About 14:00 on 9 April, two "Staffeln" of German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters from II. Gruppe of "Jagdgeschwader 54" were observed heading towards Nova Topola just as two IK-2s were landing after a patrol in poor flying weather. One of the IK-2s managed to overshoot and climbed to meet them, but the other was unable to, and had to complete its landing. "Podnarednik" (Junior Sergeant) Branko Jovanović used the extreme manoeuvrability of his IK-2 to avoid the nine Bf 109s that swooped in to attack, while a total of eight Hurricanes and five more IK-2s from the 4th Fighter Regiment scrambled to meet the Germans. For the following seven or eight minutes, a furious dogfight ensued over Novo Topola, during which two German aircraft were claimed and two Hurricanes and one IK-2 were lost. German records indicate that only one of their aircraft was lost, and that the pilot survived. "Podnarednik" Stikić survived the loss of his IK-2, but was badly wounded. The Germans, low on fuel, broke off and headed north.