Deakin and Maclean
William Deakin was attached as advisor to the newly formed command, Balkan Air Force, under (then) Air Vice Marshal William Elliot, with headquarters at Bari, Italy. This body assumed responsibility for all operations by land, sea, and air into Central and South-Eastern Europe.
Fitzroy Maclean the head of the British military mission to the Partisans said that the Balkan Air Force " .... was responsible for the planning and co-ordination of all supply dropping as well as for all bomber and fighter operations in support of the Partisans. This gave me a single authority with whom I could deal direct and was of incalculable advantage in obtaining quick results”.... This was decisive in enabling the Partisans to withstand the Raid on Drvar (Seventh Offensive)
Much of the planning for “Operation Ratweek” to impede the German withdrawal from the Balkans was done at B.A.F. Headquarters and Maclean’s own Rear Headquarters at Bari. Ratweek, started on 1 September 1944, also involved the Navy and the Partisans USAAF Flying Fortresses (50) were called in to bomb Leskovac and impede the German withdrawal, though with many civilian casualties
Read more about this topic: Balkan Air Force