| Royal Yugoslav Air Force | |
|---|---|
| Jugoslovensko kraljevsko ratno vazduhoplovstvo Југословенско краљевско ратно ваздухопловство Jugoslovansko kraljevo vojno letalstvo | |
 Emblem of the Royal Yugoslav Army Air Force | |
| Active | 1918–1941 |
| Country |  Yugoslavia |
| Allegiance | King of Yugoslavia |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| HQ | Petrovaradin (1918–1936) Zemun (1936–1941) |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Dušan Simović Borivoje Mirković |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Bomber | Dornier Do Y, Bristol Blenheim, Dornier Do 17, Caproni Ca.310, Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 |
| Fighter | Hawker Hurricane, Ikarus IK-2, Hawker Fury Mk.II, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Rogožarski IK-3 |
| Trainer | Rogožarski SIM-X, Rogožarski SIM-XII-H, Rogožarski PVT, Rogožarski R-100, Bücker Bü 131 |
The Royal Yugoslav Air Force (Serbo-Croatian Latin: Jugoslovensko kraljevsko ratno vazduhoplovstvo, JKRV; Serbo-Croatian Cyrillic: Југословенско краљевско ратно ваздухопловство, ЈКРВ; (Slovene: Jugoslovansko kraljevo vojno letalstvo, JKVL); lit. "Yugoslav royal war aviation"),[1] was the aerial warfare service component of the Royal Yugoslav Army (itself the land warfare branch of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). It was formed in 1918 and existed until 1941 and the Invasion of Yugoslavia during World War II.
Some 18 aircraft and several hundred aircrew escaped the Axis invasion of April 1941 to the Allied base in Egypt, eventually flying with the Royal Air Force in the Northern Africa initially and then with the Balkan Air Force in Italy and Yugoslavia, with some even going on to join the Soviet Air Force, returning to Yugoslavia in 1944.
Germany distributed captured Royal Yugoslav Air Force aircraft and spare parts to Romania, Bulgaria, Finland and the newly created Independent State of Croatia.
- ^ Ciglić & Savić 2007, p. 4.