72168 BENE¹-MRÁZ BE-51C CROATIAN & YUGOSLAV PARTISAN

Nationality markings (hereinafter: insignia) on the Air Force planes of the Independent State of Croatia have been used since its very existence, that is from 1941. In the period 1941-1944, the insignia was a shield divided into white and red fields forming a chessboard with 5 rows and as many rows. Often, in order to facilitate its application to an airplane, it was given a square shape. Interestingly, such markings were used primarily on the wings of Croatian machines and on stable verticals, as fin flash, less often on the hulls. On the other hand, in 1944 a designation was introduced that very clearly resembled the German Balkenkreuz, but with a clearly thinner lower arm of the cross and indentations on the other arms. This designation was used until 1945, placing it primarily on the wings and fuselages of aircraft.