The 111th Helicopter Regiment (Serbo-Croatian: 111. helikopterski puk / 82. хеликоптерски пук) was a unit established in 1944 as the 422nd Assault Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian: 422. vazduhoplovni jurišni puk / 422. ваздухопловни јуришни пук). History 422nd Assault Aviation Regiment The regiment was established on December 4, 1944, in Novi Sad, from Yugoslav partisan aviators with the Soviet Air Force 17th Air Army's 166th Guards Assault Aviation Regiment (166.GShAP). It became independent from Soviet command and personnel in May 1945. The regiment was part of the 42nd Aviation Assault Division; it was equipped with Soviet Il-2 Shturmovik ground-attack aircraft. The regiment took part in final operations for the liberation of Yugoslavia. During combat operations, it was based at Novi Sad, Klenak, Mađarmečke and Pleso airfields. After the war, the regiment remained at Pleso. By 1948, the regiment was renamed, like all other units of the Yugoslav Army, becoming the 111th Assault Aviation Regiment. The commanders of the regiment in this period were Krsta Lakićević, Hinko Šoić, Predavec and Milan Aćimović. 111th Assault and Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment The 111th Assault Aviation Regiment remained at Pleso for a short time. By 1949 it had moved to Cerklje where it was to remain until it was disbanded. In 1954 the Il-2s were replaced with US-built F-47D Thunderbolt fighters. In that period, the unit was renamed the 111th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Serbo-Croatian: 111. lovačko-bombarderski avijacijski puk / 111. ловачко-бомбардерски авијацијски пук). The 111th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment was disbanded in March 1961. The commanders of the regiment in this period were Milan Aćimović, Miloš Milikić, Radoje Ljubičić, Matija Macut and Petar Orešćanin. Re-establishment of the 111th Regiment The 111th Support Aviation Regiment was formed at Cerklje airport in April 1961 from the 679th Transport Aviation Squadron, which was equipped with Soviet-made Lisunov Li-3 transport aircraft and the 894th Liaison Aviation Squadron which operated Yugoslav-made Ikarus Kurir liaison machines. The new 111th Regiment took the number and banner and continued the traditions of the former 111th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment. The 780th Transport Helicopter Squadron, equipped with new Soviet Mil Mi-4 helicopters, was transferred from the 107th to the 111th Regiment in 1964. The out-moded Li-3s were replaced with similar US C-47 Skytrains in 1966. By 1973, the 780th Squadron had replaced their Mi-4s with newer Mil Mi-8T helicopters. In the same year one other squadron, the 781st, also with Mi-8s, was moved from the 107th to the