Obviously a product of an earlier era. This plane was well into obsolescence when the Second World War broke out, yet it served almost to the end.

Let’s take a quick look at a minor type, that is symbol of resistance in its homeland.

In 1933 the Avia B-34 first flew as a prototype fighter for the Czechoslovak Air Force. Several different engines were fitted which led to a B-234 also seeing some production. When Avia settled on the Hispano-Suisa 12 Y engine (850 maximum horsepower) it became the B-534 and this was the major production version.

The B-534 first entered service in 1935, the Hawker Fury was still flying with the RAF, the Gloster Gladiator was about to enter production. So the type did not seem horribly out of date. It was manufactured in four different “Series”, each with minor improvements. Standard armament was four light machine guns in the fuselage. Construction was modern for the 1930s. The last series built added an enclosed canopy.

When an International Aviation Exhibition was held in Zurich in 1938, only the new Bf 109 outperformed the B-534. Of course that proved ominous. With that summer’s Sudetenland crisis the Czech’s looked to improve their defense, including another look at updating this fighter. Ultimately they could only increase production of the Series IV. 568 total aircraft were built. It stayed in service with several air forces through the War; including Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. No one considered it a modern type for war time fighting, but Czech forces did use it on the Eastern Front flying close support against the Soviets. The Bulgarians classed it a second rate fighter and made it a part of their air defense, as such it flew missions under the Luftwaffe’s air defense net of eastern Europe. And that’s where it has appeared on PlaneDave before, a Bulgarian B-534 squadron made first contact with the B-24s of Operation Tidal Wave on their way to the Ploesti Oil Refineries on August 1, 1943. This mostly served to highlight their obsolescence, they could not catch the Liberators on that morning and could only radio a contact report; although they did manage a firing run later as the B-24’s raced for home, but no damage was reported.
Yugoslavia and Greece also operated small numbers. The Luftwaffe used many as fighter trainers, and even considered the type for a new aircraft carrier under construction.

This particular aircraft carries markings from the Slovak National Uprising in September 1944. Apparently this was the only aircraft photographed in the full “official” markings, its the Czech Air Force roundel with Slovak cross superimposed. A B-534 flying for the Uprising brought down a Ju 52 transport, by some measures that was the last bi-plane kill in history (there’s a few other claimants for that depending on how you parse it).

This is the Eduard kit. It was a matter of some pride for that Czech company to do a kit of this aircraft. Unfortunately it was one of their early efforts as they were transitioning from “limited run” to “mainstream”. It is really a difficult build! A lot of alignment issues and a lot of filler used. They include photo-etch connectors for the external rigging, but when I couldn’t figure out how it was all supposed to connect I gave up. Looking at pictures I may regret that, some of the rigging is pretty pronounced. Sorry, I’m calling this done.