Slovakian Aircraft Markings

Last modified: 2011-03-25 by andrew weeks
Keywords: roundel |
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by Željko Heimer, 19 Jan 2003

• Aircraft Marking
• 1938-1941 Roundel corrected version #1
• 1938-1941 Roundel corrected version #2
• 1938-1941 Roundel (incorrect)
• 1941-1945 Roundel
• 1944 insurgents roundel corrected version #1
• 1944 insurgents roundel corrected version #2
• 1944 insurgents roundel (incorrect version)

• Slovakia

Aircraft Marking

I checked on recent photos of airplanes : slovakian roundels always have the white border. (Unlike "Military Aircraft Insignia of the World", p. 106)
Armand Noel du Payrat, 20 Jan 2003

Current roundel of the Slovacke Vojenske Letectvo is used with white border unless the plane itself is white or silver.
Dov Gutterman, 24 Jun 2004

1938-1941 Roundel corrected version #1

This image shows the roundel used by Slovak Air Arms during between Polish campaign 1939 and operation Barbarossa 1941. It is improved model of roundel: white facing red double cross on blue disc with wide white border.
The first model without white border was used only several months after March 1939 and was replaced before beginning of WWII. Wide white border was added due to improve visual identification of aircraft. Picture based on "Military Aircraft Insignia of the World" shows this roundel incorrect. Colors of that image are contrariwise.
Andrej Žiarovský, 17 Apr 2003

First source of my information is my grandfather, in time of WWII; he was ground engineer of Slovak Air Arms and Combined
Squadron of 1st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia.
Another sources: Publication of Jiri Rajlich, Slovenske vojenske letectvo 1939-1945 (Slovak Air Force 1939-1945), issued by Magnetpress Publ. (1996 ?) - I must check in my library)  or for example Czech journal HPM. In this journal you can find several articles about Slovak Air Arms (official title of Slovak Air Force in time WWII) published in various numbers for last two years.
Andrej Žiarovský, 22 Apr 2003

1939-1941 roundel - Slovenske Vzdusne Zbrane (SVZ) was formed on 14 March 1939.  It was used as fin flash and wing marking (on wings next to the German cross). A german cross was the fusalage marking (see here and here).
It seem that beside the three versions in FOTW, it had one without the white border - (see this page).
Dov Gutterman, 24 Jun 2004

1938-1941 Roundel corrected version #2

I'm drawing images for a new book by the German-Czech vexillologist Roman Klimes. He found in the State Archive of the Chechian Army 23 aircraft markings specified by laws, service prescriptions and original photographs.
The images you sent yesterday are incorrect regarding colors and proportions. I'm sending corrections accordingly. Here the red double cross and the white fimbriation around the cross in different proportions. The roundel was introduced c. 1939 and replaced in 1940 by a white fimbriated blue cross with a red point.
Jens Pattke, 18 Apr 2003

Thist is similar to first type of roundel used for the first weeks after Slovak Air Arms were found - with narrow (or without) white fimbriation. My picture is not scaled absolutely exactly, but based on photos of aircraft known me, I am afraid that double cross on Jens's image is too wide. I will check and advise.
Andrej Žiarovský, 22 Apr 2003

1938-1941 Roundel (incorrect)

"Military Aircraft Insignia of the World" also shows several historical "roundels":
1938-1941: on a white disk a red disk with white fimbriated blue double cross. After the occupation of Czechoslovakia by German forces in 1938, the country was split into the Protectorarte of Bohemia-Moravia and the Republic of Slovakia. Slovakian aircrafts were marked with standard German crosses on the fuselage and wings; in addition the Slovak double cross of blue on a red disc was marked on the wings, adjacent to the German markings, and on the fin. Slovak aircraft took part in the invasion of Poland in 1939, and during this campaign a white ring was added to the national insignia.
Željko Heimer, 19 Jan 2003

1941-1945 Roundel

"Military Aircraft Insignia of the World" also showes several historical "roundels":
1941-1945: white fibriated blue cross defaced with a red disk  In 1941 the Slovak Air Force participated in the German invasion of Russia. Aircraft followed Axis practice by using a cross-type insignia. In this case a German type was used, but in blue with a central red spot. This was marked on wings, fuselage and fin.
Željko Heimer, 19 Jan 2003

1941-1944 roundel - the SVZ was dissolved on 31 August 1944, so this roundel was not in use in 1945. It was used on tail and wings, but some times only on fuselage without tail marking or with German tail marking.
Dov Gutterman, 24 Jun 2004

1944 insurgents roundel corrected version #1

This image shows real appearance of marking of Combined Squadron, which was part of 1st Czechoslovak Army in Slovakia - thw Slovakian Army took part in the Slovak uprising in 1944. Original Czechoslovak roundel was bordered blue and Slovak white double cross was standing on "triple mounts".
Andrej Žiarovský, 17 Apr 2003

Czechoslovak insignia with Slovak cross seem very dubious to me. The 'Slovak National Insurgency' (1944) began with declaration of restoration of the Czechoslovak Republic, and to my best knowledge only Czechoslovak flags were used. On the other hand, the Slovak national tricolor (= national flag of the pro-Germany 'Slovak Republic' in 1939-1945) has not been banned, was used at least up to 1950's, and its usage slowly declined. (Its revivals happened in 1968-1969 and then in 1989.) The same applies to the double-cross (including in the Czechoslovak Coat of Arms up to 1960), so I cannot exclude the possibility that it was used by insurgents, but I don't believe it.
Jan Zrzavy, 18 Jul 2001

1944 insurgents roundel - Used from 29 August 1944 - 25 October 1944 during Slovenske Narodne Povstanie (Slovak National Uprising - SNP).
Dov Gutterman, 24 Jun 2004

1944 insurgents roundel corrected version #2

I'm drawing images for a new book by the German-Czech vexillologist Roman Klimes. He found in the State Archive of the Chechian Army 23 aircraft markings specified by laws, service prescriptions and original photographs.
The images you sent yesterday are incorrect regarding colors and proportions. I'm sending corrections accordingly.
This is the oundel of the combined airforce in the Slovakian National Revolt in 1944
The combined airforce consisted of Czechian, Slovakian and Ruthenian soldiers, as well as several Soviet military advisors. The roundel has a light-blue fimbriation. It symbolizes the air, and also the Ruthenian population. Color like the Ukrainian flag. The black three-mountain is a little broader, the mountains not as high. White patriarchal cross and three-mountain symbolize Slovakia. The hanging Czechian flag refers to Czechia and symbolises the Panslavic colors too .
Jens Pattke, 18 Apr 2003

Light blue fimbriation is mistake! Fimbriation was the same tone of blue like blue color in Czechoslovak (no Czech) tricolor (pre-war and after war official marking of Czechoslovak Air Force). What about three mountains and white patriarchal double cross: Based on memories of my grandfather I know that it was painted by hand very often and therefore it had no absolutely
identical style and shape.
Andrej Žiarovský, 22 Apr 2003

1944 insurgents roundel (incorrect version)

"Military Aircraft Insignia of the World" also shows several historical "roundels":
1944 insurgents: Czeckoslovak tricolour segmented roundel with white "Lorraine" cross in top blue sector and black "triple mounts" line over the white and red segments. With the approach of the Russian armies in 1944 Slovak insurgents set up an air arm with captured German aircraft. These were marked with the pre-1937 Czech insignia and on a Slovak double cross on the blue portion. The white sector of the roundel was always to the left.
Željko Heimer, 19 Jan 2003