On October 16, 1912, after the flight of the Bulgarian military plane “Albatross” over the Turkish positions and Edirne, Lieutenant Radul Milkov returns as the first pilot in the world to make a combat flight and drop bombs on the enemy. His aircraft unit near Svilengrad, of which he is the commander, includes brave and self-sacrificing Bulgarian eagles – officers, privates, volunteers, aircraft mechanics.
The glory of the Bulgarian aviation power, which began with the Edirne epic, is inextricably linked with the name of the pilot Lieutenant Colonel Radul Milkov. He is a commander with innate composure and fearlessness, with a fascinating ability to command and inspire his subordinates by personal example. Radul Milkov graduated from the 26th graduating class of the Military Academy of H.V. school in September 1906, and in 1912, after a competition, he achieved his cherished dream – leaves for flight training. He passed the pilot test with excellent success, received the certificate of competence (brevet) of the German Imperial Aviation Club. With the declaration of the Balkan War, he was appointed commander of the 1st aviation division at the airport near Svilengrad. The Edirne epic begins with the arrival of lieutenant Radul Milkov from Berlin to take his part at the ready-made airport.
Early in the morning, on October 15, the first shipments of Bulgarian aircraft arrived by train. Together, everyone unloads the boxes with the wings of glory for the Bulgarian eagles and assembles the first Bulgarian “Albatross” with technical skill and flair. The commander personally flies into the skies to test the motor... On getting off the plane, he makes an unwavering decision – with the technical capabilities of private Stoyan Terziyski and his camera, it is possible to perform an unsuspected combat task. “Albatross” again, but this time there are two on board – commander and private, for the purpose of aerial photoreconnaissance over Turkish positions and fortifications. The flight height is extremely low and the detour is very short – to save time and reduce risk. In the evening, several photos are already ready, but still the windy and cloudy weather, the dusk of the sunset, speak for themselves.
The next morning, the commander and private meet the first rays of the sun again over the Turkish positions.
On the morning of October 16, 1912, new pictures were ready – this time superior in quality.
Again on October 16, 1912, at 9 o'clock in the morning, Major General Simeon Yankov arrived at the airport, greeted Lieutenant Milkov and assigned him the task of intelligence on the enemy. Lieutenant Tarakchiev, a balloonist, expresses a desire to fly as well. The two get on the plane and take bombs. For lieutenant Radul Milkov, the reconnaissance has already been done, the more important goal is to bombard the enemy.
Two hours later, the first combat pilot in the world, lieutenant Radul Milkov, and observer Prodan Tarakchiev were welcomed at the airport. Private Stoyan Terziyski, the first aerial reconnaissance photographer in world combat history, was among the guests.