on all airplanes, so:
a) on the right upper wing, a marking in ratio to wing depth of 1:5;
b) on the lower side of a wing on right and left, in ratio to wing depth 1:2;
c) on a vertical plane on right and left side, in ratio to the vertical plane height of 1:2.
Article 3.
The drawings of the Air force Flag and nationality markings are integral part of this Decision.
Article 4.
The implementation of this Decision is given to the Air Force Commander.
Article 5.
This Decision is effective on the day of issue in the official gazette.

Decision Zakonska odredba o dopuni zakonske odredbe o državnom grbu, državnoj zastavi, Poglavnikovoj zastavi, državnom pečatu i pečatima državnih i samoupravnih ureda od 28. travnja 1941 [...], published on 27 November 1943 in Vjesnik vojnih naredaba i zapovjedi za cjelokupnu oružanu snagu Nezavisne Države Hrvatske, No. 48/3, as a reprint of the official gazette Narodne novine, No. 269, 24 November 1943, includes additions to the 1941 Decision.
Article 2 gives a slightly more detailed description of the eagle on the Air Force flag:

[On the first two fields there is] in silver-colored embroidery, the black outlined and hatched symbol of a flying eagle. The size of the symbol is: length, 15/10 of thr rectangle's width, and height, 5/10 of the rectangle's height. [...] The flag shall be used on all airfields, offices and barracks of the military Air Force.

Article 3 defines nationality markings, which are only described, without prescription of the size and position as it was in the 1941 Decision, but it also introduce the marking for non-military (civilian) aircrafts. That marking is the same as the Air Force flag, but without the eagle. Itt is not mentioned that it is to be used as flag, so it is not the civil aviation flag, only the aircraft marking.

Željko Heimer, 29 October 2011

Aircraft markings

Aircraft marking, 1944-1945 - Image by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003

Cochrane & Elliott [c2e98] report two roundels for the Independent State of Croatia (1941-1945). The aircraft marking for 1941-1944 is in the shape of the checky shield. This insignia was in use until 1944 when it was replaced by a more "Axis-like" roundel. The emblem of the Air Force was used as the fin flash.

Dov Gutterman, 15 June 2004