| Unit Name: | Air Force of the Albanian People's Army |
| Native Name: | Albanian: Forcat Ajrore të Ushtrisë Popullore të Shqipërisë |
| Dates: | 24 April 1951 – 1991 |
| Country: | Albania |
| Type: | Air force |
| Role: | Aerial warfare |
| Size: | 11,000 personnel |
| Command Structure: | Albanian People's Army |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Roundel |
| Battles: | |
| Notable Commanders: | Edip Ohri |
| Aircraft Bomber: | Ilyushin Il-28, Harbin H-5 |
| Aircraft Fighter: | Yak-9, MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, Shenyang J-6, Shenyang J-5, Chengdu J-7 |
| Aircraft Helicopter: | Mi-1, Mi-4, Mi-8, Z-5 |
| Aircraft Trainer: | Yak-18, Yak-11, CJ-6 |
| Aircraft Transport: | Y-5, An-2 |
The Air Force of the Albanian People's Army (FASH), commonly known as the Albanian Air Force, was one of the three branches of the Albanian armed forces during the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. It was established in 1947 and existed until the dissolution of the People's Army in 1991.
The Albanian People's Army Air Force was formed in 1947 with a gift of twelve Yakovlev Yak-3 fighters and a few Polikarpov Po-2 biplane trainers from the Soviet Union, with Soviet personnel seconded as instructors and advisers.[1]
The Albanian Air Force was officially established on April 24, 1951. Its first aircraft were Soviet Yak-18 trainers produced after World War II and initially used at Laprakë on the outskirts of the Albanian capital of Tirana. A few years later, the Albanian Air Force would also be equipped with jet fighters. The first squadron of MiG-15 fighters, titled "Peza", was formed in 1955. This squadron was deployed at Kuçovo Airport.[2]
Later, as part of military aid from the Soviet Union, the Albanian Air Force was also equipped with the MiG-17 and MiG-19.
After the Albanian–Soviet split ended the possibility of acquiring new Soviet planes, Albania's ally China supplied it in the early 1970s with the Chengdu J-7, China's license-built version of the Soviet MiG-21 and referred to as MiG-21s by the Albanian Air Force.
In June 1957, the first transport regiment was created, with three Mi-1 helicopters and three new Mi-4 helicopters, as well as some Yak-18 and Po-2 propeller planes. In 1967, this regiment was expanded in capacity with the arrival of 30 Harbin Z-5s (China's copy of the Mi-4).[3]
The first operation of FASH were undertaken by the Albanian anti-aircraft regiment units and they hit and shot down a Greek Spitfire type plane that had violated Albanian airspace for a spying mission. The Greek plane was destroyed and the pilot was found dead.[4] [5] [6]
In August 1949, during the Albanian-Greek border incident, anti-aircraft units of the same regiment shot down another Greek plane. The plane was forced to land in a field, where it was captured by Albanian combat units. The Greek pilot was captured and imprisoned as a prisoner of war.[7] [8]
In April 1952, a Greek pilot, Nikos Akrivojanis, was captured by Albanian Air Force soldiers. He is said to have landed as he wanted to flee Greece because of the government but he was accused of being in Albania for a covert operation.[9] He was tried on December 13, 1953 and executed on August 16, 1954.[10] [11]
On December 23, 1957, an American Lockheed T-33 fighter jet violated Albanian airspace. Two MiG-15 aircraft took off from Kuçova airbase, piloted by Anastas Ngjela and Mahmut Hysa.
Major Howard J. Curran was intercepted and forced to land on the unfinished runway of the Rinas airport. The plane was seized and Curran was taken prisoner. He was later released on January 11, 1958, while the plane was placed in the Gjirokastër Fortress museum, where it is still today.[12] [13]