purposes, it being stated post-war by surviving pilots that most of the victories had been fabricated. Three of the unit's pilots defected to the Soviets. The leading aces were Ján Režňák with 32 confirmed victories and Izidor Kovárik with 28 confirmed victories. Return to Slovakia The Slovak unit, which was suffering from poor morale, was withdrawn back to Slovakia in October 1943, leaving the Luftwaffe-owned Bf 109Fs and Gs with JG 52. The 13th Fighter Flight was equipped with a mixture of Bf 109Es and Avia B-534s on its return to Slovakia, where it was based at Vajnory and then Piešťany, tasked with the defense of Bratislava. It re-equipped with factory-fresh Bf 109G-6s in early 1944, operating under the control of the Jagdfliegerführer Ostmark (Fighter Leader Austria). On 26 June 1944 eight Bf 109s of the 13 Fighter Flight engaged an American heavy bomber formation near Bratislava. They managed to shoot down a B-24, and damaging two others before five 109s were shot down by the escorts and two more badly damaged. Three pilots were killed, including the unit commander. These losses virtually wiped out the 13th Fighter Flight, and its surviving aircraft were transferred to the 12th Fighter Flight. This was itself disbanded when German forces disarmed Slovak forces as a result of the Slovak National Uprising. References Luftwaffe squadrons Military history of Slovakia during World War II Foreign volunteer units of the Luftwaffe Military units and formations established in 1941 Military units and formations disestablished in 1944 Germany–Slovakia relations