The Fateful Air Battle of April 17, 1944: Bulgaria's Black Easter

On April 17, 1944, at 11:45 AM, the skies over Bulgaria witnessed one of the most intense air engagements of World War II, an event that would later be referred to as "Black Easter" in Bulgarian aviation history. This was the last massive day-and-night raid carried out by Allied forces against Bulgaria, involving a formidable array of 350 B-24H "Liberator" bombers escorted by the advanced P-51B "Mustang" and P-47D "Thunderbolt" fighters.

The Bulgarian air defense responded with its own fighters, including two squadrons from Vrazhdebna and Bozhurishte airfields. The first, equipped with 16 Me-109G2 and 2 Dewoitine D.520 aircraft, and the second with 14 Me-109G6 fighters.

Typically used to encountering the twin-engine P-38 "Lightning", the Bulgarian pilots were initially thrown off by the absence of their usual adversaries. Instead, they found themselves up against the new escort fighters and the formidable bomber formation.

One of the notable aerial engagements involved Lieutenant Nikolai Yordanov from the 672nd squadron, who successfully targeted a B-24, setting it ablaze. Additionally, Lieutenant Boris Damev and Sergeant Dako Dakov inflicted further damage on the enemy. Captain Nikolai Boshnakov of the 2/6 squadron managed to destroy another B-24, while Lieutenant Nedelcho Bonchev executed a ramming attack, downing a four-engined bomber over the village of Krapets. Remarkably, Bonchev survived by parachuting to safety.

The day marked the severest losses for the Bulgarian Air Force during the war. The similarity in appearance between the Messerschmitt and the American P-51 "Mustang" led to fatal misidentifications, as the Bulgarian pilots mistook the approaching American fighters for reinforcements. This tragic confusion resulted in the death of six pilots and the destruction of nine Bulgarian aircraft, with three more damaged.

Among the fallen were the commander of the 692nd squadron, Captain Lyuben Kondakov, and lieutenants such as Hristo Arnaudov and Dimitar Popov. The engagement also saw the first American "Mustang" shot down near the village of Dugan. Additionally, Bulgarian anti-aircraft artillery managed to hit nine enemy aircraft, several of which failed to return to their bases.

This day entered the annals of Bulgarian aviation history as a poignant reminder of the brutal realities of air warfare. The Aviation Museum, a branch of the National Museum of Military History, preserves photographs, documents, and aircraft parts related to this battle, including those of Lieutenant Nedelcho Bonchev and his dramatic ramming attack. The exhibit serves as a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those involved in this fateful encounter.

Follow this newsletter for more articles and news about Bulgarian Air Force.

Watch Trailer ?Директна цел- България“