Bulgarian Air Force Read more at the link: Bulgarian Air Force History [SIZE=-1]Narrative History: Bulgarian military aviation first began when an Aeronautical Platoon was created on 20 April 1906 to operate observation balloons for the army. Developments in aircraft were also closely watched. In early 1912 thirteen army officers were sent abroad for training as pilots and orders were placed for five French, British and German aeroplanes. The officers sent to France completed their training first and returned to Bulgaria in July 1912. On 13 August 1912 Simeon Petrov flew a Bleriot XXI to become the first Bulgar to pilot an aeroplane over Bulgaria. [/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Following the outbreak of the First Balkan War, the Bulgarian pilots still abroad hastily procured aircraft to follow them home. After the front lines had stabilised, an Aeroplane Platoon was established at a new airfield closer to the fighting. On 16 October 1912 a Bulgarian Albatros aircraft was used to perform Europe's first reconnaissance flight in combat conditions. Later the same month hired & volunteer foreign pilots began to fly operational missions. The nascent Bulgarian Aviation Corps expanded to three Aeroplane Platoons, and carried out numerous reconnaissance, leaflet dropping and bombing sorties during the war, with at least three aircraft (all flown by foreign pilots) being shot down. Considerable help was received from the Russians in terms of aircraft, maintenance and training. Low aircraft serviceability and frequent training accidents kept the number of sorties actually flown fairly low - however, when aerial reconnaissance information was available, it was keenly appreciated by the army General Staff. [/SIZE]
