Austria

A brief history of the nation's air forces
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The Secret Airforce.
The 1919 Treaty of St Germain, which effectively dismantled the Hapsburg Empire, enforcing a "Draconian Peace" after the chaos of WW1, saw huge structural changes in the military potential of Austria. It no longer had access to a coastline, its Army was structuraly limited to 30,000 men and an Airforce was banned. This condition prevailed until 1934. In 1934 The Austrians defiantly created a secret air force, which became official in 1936 with Austria's regaining of full sovereignty.

A new Air Force

A plan was put in place to have for 10 operational squadrons within the new air force, fighter, bomber and training units. Fiat CR20, CR30, CR32 fighters, Junker Ju86D bombers, Ju52/3M transports. Messerschmitt Bf108B Taifan and Focke Wulf Fw58 Weihe communicatios aircraft and Fw44 Stieglitz trainers were aquired and fuly operational until March 12th 1938 when the Anschluss took place, the Germans occupying and completely absorbing Austria into Nazi Germany.
Anschluss and World War 2
The Luftwaffe played a major role in the occupation, with some 400 of its aircraft taking part in the action and 160 troop carriers flew more than 2,000 fully equipped troops into Viena. The Austrian military authorities co-operated completely with the German forces and the Austrian Airforce and its aircraft industry were immediately merged with the Luftwaffe.
The six Austrian fighter squadrons became the Luftwaffe's Jagdgruppen l-135 and l-138. In the former Austrian Airforce Commander-in-Cheief, General Loehr, the Luftwaffe acquired a future Luftflotte commander with outstanding ability and the Austrians provided a number of other valuable personnel and skilled pilots. These included Major General Frohlich, who was to become the Air Commander in Africa under Rommel; Prince Lippe-Weissenfeld, one of the Luftwaffe's most successful night fighter pilots; Walter Nowotny, who with 258 victories was to become one of the Luftwaffe's leading fighter pilots; and Colonel Gordon Collob, the Luftwaffe's last General of the Fighter Force.

After World War 2

After WW2, Austria was briefly divided into 4 Allied occupied zones and once again banned from maintaining a military air arm. This condition remained in lace until 1955.

In 1955 Austria once again was re-established as a sovereign state and compelled to maintain neutrality under the post war agreements. It immediately created the Luftsreitkrafte, Olk, Austrian Air Force, as a unit within the Army. Initial aircraft were 8 Yak-11 and Yak-18 trainers donated by the Soviet Union, as well as Austrian purchased Zlin trainers. In 1957 3 de Havilland Vampite jet trainers were obtained along with Fiat G-46-5B's and Bell 47 Sioux helicopters, Piper Super Cubs and Cessna 182's for liaison and communication usage. By 1960, these had been joined by 6 Westland Whirlwind and 6 Aloueete helicopters. In 1961, fighters arrive din the form of SaabJ29F Tunnan fighter bombers and in 1962 Potez Magister trainers arrived.

Over the next decade 40 Saab 105OE strike aircraft arrived replacing the j-29's. During this time the Olk also established a transport squadron with DHC beavers, Short Skyvans, Sikorshy S-65, Alouette 3, Alouette 2 and Bell 204 and 206 helicopters, all backed by Saab Safir and Magister trainers.

In 1988 24 ex-Swedish Saab Draken J35OE arrived relegating the 105OE aircraft to the training role. Five more Draken were aquired in 1999 as spares. Much of the Draken training is done in Sweden as Austrian airspace is very confined.

Current inventory also includes 9 UH 60 helicopters and although the Skyvans remain in service, they are likely to be replaced soon.12 Turbo Porters handle Liason service along with 11 Kiowa helicopters. The mainstay of the transport fleet are 22 AB 212 helicopters with 23 Alouette 3's operating in Search and Rescue and utility roles. The Drakens were expected to be replaced by new Eurofighter Typhoons, but that was put on hold in 2002.
for the section Anschluss and World War 2, thanks to and copyright of Russell Huff. Much of the remainder was abstracted from and is copyright Janes Air Forces of the World