Milkov and Tarakchiev: World's First Bomber Pilots

Views on BG | October 16, 2004, Saturday // 00:00

Bulgarian pilots Radul Milkov and Prodan Tarakchiev were the first people ever to use a plane as bomber. They also took the first aircraft-shot wartime pictures.

The historic event took place on October 16, 1912, during the Balkan War. The two men had to reconnoitre the Turkish army in the Adrianople (now Edirne) stronghold.

In the last moment before the flight, Milkov and Tarakchiev decided to place two bombs in hampers on both sides of the aircraft. Later, they dropped the bombs over a military target - the railway station of Karaagach.

The news made a splash in world press. The two Bulgarians had disproved some military men's belief that airplanes had nothing to do with the army.

Tarakchiev died in 1957, and his mate passed away five years later.

Since 1963 October 16 has been celebrated as Bulgarian Aviation Day.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Views on BG » Be a reporter: Write and send your article

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria