25 Facts About Mato Dukovac

Mato Dukovac was the leading Croatian fighter ace of World War II, credited with between 40 and 44 confirmed victories.

Mato Dukovac joined the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia following the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, and then the Luftwaffe, with which he flew combat missions on the Eastern Front.

Mato Dukovac defected to the Soviet Union on 20 September 1944 and was returned to Yugoslavia in November 1944.

Mato Dukovac worked as a flight instructor for the Yugoslav Air Force in Pancevo and Zadar before defecting to Italy in April 1945.

Mato Dukovac was born on 23 September 1918 in the town of Surcin, near Zemun, then part of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, Austria-Hungary.

Mato Dukovac was an avid glider pilot before he entered the 67th class of the Royal Yugoslav Military Academy in Belgrade in 1937.

Mato Dukovac graduated on 1 April 1940 with the rank of potporucnik, and commenced pilot training at the 1st Pilot School in Pancevo in October of that year.

Mato Dukovac joined the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia on 29 April 1941 with the rank of porucnik, and was initially posted to the personnel department of ZNDH headquarters.

On 11 November 1942, Mato Dukovac was flying his 12th mission, escorting Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers to Lazarevskoye.

Mato Dukovac was unable to build upon his success at this time, as four days later the whole Staffel rotated back to the NDH because most of the personnel had endured a year of constant combat.

Five days later, Mato Dukovac was late taking off and was catching up to his Schwarm when he downed a LaGG-3 fighter during an engagement with four of the Soviet aircraft, but there were no witnesses to confirm his claim.

Mato Dukovac claimed one, but the other pilot's aircraft was hit and they had to retire.

Mato Dukovac flew another mission in a different aircraft later that day over the Black Sea, downing an Ilyushin DB-3 bomber.

Mato Dukovac claimed a victory over another LaGG-3 during a patrol three days later, but it was not seen by his wingman, as they had become separated during the fight.

Two days later, he and two other pilots surprised eight LaGG-3s west of Trarehof, all of them claiming one, although Mato Dukovac's claim was not witnessed.

Three days later, Mato Dukovac scored the first victory of the tour by downing a LaGG-3 south of Kerch.

Mato Dukovac claimed another two Il-2s the next day, but his aircraft was badly damaged by the escorting fighters and he crash-landed near Mariental, escaping unhurt.

Mato Dukovac was evacuated to a field hospital but returned to 15.

Mato Dukovac's defection was announced by the Red Army.

Mato Dukovac was first placed in a refugee camp in Modena, and then one in Bagnoli del Trigno.

On 14 July 1948, Mato Dukovac carried out a bombing raid on Israeli targets in Galilee.

Mato Dukovac left before the war ended and emigrated to Canada.

Mato Dukovac settled in Toronto and started a family there.

Mato Dukovac worked for IBM and was a co-founder of one of the largest Croatian emigre organisations in Canada, the United Croats of Canada.

Mato Dukovac was the top-scoring Croatian pilot of World War II.