| Unit Name: | 3rd Corps of Air Force and Air Defense 3. korpus ratnog vazduhoplovstva i protivvazdušne odbrane |
| Dates: | 1964–1992 |
| Branch: | Yugoslav Air Force |
| Type: | Corps |
| Size: | 5 regiments |
| Garrison: | Niš |
| Garrison Label: | HQ |
| Disbanded: | 1992 |
The 3rd Corps of Air Force and Air Defense (Serbo-Croatian: 3. korpus ratnog vazduhoplovstva i protivvazdušne odbrane/ 3. корпус ратног ваздухопловства и противваздушне одбране) was a joint unit of Yugoslav Air Force established in 1964 as 1st Aviation Corps (Serbo-Croatian: 1. vazduhoplovni korpus / 1. ваздухопловни корпус).
The 1st Aviation Corps was formed by order on May 8, 1964, per the "Drvar 2" reorganization plan of the Yugoslav Air Force. It was created by transformation of 1st Air Command and its consolidation with units from 3rd Air Command and 7th Air Command. It consisted of all aviation units from the eastern part of Yugoslavia at military airports Batajnica, Lađevci, Niš, Skoplje and Priština.
On December 25, 1967, the command of 1st Aviation Corps has been relocated from Zemun to Niš and by February, 1986, it was renamed in to 3rd Corps of Air Force and Air Defense.
During this period Dušan Vlaisavljević, Ljubiša Ćurguz, Stevan Roglić, Borivoje Petkov and Miloš Bajčetić were commanders of the 1st Aviation Corps.[1]
The 3rd Corps of Air Force and Air Defense was formed in February 1986, by order to organize three corps of Air Force and Air Defense. The corps area of responsibility was south-east part of Yugoslavia. It's aviation units were based at Niš, Skoplje, Lađevci, Priština and Golubovci military airports.
Units of 3rd Corps of Air Force and Air Defense have participated in combat operations since end of June 1991 as assistance for other corps.
By June 1992 the 3rd Corps of Air Force and Air Defense has been disbanded, and its command was reorganized into command of Aviation Corps of newly formed Air Force of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
In this period commanders of 3rd Corps of Air Force and Air Defense were Marko Kulić and Ljubiša Veličković.[2]
| Date appointed | Name |
|---|---|
| 1964-1968 | Dušan Vlaisavljević |
| 1968-1973 | Ljubiša Ćurguz |
| 1973-1978 | Stevan Roglić |
| 1978-1984 | Borivoje Petkov |
| 1984-1986 | Miloš Bajčetić |
| 1986-1991 | Marko Kulić |
| 1991-1992 | Ljubiša Veličković |