mC ETO ey coe)
Romanian
Fighter Colours
OseTech litin Moxos
DanyAlexandruyMelinte;
Fightera@olours
1941 119.4 5)Fighter aircraft in Romanian servic .
PZLPAL.
PZLP.24..
Hawker Hurricane Mk...
Heinkel He 112E.
TAR 80/81.
‘Messerschmitt Bf 109E..
‘Messerschmitt BE 109G.
Messerschmitt BE 110...
Captured fighter aircraft in Romanian service
‘MiG-3 early type..
Polikarpov I-16 type 29
Focke-Wulf 190 F-8.
Focke-Wulf 190 A-8
This book is dedicated to all Romanian Fighter pilots who bravely fought in
WW2, challenging the most powerful nations of the world in defence of their
homeland, and especially honours those who were killed in action.
Their supreme sacrifice will never be forgotten.
in the picture!
Do you have photographs of historical aircraft, airfields in ation, or original and unusual stores to tll?
[MMP would like t hear from you! We welcome previously unpublished material that will help to make MMP
thebestof their kind. We will return original photos to you and provide fll credit for your images. Contact
efore sending us any valuable material: rogerw@mmpbooks bizWe wish to extend our deep and sincere thanks to the many people who were so helpful tous.
George Cicos and Vasile Tudor gave us considerable help with the original documents and,
from Pitesti Military Archives.
Prof. Valeiu Avram provided much valuable information and photographs from Military Aviation
Museum Bucharest.
Claudiu Stumer very helpfully provided the nice photos from Scully Loghotteti collection.
Dénes Bernd was most helpful with useful information for the first chapters of the book
ing PZL P.11/24 and He 112 war activity and was quite generous with his photographic mater
‘Tomasz J. Kopariski, Marek Rogusz gave us considerable help by providing many rare photographs.
José Fernandez provided us with many rare photographs.
Dan Antonin most helpfully and generously opened his archives of documents and photog
providing much useful information particularly concerning the IAR 80/81 fighter aircraft. He was
sery helpful by providing the rare wartime color photos made by Lt. 8x loan Tulea and by Lt.
Emil Turcas. 4
Razvan Bujor’s help was of critical importance by providing valuable photos from the collection of
his father C-dor Au: Bujor Constantin.
Radu Brinzan labored with excellence and dedication on the Appendices about the Romanian avige
tion unit structure and rank hierarchy and the chart with dimension and types of crosses and round
cls used on Romanian Fighter aircraft. Furthermore, apart from helping with the translation, he also
helped withthe analysis of camouflage and markings and a variety of technical advice.
It would not have been possible to write this book without the help of written records or
siven to us by veterans airmen of the Romanian Fighter Groups, especially G-ral. Av (t) Ion Da
C-dor. Av (e) Marinciu Ioan, G-ral. Av (t) loan Di Cesare, C-dor Aw. (t) Galea loan, C-dor Ax
Simionescu Toan, C-dor Av. (t) Morane Iosif, C-dor Av. Gavriliu Vasile
We would also like to thank the following friends, fellow aviation historians and enthusiasts
their co-operation: G-ral Av (t) Dan Stoian, arh. Mihai Andrei, Cornel Marandiuc, Victor Nip
Tarilungd, Cornel Nastase, Toader Tudor, Ovidiu George Man, Alex Arma, and Andrei Zincenca,
-Aeronautica Militara - Military Aeronautics
‘Aeronautica Regal Romana - Romanian Royal Air Force
*ASAM - acronym of Asociatia Stabilimentelor Aeronautic Militare - Association of
Aeronautics Establishments
-BoPi - abbreviation of “Bombardier in Picaj” - Dive Bomber
Comandamentul Aeronauticii Militare - Military Aeronautics Command
-LA.R - acronym of Industria Aeronautica Romina - Romanian Aeronautical Industry
-MAM - acronym of Ministenal Aenuui si Marine - Ministry of Air and Navy, until 1947
-§MA - acronym of Statul Major al Aenului - Air Chief of Staff
“SSA - acronym of Subsecretariatul de Stat al Aenului- State Under Secretariate for the Ait
-$cVt. - abbreviation of Scoala de Vnatoare - Fighter Aviation School
‘Scoala Militari de Aviatie - Military Aviation
Vandtoare - when translated literally, it means “to hunt” and was used in association with
‘number of specialties of the Romanian armed forces. When used in an aviation context, it med
“Fighter aviation”, often abbreviated to Vt... The Fw 190s* had a very dark camouflage. They had yellow crosses on the upperside of each
yellow and black checker board below the canopy on the fuselage and red, white and yellow hori
stripes on the vertical stabilizer. There was also a yellow band around the nose on the cowling.
-MA 205s* had red and yellow stripes on the wing, ared nose and a chocolate brown fuselage. Both
Fw 190s and the MA 205s' wore vivid colors; the painting could not properly be called camouflage
itis made the planes much more conspicuous.”
Extracts from mission report Na, 26, 52nd FG, 15th USAAF, 23 June 1944,
‘On 22 june 1941, when Romania entered the war againt the USSR as anally of Germany, the
‘military aviation had 250 fighter aircraft service.
" Fortthree consecutive years, the Romanian fighter units fought the Soviet forces, effectively con-
ing to the liberation of the Romanian provinces of Northern Bukovina and Bessarabia, go-
all the way to Odessa and then on to great battles ofthe Stalingrad and Crimean Front. From
ist 1943, a new and powerful foe made its appearance in the skies of Romania, the USAAF.
with April 1944, for five months the Romanian home defence fighters were engaged
ha deadly fight with the American aircraft. They fought an uneven battle outnumbered 1:5 and
ed severe losses in the face of more powerful aircraft such as the P-38 Lightning and P-51
From 23 August 1944, Romania joined the Allies and sent the survivors of the “American
9 to fight the most experienced airforce of the time, the Luftwaffe.
it Command recorded between 1941-1945 more than 1,200 aerial victories,
scored by Romanian aces such as the prince Cipitan Av. Constantin Cantacuzino with 57
victories, Capitan Au. Alexandru Serbinescu with 55 victories, Adjutant Ax. loan Milu
th 30 victories, Adjutant Au Ion Mucenica with 22 victories, Locotenent Ax: Tudor Greceanu with
‘victories, Sit.Au loan Dicezare with 16 victories, Ofifer de echipaj Ax Maga loan with 15 victo-
Gipitan Ax, Popescu Ciocinel with 13 victories, Locotenent Au: Dobran lon with 11 victories
soon.
Fighter aviation in World War 2 has always been a fascinating subject and an endless source of
piration for the authors of aviation books. Specialised publications feature beautiful and excel-
illustrations of aircraft belonging to the belligerent nations such as USA, Germany, USSR, UK,
neetc. Although the operational activity of the Romanian fighter aviation has been well out-
ed in a number of references, the camouflage and markings of Romanian fighters were seldom
bed wel o illustrated accurately
“Thus was born the idea ofthis book, featuring in its pages no less than 100 profiles of Romanian
aircraft that took part in the Second World War between 1941 and 1945.
For each aircraft, the camouflage scheme and the markings are described succinctly and illus-
ed in colour. The profiles are accompanied by explanatory text about the unit thatthe aircraft
ed in and information about the pilots who flew them. Also, the book contains more than 150
ck & white and colour photographs, many of them never published before.
‘The operational activity has not been neglected either and this is presented in a compact for-
fn the case of each aircraft. In addition, in the annexes is explained the structure of the avia-
n units and the rank hierarchy with their British equivalents. Scale modellers are not ignored, for
‘we include a chart with the dimensions and types of crosses and roundels used on Romanian
aircraft. Another annexe presents a table with the types of colours identified by codes that
assist model builders.
The information used in putting together this book represents the sum of all the efforts made
‘many years by researchers of Romanian aviation history, either professional historians or
enthusiasts passionate about the subject.
"The bibliography consulted included aviation books, magazine articles, documents from the
hlitary and civilian archives as wel a the pilot logbooks, journals and memories of veteran pilots.
The Authors
American aviators had difculty in correctly identifying the aircraft they met over Romania, In general,
Romanian IAR-80/81 fighter aircraft were misidentified as German Fw190 aircraft or Italian aircaft such
fas Fiat G-50, Macchi 200, Reggiane 2000 etc. The Romanian Bf 109 fighters were misidentified as Italian
‘Macchi 202 or Macchi 205 fightersFighter aircraft
in Romanian service
PZL P.11
Fifty PZL P.11b aircraft were produced for the Aeronautica Regal Romana and delivered in
932. Apart from the Gnome-Rhone 9Krsd (595 HP) engines, they were similar to P.L1a, After the
development of P.1lc, Aer
model at IAR Brasox. As a
powered by the Gnome-Rhone 9Krse (610 HP) engine
Regalé Roménd decided to buy a licence and produce the new
sult, beginning in 1936 IAR Brasov built 70 IAR type P.1 If aireraft
On 22 June 1941, when the first campaign started, two groups of Flotila 3 Vindtoare were
equipped with the PZL P.11: Grupul 3 Vindtoare commanded by Lt. C-dor Av. Teodor Munteants
and Gnipul 4 Vandtoare commanded by Lt. C-dor Av. Niculescu Dumitru,
(On 28 June 1941, at dawn, the two squadrons of Grupul 4 Vindtoare carried out a raid against
a heavy Soviet artillery division at Giurgiulesti. The P.11f aircraft bombed and strafed the enemy
position one after the other, flying in line astern. Cpt, Av. Dumitru Rata (Commander of the group)
recalls: “It was an extraordinary and unforgettable sig
(On the same day, in the afternoon, four P.11s of Escadrila 49, Gupul 4 Vindtoare, were flying a
uit 15 1-16 fight-
bomber escort mission. Close to the target, near Vulcinesti, they encountered ab
rs (Ratas, the nickname given to thes
After a brief dog
Au, Nicolae Chiru, Sit
aircraft in Spain) of 67 LAP
. the Romanian pilots achieved three confirmed victories claimed by Ope
Au: Bujor Botezat, and Adj. Au Gheorghe Hipaianu, Two of the P.le ait
craft (former Polish refugee aircraft) were shot down by I-16s. The Squadron commander, Cpt
Nicolae Chiru flying No, 306, and Serg.TR Av. Aurel Bogdan flying No, 309 (formerly Polish No.
8-148) were killed in action. After shooting down one I-16, Chira crashed west of Vuledinesti and:
Bogdan fell at Vadul lui Isac near Brates Lake
Grp of pil cadets of
Clitas Flying School
during the summer of
(1942. Im the background
PZLPICNo.311
«with the spinner removed,
(Dan Antoni cll
yOn 29 June 1941, the engine of an ex- polish P.1 1c, No. 311 flown by Serg. TR Av. loan Vane
failed while it was on the return leg from a combat sortie. The pilot force-landed his plane 7 km:
north of Vaslui without serious damage
A particularly bad day for the P.11fighter-equiped Gr Vi. was 8 July 1941. The mission wasto
cover the pontoon bridge over Prut River, between Leca and Tiganca. At 14.00 they were bounced
by twelve Soviet fighters. Two P.11fs, No. 78 and No.140, were lost in combat with thee pilot, Seng
TR Au Constantin Bolea who fell at Tirtul, and Serg. TR Au: Eduard Dumitrescu who was report
edly shot dead while descending with his parachute
The squadron commander of Esc 50 Vt, Cpt. Av. Gheorghe Tifescu returned to base with dif
ficulty with his heavily damaged aircraft. Two other P.11s returned home with thei airframes ride
dled with bullet holes. One of them, No, 318 flown by Adj Stag. Ax Victor Dumbrav, forceslanded
causing further damage. Despite the heavy losses, the P.11 pilots claimed four individual and one
shared victory against the Soviet Ratas. Cpt. Au Gheorghe Tifescu claimed one individual victory
cover Tiganca and another victory shared with St. Au Florin Sobiesky.Serg. TR Au Constantin Bolea
killed in the dogfight) was officially credited with a Soviet fighter shot down at Biimclia, while
the claim made by Adj. Ax Gheorghe Hapaianu remained unconfirmed, Finally, the last 1-16 report
edly shot down could not be attributed to any pilot and so was credited to entire staff of Esc, 50.
On 12 July 1941, Sit. Au. Joan Gheorghe of Gr.3 Vi, Esc. 44, flying a P.11f, in a dogfight over
the Tigheciu-Viginesti area managed to shot down one Soviet fighter, which reportedly crashed one
km south of Larguta,
‘One unidentified twin-engine Soviet bomber was claimed on 13 July 1941, over Ramnicul Sarat
by Adj. Au Constantin Dimache Gr 4Vt, Esc 46, lying PZL 11F No, 122. On 19 July 1941, Pal
fighters of Escadrila 46, Grupul 4 Vindtoare strafed Communist partisan positions near Hincesti
Partisans regularly attacked Axis installations including the fighter group airfield located near the:
Romanian P.11f aircraft of Grupul 4 Vindtoare, while escorting a reconnais-
sance aircraft, clashed with several Soviet I-16s. One confirmed victory was claimed by Adj. $eP AW
Gheorghe Munteanu north of Rosi dnt led by Offer
de echipaj Av. Constantin Sosea. However, seconds later Sosea's P.11f No. 89 was shot down, kille
while another victory was attributed to
ing the pilot.
(On 7 August 1941, P.11fs of Gr4Vt. attacked an airfield in the Mikhailova-Katarzhino (Catargi)
area, where they claimed seven Soviet aircraft machine-gunned on the ground, Several of the
Romanian P.11s were hit by AA fire but were all able to reach friendly territory. P.11f No. 101
flown by Serg. TR Au: Joan V
the main undercarriage
inci, had to force-land at Pechea in the Covorlui region, destroying
Romanian Pc of
Clas Fghter Schoo!
airfield, sommer 1943.
[Note theex-Polsh Lublin
NII and the Nandi
EN 305 aircraft parked in
the backround.
(Razvan Bujor coll)Aline of B80 fromt
of the hangar of Caras
sified The ist two
planes wore the Pinocchio
‘emblem painted om the lft
side of the fuselage.
(Dan Antonin coll)
[Nice shot ofa PZL Palle
from Clas Fighter
School
(Rizvan Bajor coll)
‘Next day, both P11 groups (3rd and 4th) were very active over the front, engaged fn strafing,
Soviet positions and troops: Between 10107 and 12.00, they were bounced by'Soviet Ratas. In the
tensting battle, P.11f No. 60 flown by Serg. TR Au. Nicolae Macri was hit in the oil radiator and had.
to force-land 5 km east of Mikhailova. Between 11.15 and 12.20 a dogf
ht developed between four
Pills of Esc. 43 Vt. and four Ratas near Catargi. The Romanian pil
, Sit. Ax, Dumitrescu (fight
Yeader), Adj. Ax: Joan Grama, Adj. Ax loan Bosinceanu and Adj. Stag. Av. Dumitru Gheorghe (i
PAlFNo, 58) claimed one Soviet I-16 shot down 5 km south of Catargi
On 9 August 1941, at 10.30 hour, a Ese. 46, led by Sit. Au Mihail Bulat
shot down two Ratas out of nine encountered fargi and Buzinovo, The two victories
‘were credited to the entire flight, which also comprised Adj. Stag. Av. Eugen Fulga, Adj. Stag. Av
Aurel Vintila and Serg. TR Av. loan Vanc
Soviet fighters between Mikhailova and Buzin
0, seven P.1 1fs of Gr4¥. Esc.64 clashed with 18
By the end of the fight, the Romanians hadshot down three I-16s. They were officially credited jointly to Cpt. A Dumitra Rata (leader), Adj
‘Au Constantin Dimache and to Adj. Stag. Av’s Aurel Vintila, loan Zaverdeanu and Eugen Fulga,
However inthe fight Lt. Au Constantin Agarici was wounded and force landed his damaged P.116,
No. 324, 10 km south-west of Catargi in friendly territory.
On 12 August 1941, Gr 4 Vt. was recalled to its homeland. The best remaining P.11 fighters
and the airworthy PZL P.24 were transferred to the sister group Gr. 3 Vt, while the rest returned
to Romania.
On 17 August 1941, a flight of P.11fs led by Cpt. Ax Dan Vizanti attacked a Soviet armoured,
train neat Vygoda station, claiming the destruction of two wagons and the locomotive.
On 21 August 1941, two P.11f of Gr 3V¢. were damaged in combat with eight Soviet fighters
cast of Vygoda. However, their pilots Adj. Stag. Av. Gheorghe Glod flying No. 90 and Slt. Ax Mircea
Dumitrescu flying No. 136 were able to land safely at Elzas airfield
‘On 27 August 1941, between 05.20 and 07.00, .11s of Esc 43Vt. of Gr.3VE. flew a combat mis=
sion in the Volanovka-Vakarzhani area. Over Vygoda, they clashed with 12 Soviet fighters attack
ing a Romanian artillery position. Ina ten-minute combat, three I-16s were shot down by east and
north-west of Vygoda, confirmed by the ground troops. The claims were made by Adj. Av. Dumitna
Niculescu, Adj. Stag. Av. Ion Dimache and Adj. Stag. Av. losif Ciuhulescu. Also Serg. TR AKMircea
Mazilu made one claim but it was not confirmed. One of the P.1 fs (No. 93) was lost to enemy
fighters but the pilot, Adj. Stag. Av. Gheorghe Glod, was rescued, having suffered leg wounds.
(On 28 August 1941, between 08.10 and 09.30, P.11fs of Gr. 3 Vt. clashed with Soviet fighters
during a strafing mission in the Andreyeva-Gniliakovo-Vaicirjani area. After shooting down two of
the Soviet fighters, Adj. Stag. Av. loan’Florea of Esc. 43 ran out of ammunition and used his pro=
pelle to hit one of the opposing Ratas. He bailed out of his stricken P.11f No.137 and landed in.
no-man’s land. He returned to his unit where he was hailed as a hero. Three other pilots of the
same squadron claimed further victories on this day. Cpt. C-dor Traian Picea scored one victory in
the Andreyeva-Gniliakovo-Vacarjani area. Adj Stag. Av. Vasile Cofoi was victorious 2 Km west of
Dalnik and Serg. TR Av. Nicolae Macri scored one victory 3 km from Peterstahl.
Between 13,00 and 14,30, during a ground attack at Vygoda, the P.11fs from Gr. 3 Ve. Ese 45
were bounced from above by a Soviet I-16 formation. After reportedly shooting down one Rata,
Adj. Stag. Au. Ton Grama, flying PZL. P.11f No. 58, was pursued down to treetop level by an E16
flown by Lt. LS. Berishvli. In the end Grama, while trying to avoid the bullets, crashed into the
ground near Karlstad. Berishvili in close pursuit, also cashed within seconds of his victim. Over
Griliakovo, Sit. Au: Mircea Dumitrescu claimed one double victory and Aa. Stag Av. lon Dimacheshot down one I-16 north of Dalnik. Adj. Stag. Av. osif Ciuhulescu and Serg. TR Av. Mircea Mazilu
A Fighter School strc aimed one probable victory each north of Dalnik
tor posing near a Ph, Between 16.55 and 17.40 hours, a flight of P.24s from Esc. 62 was overwhelmed by eight Soviet
Ghinsar- Bro iid, E16s. The P.24 pilots were then rescued by a P.1 ij Stag. A Stefan Dumitrescu
summer 1942. Note the and Serg. TR Av. Romeo Neacsu, who dived on the Soviet fighters shooting down two of them and
unusual big dimensions of damaging a third,
the Michael Cross painted The flight comprising of Sit Av
om the fuselage. Fulga and Serg. TR Au Mirc
(Dan Antonia coll) The da
fone joint probable victories. This achievement featured in the Order of Day No. 49/28.08.1941,
cing the others to retreat
ile Bogza, Slt. Av. Mircea Dumitrescu, Adj. Stag. Av. Emil
Mazilu damaged one Rata in the Vacarjani area
ore for the PZL fighter pilots totalled a record of 16 confirmed, four probable and
Right A, Av. Dimache
posing for apc. In
‘the background sis
IfNo, 7. sedis
48, Grupal 3 Vinitoare,
‘Baden ciel, seme
wa.
(Dan Antonin coll)(On 9 July 194, A Av.
‘Grama Toa during take
off with PFN. 116, hit
‘the left wing of PIP No.
75 and crashed on Vasa
stirfeld,
(Denes Bernad col)
which remarked: “Up to this day, Flt
day in a fierce battle with : h ‘PLIFNo. 75 parked on
(On 29 August 1941, between 17.00 and 18.30, during a mission in the Dalnik-Vicdrjani aneay Baden field, Note
PLE pilots of Gr3V1, Esc43 cain ut of a formation of 15. Both victories were ered the unusual poston of
ited to Adj. Au loan Dimache, who claimed his fourth confirmed victory. the axis yellow band,
(On Sunday 31 August, P.11fs of Gr 3Vt. were performing a groun psinted in the middle on
Dalnik- Freudenthal area when they were bounced by Soviet fighters. Inthe ensuing dogfight one: fuselage and he diferent
Rata was claimed by a Av. Cristu Cristu, Adj Stag Av Dumitru Niculescu, Adj mension ofthe Michael
Stag. (r) Av Iosif Chiuhulescu and Adj. Stag. (1) Av. loan Nicola Crosson he wpper
Three further individual victories were claimed in combat. Sit. Av. Cristu Cristu claimed one surface of the wing.
Soviet fighter shot down 4 km west of Freudenthal, while Lt. Av. loan Ivancevici and Adj. Stag. AY. (Dan Antonin coll)
SR ee
> ab ae |ile Cotoi shot down one opponent each between Dalnik and Freudenthal. P.11f No. 64 (Esc
was lost in combat but St. Av. Mircea Dumitrescu bailed out. While descending he was repeat-
shot at by Soviet fighter pilots. Wounded in the hand, he landed safely and rejoined his unit.
On 2 September 1941, in a dogfight with Soviet fighters, Adj. Av. Vasile Cofoi was killed af-
Scoring one victory against a Rata. His P.11f No 102 was downed $ km north of Freudenthal.
‘On 6 September 1941, during a ground attack mission with Gr 3Vt, Serg. TR Ax: Nicolae Macri
med one Rata shot down out of six I-16s encountered near Dalnik.
‘On 11 September 1941 a flight led by Sit. Av. Cristu Cristu clashed with approximately ten I-16s
two which reportedly crashed 2 km south-east of Dalnik. Only one was confirmed. All
embers of the flight, leader Cristu, Adj. Av. Dumitru Niculescu. Adj. Ax: Iosif Ciuhulescu and Adj
Ay. Ioan Nicola were credited with one shared victory
‘On 13 September the same flight led by Cristu Cristi shot down one Soviet bomber 3 km
est of Gniliakovo. It was followed by one of the Ratas escorting the bombers.
Lt Av, Cristu, Adj. Av. Dumitru Niculescu, Adj. Av. loan Dimache and Ad.Av. Ciubulescu
the destruction of the bomber, while Adj. Av. Dumitrescu Niculescu, Adj. Av. loan Nicola
Seg. Av. Mircea Mazilu shared the Soviet fighter.
‘On 15 September, Adj. Stag. Av. loan Nicola of Esc. 43 Gr. 3Vt. shot down one Rata north-west
Gross Liebenthal. Next day another aerial victory, one Rata, was claimed jointly by a P.11 flight
iby Sit. Av. Vasile Bogza along with Adj. Stag. Av. Eugen Fulga and Adj. Stag. Av. loan Nicola.
On 17 September, the squadron commander of Ese 43, Cpt. Av. Dan Vizanti, shot down one
it fighter south-east of Tatarka. Two P.11 flights of Esc 43 and Esc 44 were credited with three
ed and one probable victory against Ratas. The Soviet fighters were all reported to have
near Tatarka. The victories were awanded individually to Sit. Av. Titus Gheorghe Ionescu,
Ay. Stefan Nicoara and Adj. Stag. Av. Mihai Mihordea.
One victory claimed by Adj. Av. loan Enciulescu remained unconfirmed. Another Soviet fighter
also claimed by Adj. Av. Dumitru Niculescu of Gr. 3Vt
Next day, at 15.25 hours, Cpt. Av. Mihail Sandru flying a P.11f claimed one Rata shot down
[west of Sukhoi Liman. A member of Aero Armata 4, originally assigned to a desk job, Sandra in-
ed on being temporarily assigned to a combat fighter unit. His victory was officially confirmed
‘Onder of the Day No. 130.
After the first campaign, all P.11 fighters were relegated to training duties and sent to Fighter
ools in Rimnicu Strat, Turnu-Severin, Calarasi and Ghimbav - Brasox. Between 1942 and1943,
ls were used as trainers by many Romanian fighter pilots who would gain ace status during
1944 while lying the IAR 81C and Bf 109G.PZL P.11
Camouflage and markings
used by Aeronautica
alike). Prior to the 1941
With a long career in Romanian service (from 1933), the PZL P.11
rypes of camouflage (Romanian ani
Regal i
campaign, all PZL P.11s were overha
d their under
es repainted a dark green col
od and had their upper:
face were repainted a light blue colour similar to RLM’
e cowling and the under-surfaces of the
our similar to RLM 64
65 or RLM 76. Starting with the Spring of 1941, the en;
ulations. A yellow band was added on the fuse-
}s were painted yellow according to Axis n
ted on the fuselage and wings (for more details
narrow bands (red, yellow or blue colours,
of the tail. The “Michael Cross” wasp:
dix 4). The pre-war maki
nd wings were still visible on some PZL P.11. The
according to squadron) painted on the fuse
low and red were rarely seen painted on the rudder of the Romanian
national colours of blue
PZL PAL aircraft duri
Fin numbering used on Romanian P.11 aircraft
‘0122345678Camouflage scheme for Romanian PZL P.11 after overhaul.
Eastern front markings.
Dente50 11b aircraft were produced for the Romanian Air orc and delivered in 1932, During the war, the remaining irworthy P.11b art
vere used in flying schools alongside PZL. P.c and PZL. Pf.
PZL P.11b-L Na. 25, Flight School on Ramnicu Sarat airfield, July1942.
Upper surfaces: Dark Earth and Dark Green. Undersides: Sky Blue.
P11b Nos. 25 and 2, side by side on Rimi Sat Fighter
School airfield, summer 1942, (Razvan Bujor col.)According ois ebook, on 3, 4, 8, and 10 September 142, Ee Av alt Constantin flew Pe No. 315 practising inverted flight rol, aerobatic tur an forma
ti ying with LN. Mic oa (tran ofthe rst campaign) as instructor, Dring the summer of 1944, StAv. Instructor Bald Constantin was credited wth to
18.24 bombers shot down on 6 May and ne probable B24 shot down on 6 June whl flying asparof the Flight Schoo based om Ghimbav- Brasov airfield (quipped
with AR SIC).
J
PZL Palle Na. 315, Elev Aviator Baltd Constantin, Scoala de Vanatoare, Cailérasi
airfield, September 1942. Upper surfaces: Dark Olive Green RLM 64/83. Undersides;
Light Grey possibly RLM 76.PZL P.1 1c Na 315, Elev Aviator Balt
Constantin, Scoala de Vanatoare, Calrasi
airfield, September 1942.
Api of Pes, Nos. 35 & 31 with in damag sting for pas in font
ofthe hanger of Clas iter Sok, summer 198 (Razvan Bajo cll)(On 8 July 1941, fteradegfigh with Soviet 116 fighters of 67 IAP, Dumbravd force-landed his damaged ex-PlishP11c No 318, It was epaied and during te summer of
1942, i was on strength with the Calas Fighter Aviation Schoo. According o his logbook on 1 and 2 September 1942, le Av. Balt Constantin flew .11c No. 318 prats-
ing lops, stalls and Immelman turns. (Dan Antonia ol)
Pile Na 318, Adjutant Stag, Ax. Victor Dumbravd, Grupul 4 Vandtoare. Upper surfaces: Dark Olive
Green. Undersides: Light Grey.
Right: Elev A Razw inthe
(Dan Antonia coll)P.11c No, 323, Elev Aviator Gulan Gheorghe, Flight School, Calarasi Airfield, Sep
tember 1942. Upper surfaces: Dark Olive Green. Undersides: Light Grey
aerial spotting while flying P11 No, 323 withthe Cia Fghter Aviation
School. Daring the summer of 194, SktAv, Glan Gheorghe was credited
with ome B-17 shat down om 6 June and one B-24 shot down as par of
‘light om 23 jane while lying IAR 80M as part of Grupal | Vanitoae.
‘Student plots surrounding P11C No, 323. Ele. A, Gila Rzvan is siting
(on the fuselage. Cras airfield, summer 1943. (Razvan Bujor coll.)P.LIf Na 87, Adjutant Stag. Ax. Marian Voica, Escadrila 50, Grupul 4 Vndtoare, Bacioin airfield, August 1941.
Upper surfaces: Dark Olive Green, Undersides: Light Grey.
(Dan Antoni coll)P.11f Na 91, Grupul 3 Vanato
Undersides: Light Grey
re, Baden airfield. Upy Dark Olive Green
46 16 8
Vindtoare and Grupul 4
3s the tte of "Rata i
ya seth ofa PL pilot ening
tom of one such 16 victory in an
Vanatoate, lai s
is particular P11fNo. 91 wore d
the tai fn
PLIfNo. 91 escorting Romanian bombers over Besanabia, summer 194,
Note the old markings (pre-war narrow red bunds stil visible onthe useage,
- (Dan Antonia coll) —P.LIf Na 79, Adjutant Stagiar Av. Dimache loan, Escadrila 43, Grupul 3 Vanitoare, Baden airfield, August
1941. Upper surfaces: Dark Olive Green, Undersides: Light GreyP.11f Na 51, Serg. TR Av. Romeo Neacsu, Escadrila 43, Grupul 3 Vanatoare, Baden airfield, October 1941.
Upper surfaces: Dark Olive Green, Undersides: Light Grey.
(On 28 August 1941, a pair ofP.1f flown by
Aaj Sg Av. lan Dumitru and erg TR
Av, Romeo Nea came to the assistance of
1 flight of 7.24 from Escala 62, over
helmed by 8 Soviet I-16 fighters. During the
Fight, Romeo Neacgu shot down two 1165 and
‘amitescu claimed another oe, On 12 Octo
‘ber 1941, while ling Pf No.5 SergTR
‘Av. Romeo Neayu mistakenly etsoned the
‘main cl tank and had to make a dead-stice
landing 2m east of Bachan tthe end of the AP.11f withthe tail lifted fr sum alignment. Te four machine uns (wo inthe fselage
‘war, Sex TR Av. Romeo News had tally and twin the wings) deinered enough punch to shoot down Soviet lanes lik the 116. its of Grupul 3 Vinitoare posing for picture in the front of P.11f No.1. Note
of 3 confirmed and to unconfirmed victories, Rata. Note the bulbous engine cling typical ofthe Romanian-made P11, andan the wavy demarcation o the undersurface camouflage extending onto the aslage
(Dan Antoni col) ampleasan sgt for Soviet pots pursued in Bessarabian skis. (Dan Antoni coll) sides. (Dam Antonia coll)P.LIfNa. 122, Escadrila de Experiente si Incercari (Test Squadron), Pipera - Bucharest airfield, winter 1941-1942,
Upper surfaces: Dark Olive Green. Undersides: Light Grey.
ly 1941, Adjtant Av. Constantin Dimache flying P.LIfN
oun over Ramnical Sina. While atempting to attack o
imbers, hsp He ha
nd. The aca was
under surface. During
5 SET Bu
is
ASAM
near Cini where it overturned onthe uneven
printed in dark Green uper surfaces and light
Nos, 122 and 56 were rimental lights with ks
1941-1982,
ral overhaul and
P.LIfNo, 122 warming up the engine before atest flight at Pipa airfield, winter “42-13. Note the unknown device attached under the fuselage
(Dan Antonin coll)B
P.LIf Na. 119, Adjutant Av. Stefan Dumitrescu, Escadrila 45, Grupul 3 Vandtoare, Bessarabia, June 1941
Upper surfaces: Dark Olive Green, Undersides: Light Grey.
PAIfNo. 19 in enemy
with the nd
ies. (Dan Antonin co
LIE No. 119 fnce-landed by A. Av. Stefan Dumitrscu in enemy terttoryat Vie Srjinet, summer 1941 (Dan Antonia coll)PZL P.24
The PZL P.24 entered service with the ARR in 1939. In June 1941, they were assigned to Grupu
Vanatoare (6th Fighter Group), which was based on Bui
resti-Otopeni airfield, with the mission
defend the capital and the Plo
‘On 23 June 1941, an emergency flight of Gr. 6Vt. tasked with home defence and equipped
P24 fighters, led by Sit Av. Leonid Sotropa and made up of Adj Stag. Av. Ioan Titaru, Adj
Alexandru Sfardiali and Adj. Au Vasile Truic’ took-off towards Ploiesti without encountering
nemy aircraft. Another flight, made up of Slt. Av. Gheorghe Lupescu (the flight leader), Adj. Av
Gheorghe Camenita and Adj. Av. Mihai Belcin carried out a regular flight over sensitive areas of
st as well as the railway line to Constan a and the highway to Ploiesti. They
any enemy aircraft.Because the frontlines were rapidly moving further east, the Romanian capital and the oilfield
became less important to the Soviet High Command. As a consequence of the decreased threay
Escadrila 62 was directed to the front line and was assigned to Grupul 4 Vindtoare, replacing the
P.L1 fighters. The other P.24 Squadron, Es<61Vt., remained in the role of home defence,
.24 aircraft of Escadrila 62 led by Cpr. Av. Nicolae Ivancenco were tasked to carry out ground
attack missions and to operate in support of friendly troops. They were also expected to counter
the activity of the Soviet air force and occasionally make low-level airfield attacks.
They were soon to discover that the PZL fighters could not catch up easily with the faster Soviet
bombers. The Soviet I-16 Ratas also turned out to be superior in speed and armament.
The initial combat missions were flown under the direct command of Lt. C-dor Av Nicolae’
*Nae*Radulescu. The frst combat damage was recorded on 1 August 1941 when P.24 No.1 flown
by Sit. Au Gheorghe Lupescu was hit but despite a damaged port wing the aircraft returned safe
(On 5 August 1941, the P.24s attacked Soviet positions at Plateyevka, where they dropped small
bombs before strafing the target with their machine guns. Next day the gull-wing fighters made al
low level attack on enemy AA batteries at Maliest.
On Sunday, 10 August 1941, the PZL fighters strafed the enemy column retreating towards
Dobrojani. Gr-3Vi.Esc.62 engaged six Ratas in a combat north-west of Odessa. The aircraft of
Lt. Cedor Av, Radulescu was hit by ground fie but was able to return safely.
On 13 August, the P.24s led by squadron commander Cpt. ax. Nicolae Ivancenco strafed the
Soviet airfield located 5 km north-west of Odessa. Six Soviet aircraft were confirmed destroyed on
the ground. Among the pilots who took part in the attack were Cpt. ax: Nicolae Ivancenco, Slt Ait
loan Tabacu, Adj. Av. Iosif Tudor, Adj. Au: Gheorghe Camenifa, Adj. Stag. Av. Constantin Popesei
and Serg. TR Ax. loan Olteanu. Of the six Romanian pilots, only Adj. Av. Iosif Tudor was hur, $=
verely wounded in both legs and hands by AA fie, but he managed to return to Baden airfield with
his damaged aircraft. All these pilots together with group commander Radulescu were awarded.between Freudenthal and Poliova. Solomon was the first Romanian P.24 pilot to offically
lachieve an aerial victory. Three days later, a P.11 and a P.24 of Gr. 3Vt, strafed the seaplane base of
Haji Bey, claiming the destruction of two aircraft.
On 26 August, while landing at Tiraspol airfield, P.24 No. 26 of Esc 62 hit a parked P.11. The
@ireraft burst into flames and the pilot, Adj. Stag. Av. Gheorghe Neamfu, was severely burned and
ied later of his wounds. This was the sole operational P.24 loss.
On 28 August 1941, between 16:55 and 17:40, a flight from Esc. 62 clashed with eight Ratas.
In the initial phase of the combat, Adi. Stag. Av. Nicolae Solomon and Serg. TR Ax: loan Olteanu,
each daimed one enemy figh
Other I-16s. The P-24 pilots were then rescued by a P.11f element comprising Adj. Stag. Av. Stefan
Dumitrescu and Ser
Of them and damaging a third, forcing the others to retreat. Next day, Esc. 62 pilots reported that
they shot down two Ratas, but the claims of Adj. Stag. Av. Nicolae Solomon and Serg. TR Ax: loan
Olteanu were not officially confirmed.
On 1 September 1941, a three-ship flight of P.24s from Esc. 62 strafed with bombs and machine
uns the Tatarka airfield,
Next day, Adj. Sg. Av. Pavel Coteanu was able to shot down one Rata in a dogfight in the
Neubiberg-Alexandrevka area
in the Peterstahl area. But they were quickly overwhelmed by the
TR Av. Romeo Neacsu, who dived on the Soviet fighters shooting down twoOn 15 September 1941, between 16:50 and 17:30, pilots of Esc
{62 were performing a low-level attack on a Soviet position in Neuburg
when they were bounced from above by nine Ratas. In the ensuing
battle Sit. Az loan Tabacu and his wingman Adj. Stag. Av. Constantin
Popescu shot down one Rata each, 1 km south of Bargoskaia farm. The
final victory of the day was credited to Adj. Av. Garboviceanu,
1941,
2 km west of Dalnik and an unidentified pilot of Esc 62 claimed
On 21 Septen
erg. TR Av. loan Olteanu shot down one
Rat
another Rata 3 km west of Dalnik.
Next day in an engagement by P.11 and P.24 fighters with three
bombers and 12 Ratas, one bomber and three fighters were shot down
west of Dalnik. Adj. Ax Mihai Belcin and Adj. Au Nicolae Solomon
were among those who made victory claims on that day
In the early morning of 23 September, twelve Soviet fighters at
24s of Esc
Av, Ioan Tabacu took-off
tempted to attack Baden airfield. The stand-by flight of
and
aden airfield to intercept the attackers. They shot down one
Rata south of Vygoda and the victory was shared among the entire
flight. One individual victory was also attributed to Adj. Stag. Av
Constantin Popescu. Next day the same flight of Esc 62 led by Lt. A
Toan Ivanciovici claimed one Rata west of Dalnik
the first campaign that these Polish aircraft
were not fit for battle anymore and were relegated to the role of ad.
vanced trainer.
The last surviving aircraft were written-off in 1945, bringing to an
end the four-year career of the gull-winged PZL P.24 fighter aircraft in
Romania
Adj Av. Georgescu Gill
siting in the cockpit of
(Dan Antonia coll)
A), Georges Gil posing fra pict front of P24 White 6:
(Dan Antonin col)
»Dee ay 2 esr 30 voles TAR 44 k ii el
Mee Yt flay oly Jicéa, $ornte pecélent ,
lessen Vsote Jvze,. Goobrove, $2 ~ ovePZL P.24
Camouflage and markings
The PZL P.24s were delivered from the factory (IAR Brasov) in a two-tone camouflage of Dark
Green similar to British Dark Green (~FS 34096) and British Dark Earth (~FS 30118) on the upe
persurfaces. The under-surfaces of the wings were painted a light blue colour similar to British
Sky Blue (-FS35550). In 1941, the upper-surfaces of most P.24s were repainted an overall dark
sgreen (similar to RLM 64) and the under-surfaces were repainted a light blue similar to RLM 65 OF
RLM 76. From spring 1941, the engine cowling and the under-surface of the wing tips were paints
ced yellow according to Axis regulations. yellow band was added on the fuselage ahead of the tall
The “Michael Cross” was painted on the fuselage and wings (for more details see the Appendix 4).
The national colours of blue, yellow and red were painted on the rudder. On some PZL P24, the
national colours were painted only on 1/3 top part of the rudder.Factory (IAR Brasov) camouflage scheme for Romanian PZL P.24.
Eastern Front markings.Camouflage scheme for Romanian PZL P.24 after overhaul,
Eastern front markings.
Lich
RLP.24e Na 4, Escadrila 61, 6 Bucharest-Otopeni. Upper surfaces: Dark
|, Grupul 6 Vanatoare,
Earth (~FS 30118) and Dark Green, Undersides: Sky Blue.P.24 Na 6, Adjutant Stag, Av, Petre Cojocanu, Escadrila 61, Grupul 3 Vanatoare, Baden airfield, October
1941, Upper surfaces: Dark Olive Green, Undersides: Light Grey
[No.6 us he fst .24 tobe bul by IAR.
‘Grupa 3 Vantoae, ghting in the Odessa
sector. (Dan Antonia coll)P.24 (P) No. 24, Adj. Stag, Av. Nicolae Solomon of Escadrila 62, Grupul 6 Vanatoare,
Bucharest-Pipera airfield, September 1941. Upper surfaces: Dark Earth and Dark
Green. Undersides: Sky Blueey — P.24 Na 21, Serg. TR Av. loan Olteanu, Escadrila 62, Baden airfield, Septem-
oO ‘ber 1941. Upper surfaces: Dark Olive Green. Undersides: Light Grey.P.24 Na 28, Adj. Stag. Av. Garboviceanu of Escadrila 62, Grupul 6 Vandtoare, Bucharest-Pipera airfield, September
1941. Upper surfaces: Dark Earth and Dark Green. Undersides: Sky Blue
‘Noe the tone upper camouflage cleus the wide el
bulaed REA mean oles ie
tricolor aint onthe fin. The engine cing is punted
camouflage colours. Ths particular aircraft was featured
‘the ARR inventory in May 1945. (Razvan Bujor coll.)Hurricane Mk No.2
serviced by ground crew.
‘men. Note the ishing
et placed ver the wing.
(Dan Antonin coll)
Hawker Hurricane Mk I
At the end of 1938, after King Carol II of Romania inspected the Hurricane production line at
Odiham, Aeron.
By the day’s standards, the Hurricane was an impressive aeroplane fea
Rolls Royce Merlin engine, retractable landing gear, cantilever wing, enclosed cockpit, combined
punch delivered by 8 x 0.303 in, machine guns
Wwith a good climb, speed, range and devastat
housed in the wi
Escadrila 53 Vindtoare equipped with the Hurricane’ Mk I was the most successful fighter
Squadron in Romanian service in the early stage of the war. Its pilots were credited with 32 con:
firmed and 3 unconfirmed air victories in the first ten days of the Bessarabian campaign without
a single combat loss.
On 22 June 1941, £
Dobrogea was assigned with Black Sea Coast defence including Constanta harbour and Cernavoda
Rail Bridge
On 23 June 1941, Constanta harbout was attacked by a formation of Soviet bombers.
On this occasion one Romanian fighter pilot instantly became a national hero. Lt A Horia
Agarici took-off on his own from Mamaia airfield in his Hurricane No. 3 that was undergoing re
pair, with the engin
moved, and attacked an unescorted formation of seven bombers,
were identified on the grou
shooting down three of them. The wrecks c
Valul lui Traian, Sacele and Mamaia Sat
‘On the same day, during the afternoon, Hurricanes of $3rd Squadron shot down two other
Soviet planes identified as DB-3s them crashed near Mangalia after it was hit by squad:
ron commander Capt. ax. Emil Georgescu and the other, shot down by Adj. Stag. A Constantin
ack Sea near Constanta. A special day for Romanian Hurricanes was 30
Popescu, fell into th
June 1941. In three different air combats, Es
ers (most probably I-153s) in the Ismail-Tuleea area. Adj. Sef Au Radulescu Andrei shot down three
la 53 pilots claimed ten Soviet “Grumman” fight
Of them making him an ace with five victories (the first two claimed on 24 June). On 8 July 1941,
Hurricane pilot Adj. Stag.Au Evghenie Eugen Camenceanu was credited with two “Martin” bom!
7:35. The first fell into Razelm Lake, and the second
ets (most probably DB-3Fs) shot dowcrashed near Nalbant, Tulcea. On 10 July 1941, Lt Au(r) Constantin “Bazu” Cantacuzino, flying
wn near Domnita Tleana village in the
ho ended the war with 69
Hurricane No. 4, claimed one Soviet bomber DB-3 sh
Ismail area, This was the first victory of the future top scoring ace,
es. One SB bomber was shot
smber shot down by Lt Ae
On 11 July 1941 Romanian Hurricanes scored two other vic
down near Sulina by Adj. Sef Ax Radulescu Andrei and one DE
Toma Lucian at Valeox
Another Hurricane Au, Pomut Constantin, on 20 July 1941 claimed two Soviet
planes shot down over Dobrogea.
urricanes were sent to IAR Brasov for general
After the Bessarabian campai
iain reason was the shortage of spare parts
ethaul but they were no lon combat. The
Hurricanes.
and the possibility that Romanian AA might mistake them for Sc
Romanian Hurricane was on 8 August 1944 when “yellow 8” de-
fected to Turkey
Pits rom Escada 53
‘Vanatoare posing fr the
pictare in he fr of Har
rice MEINo.3.
(Denes Bernad coll)
MemiesofEsadrila 53
\Vnitoae posing fora
pictare inthe front of Hur
ricane MEINo. 1.
(Denes Bernad col)Hawker Hurricane Mk I
Camouflage and markings
The first twelve British-built Hurricane Mk Is w Romana
painted in a two-tone RAF-type camoufl
delivered to Aeronautica Reg
(on the upper-surfaces consisting of British Dark Green
(-FS 34096) and British Dark Earth (-FS 30118). This camoutlage was applied in two mirrored pat
terns, usually referred to as “A” and “B”. The under-surface of the wing was painted black on the
lefthalf and white on the right half. The under-surface of the tail was painted aluminium dope.
The three Yugoslav-built Hurricanes in Romanian service were painted in a three-tone camou
flage, most probably Light Green (FS 34102), Light Earth (FS 30257) and Red Brown (FS 30109)
(on the upper surfaces and with Sky under-surfaces (FS 34424)
From spring 1941, the engine cowling and the under-surfaces of the wing tips were painted yel:
low according to Axis regulations, also a yellow band was added on the fuselage ahead of the tai
The under-surfaces remained in the same colours as before
The rudder was painted in the national colours of blue, yellow and red (for unknown rea
ational markin,
sons, the rudders of Hurricanes Nos. 2, 4and 6 were left without The special
“Michael Cross” design is typical only for S3rd Squadron planes (for more details see Appendix 4).
Each aircraft was identified by a yellow number painted on the fn, a black number under the right
wing and a white number under the left wing (placed in the opposite direction!
The spinner was painted 1/3 yellow and 2/3 black,
Fin numbering forthe Romanian Hurricane Mk I, Eastern Front
~0123456789
The burned wreck of Hurricane Mk No 15 (one of tice of
Vagosav origin lost on 6 September 1941 daring 2 gun
attack by Soviet fighters on Salt airfield. Noe the abi
covered wings typical ofthe thee ex Yagosas Hurricanes,
Romanian see.
(Scull Lgotheti Photo via Claudiu Stumer)
44oF
Romanian Hawker Hurricane Mk I, RAF camouflage Type B.
Eastern Front markings,Hurricane Mk I Na. 2, Adj. Stag, Ax. Evghenie Eugen Camencianu, Escadtila 53, Grupul
5 Vanatoare, Mamaia airfield, June 1941. Upper surfaces: Dark Green and Dark Earth
Undersides: tail from the wing to the rudder painted aluminium dope, right half of the
wing painted black and the left half of the wing painted white.
Hurricane MEIN
Mars
landed
(On 8 July 1941, Hurricane plot dj Stag, Av. Eoghenie Eugen
iri, summer 1941, Note pilot Ad. Stag,
mwas credited with two *Martin™ bombers (most probably
DB-3E3) shot down at 17:35 n 1941 Camenceana flew 73 combat sorties
ith seven confirmed and three unconfirmed vicoris,
the lack of national markings om
der and the two shades of yellow
the engine cong and fuselage
bund, (Dam Antonin coll)Hurricane Mk I Na. 1, Capt. Ax. Emil Georgescu, the commander of Escadrila $3, Grupul § Vanatoare, Mamaia airfield, June 1941
Undersides: tail from the wing to the nudder painted aluminium dope, right half of the wing painted black and the left half of the
fj wing painted white(On 23 June 1941 Lx. Av, Hora Agari took off aloe from
Mamaia airfield in his Hurricane No. 3 (undergoing repair, with
the engine contng removed) and atacked an unescorted Soviet
formation of seven bombers, shoting down the of them. The
camouflage s RAF type “B”. Agaric ended the war with six cn.
firmed and two unconfirmed victories
‘Hurricane Mk 1 No.3 waiting inthe hangar ofthe IAR Braso fc
tory fora general overhaul. (Razvan Bujor cll)ul § Vanatoare, Mamaia airfield, July 1941. Upper surfaces: Dark Green and
Dark Earth, under surfaces: fuselage aluminium dope, black right wing and white on
the left wing.
No. 4 was the aitcraf of he ture
ois) Constantin“
in July 1941. His total score
1941 campaign was fo
Puiu” Roses was shot down and killed by
1.16 fighters of 69 IAP. The camouflage is RAF
Notice the lack of national markings
om the rudder.
Left A, Sag. A (0) Pom Constantin,
Escadrila 53 Vanitare, standing near Hur
ricane No. 4, Mamaia airfield, summer of
1941. Note tering sun sight and round iro,
typical details forthe Hurricane in Romanian
service.
(Emil Georgescu Photo via Dan Antonin )
Right: Adj. Av. Pout Constantin siting on
the hori stabilize of Hurricane No.4.
"Note the lack of national marking on the adder
and he fing et sed for camouflage. (Emil
Georgscu Photo via Dan Antonin )Hurricane Mk I Na 7, Adj. Sef Ax. Andrei Radulescu, Escadsila 53, Grupul 5 Vanitoare,
Mamaia airfield, July 1941. Upper surfaces: Dark Green and Dark Earth. Undersides:
{ail from the wing to the rudder painted aluminium dope, right half of the wing painted
lack and the left half of the wing painted white.Hurricane Mk I No. 15, Escadtila $3, Grupul 5 V
field, July 1941.
witoare, Saltz air
No. 15 was ome ofthe thee Ya
Romania
ground atack by Soviet fi
complete
and 15 inservice with Escala
ences frm the R
Ioriontal fr
covered wings. The armament
Belgian-made EN Browning machine gun. The Zmaj-buit
‘Hurricanes were painted in a thre-tome camouflage of Dark
Gren (FS 34096), Light Earth (FS 30118) and Dark Brown
(F5 20040) om uppersuraces and with ight sey-lue
tnder-surfaces (FS 25526)
Zia-bult Hurricanes parked onthe Zemun factory afield ready tobe transfered to Romania, Note the
‘Romanian markings ational colour on the adder, yellow cowlng and he narrow fuselage yellow band)
sein pring 1941, bore the tart of Barbarossa campaign.Ground crewmen posing
fora picture near He 1128
‘White 24 repainted in
‘00 tone seen camo.
‘fase, Rmnicn Sat
‘infield, summer 1941.
(Tomasz. Koparski
oll)
Heinkel'He 112
In August 1939, 30 of the total of 98 He 112 fighters built by Heinkel Flugzeugwerke were de
Tivered to Aeronautica Regald Roménd, that thus became the main operator of the type. They were
He 112 type E (Export version) and were assigned to Gnupul 5 Vinaitoare made up of Escadrila $1
and Escadrila 52.
On 15 June 1941, Gnupul 5 Vindtoare, under the command of Lt. C-dor. Au Gheorghe Miclescu,
With 24 He 112E fighters was transferred to the Focsani-North airfield, as part of the preparations
for Operation Barbarossa. Used primarily as a ground attack aircraft, the He 112E was armed with
2x20 mm cannons and 27.92 mm machine-guns and six small bombs, which made it suitable for
the task, but the lack of
On 22 june 1941, the Group conducted its first mission. Sixteen He 112E fighters took-off to
irmour protection led to several losses
escort several Potez 63352 bombers planning to attack the Soviet airfields at Bolgrad and Bulgirica
When they reached their second target, there were about 30 I-16 fighters in the ai. Slt. Au Teodor
Moscu flying He 112E No.4 surprised two Ratas that were just taking.off and shot one down. He
then saw another I-16, which was coming directly at him, and fired again. The Soviet aircraft was
hitand went down into the Danube. With several Soviet aircraft on his tail, Moscu was hit himself
However, he managed to outmanoeuvre them and fire on one of the attackers. The final score of
‘Sit. Ax Moscu was two confirmed and one probable victory
The first loss in combat of an ARR fighter took place on the next day. Twelve He 112s of Gru
5 Mindtoare made a low-level attack on the Bolgrad airfield. They were intercepted by seven I-153
fighters. The leader of the formation was Kap Piotr Kozachenko (a 15-victory ace of the wars with
Japan and Finland). He shot down He 112 No, 12 flown by Adj. Au Anghel Condrut, who was
killed,
‘The ground offensive didn’t start in the Romanian sector ofthe front until the night of 2/3 july.
Until then, Grupul 5 Va
attacks on Soviet columns and troop concentrations. Escort missions were rate. On one such mis-
sion, on 28 June, a He 112 flown by Sit.Au: Smeu Constantin was damaged by Soviet AA and later
‘crashed, killing the pilot.
pare conducted airfield-strafing missions, just before dawn, followed byOn 2 July 1941, another two aircraft and pilots were lost to ground-fire during low-level at=
tacks, However Lt. Au Radu Reinek managed to shoot down two I-16s, Three days later, the He
112s attacked Bulgirica airfield again, After dropping theit bombs the pilots strafed the lines of
camouflaged airplanes. One Soviet -153 was also shot down while climbing to meet the attackers,
The same day, another flight provided fighter cover for a bomber for
ation, They were engaged
by 12 Soviet fighters. In the ensuing dogfight, four enemy aircraft were shot down, with the loss
of one He 112.
In August 1941, Escadrila 52 transferred its remaining He 112Es to Escadrila 51 and was’
equipped with IAR 80A aircraft instead. Escadrila $1 was assigned temporarily to Home Defence,
He 112 No, 21 serviced by mechanics om Pena field during thesumamer of 1941. (Tomasz J Kopaiski cll.)
He 112 No. Wand
He 112 No. 7 of Escala
Si parked on Piper
‘Bucharest airfield and
esting fra general
overhaul, summer 1942.
(Photo Razvan Bujor)but in October it was sent to take part in the siege of Odessa, After the city fell on 16 October, the
squadron remained there and flew coastal defence and tactical reconnaissance missions over the
Black Sea, until July 1942, when the squadron was brought back to Romania. In the same month,
a He 112E from the 51st Fighter Squadron flew the first night interception mission in the history
Cf the ARR against Soviet bombers that were attacking Bucharest.
In early 1943, Escadrila 51 switched to the Bf 110 and the remaining Heinkels were relegated
Bf 109G pilots. In September
1946, all remaining He 112 aircraft were brought to Cotroceni Aeronautical Depot where the 18
to the advanced trainer role and used from in the process of training
remaining aircraft were wait
here to be scraped. Thus came to an end the career of this beauti
ful German fighter in the Romanian air force
Heinkel/He 112E
Camouflage and marki
igs
The Heinkel He 112Es were delivered to Aeronautica Regal Romdind in the Heinkel factory
camouflage of overall Grey RLM 02/63.
Starting in the spring of 1941, the engine cowling and the underu
painted yellow, following Axis regulations. A yellow band was also added to fuselage ahead of the
tail, Black numbers were painted on the fuselage
ace of the wing tips were
The “Michael cross” markings were applied on upper-surfaces, on under-surfaces of the wings
and on both sides on the fuselage (for more details see Appendix 4),
The rudder was painted in the national colours of blue, yellow and red.
3 black.
The spinner was painted 1/3 yellow and
After major overhaul at ASAM Pipera, some He 112Es were repainted in a two-tone green cam-
oullage on the upper-surfaces (most probably RLM 70 and RLM 71) and blue grey under-surfaces
(most probably RLM 65). White numbers were painted on the fin
numbering used on Romanian He 112Es
Fin numbering used on He 112E applied at ASAM Pipera.
BUPeY Le
BYHeinkel factory camouflage scheme for Romanian Heinkel He 112E.
Eastern Front markings.
Gra RLM 0263Camouflage scheme for Heinkel He 112E applied at ASAM Pipera.
Eastern Front markings.He 112E Na 4, Sit.Av, Moscu Teodor, Escadrila 51, Grupul 5 Vanatoare, Ramnicul
Sarat airfield, June 1941. Grau RLM 02/63 overall
(On 22 june 1941, lA. Teodor Mosc flying He 112E
No.4 surprised two Rata that were just
Ismail ified and shot one down, He
I, which was coming diel at him
The Soviet aircraft wa
fired agin
it and went down inthe Da
rt om his tal,
hit. Hower, he
ned victories and one pro
pain. (Moscu Photo via Dan Antonia)
uae them and fir
an Ad. Av
ly forthe
day was two confirmed victories and one probable. He 112
No.4 was painted RLM 63 Grau overall with he engin
the attackers, before he and his win
Pavel Constantin headed for home. His
nd fuselage bund punted yellow, The pine
painted 1/3 yellow and 23 blak. “Put”, the emblem of
Grupa 5 Vanitoare was painted under the cockpit on both
Sides ofthe fuse= He 112E Na. 7, Escadrila 51, Grupul 5 Vandtoare, Pipera-Bucharest airfield
eS Upper surfaces: Schwarzgriin RLM 70 and Dunkelgriin RLM 71. Undersides:
Lichtblau RLM 65.
September 1940, Ofer de echipa oan M
Maga was forced to be di
were til isHe 112E Na 9, Cpt. Av. Virgil Trandafirescu, commander of Escadsila 51, Gru
8 pul S Vinatoare, Ramnicul Sarat airfield, June 1941, Grau REM 02/63 overall.
Th
When the
fell
112 No. 9. Inthe midis Cp. Av. Virgil
Sublocotenent Me, Ei!
pit of He 112 No 9
(Photo Dan Antonin. and ear-vew mirror mounted in pit (Photo Dan Antonin)
stand~ He 112E Na 10, Locotenent Av. Tiberiu Statescu, 5th Group Deputy, Pipera-
Bucharest airfield. Upper surfaces: Schwarzgriin RLM 70 and Dunkelgriin RLM
71, Undersides: Lichtblau RLM 65,
A ground crewman refueling He 112 No, 10. Note the “Pluto” outlined in white,
‘the Walt Disney character was the Grup § Vanatoare emblem,
(Photo Dan Antonin).nb + He 112E Na. 11 of Locotenent Avr) Ing, loan Lascu, Escadrila $1, Gru-
pul 5 Vanitoare. Grau RLM 02/63 overall.
His name wa
ests. The fi nas ed by
targets inthe Valea Hrtoapeor
mgincer Tan Lasu joined the Sth Gro
fe 112 flight attacked with bomb
raduate ofthe Charlottenburg Berlin Poitehnic ai
iso flew No. 13. On 7th July 194, tw
cars ablaze. On 12 July 1941, a 18:40, aoth
Lt. Av Ing
area. Lasc fling He 112 No. saw
4 Soviel tank hit the aie
tack with his guns
jt, which caught
Left: Ad. Av.
Dinu near He 112E No.
11, WNr. 2082. N
beneath the horizontalcand Heinkel 112E Na 13, Sit.Av. Moscu Teodor, Escadrila 51, Grupul §
Vanitoare, Ramnicul Sarat airfield, July 1941. Grau RLM 02/63 overall
SitAv. Me
Sid. Mosc Teodor inspecting his He 112 No. 13, damaged after a
_rond attack mision oma Soviet motorized cola near Pum
a silage (Mose Photo via Dan Antonia)He 112E Na 30, Advanced Fighter School, Pipera-Bucharest airfield, summer of
ee eee ae aoe
6
1096, They were very
des of the fuselage
In carly 1943, the remaining Heinkel 112 aircraft of Escadrila 51 were assign
19s were avilable, Ths particu
cd fighter trainer in late 1942, Note the Edelweiss em
(Photo Razvan Bujor) Sit.Av, Dam Marinovicl in the cockpit of He 112 No, 30, (Photo Rdzvan Bujor)Heinkel 112E, Black Stars posing as a mock “Soviet Fighter Squadron” in the movie
Escadrila Alba (White Squadron), Pipera-Bucharest airfield, September 1942.
able Grey overall.
iyone in September Aw Ing
Sorin Tale Flet 106, carrying spares frm the
mel to
her displaying Black
nd apparently preparing to
in the
ble pain) and decorated with blak tars on the wing
‘and fuselage. The possible reason for not using red for
the “Soviet tars was that the movie was med in
‘lack & whit. The Edelweiss emblems sil visible on
th fuselage.
Ee)R80/
utica Regald Romana were obsolete. For this
In the mid ‘30s, most ofthe airplanes ofthe Aen
Teason, in November 1936 LAR Brasov proposed a new project to the Ministry of the Air and Navy
This was a moder all metal, low wing monoplane fighter, named IAR 80.
The airplane was designed around the Junkers Jumo 211Da engine, but the Germans failed to
deliver the promised engine. The IAR-14K, a Gnome RhOne engine manufactured under licence,
{was the only one available and the prototype was equipped with it. It was also decided that the
first production batch of 20 planes were to be fitted with the IAR-14K engine.
In February 1941, the first IAR 80s were delivered to the new Grupul 8 Vindtoare. This unit was
engaged in battle from the very first day of the Barbarossa campaign. The aircraft performed with
{00d results against the modest Soviet airplanes, especially against the I-16 Rata. The frst victory
Achieved by an IAR 80 came on 27 June 1941. The fist IAR 80 shot down was No, 23 of Lt.At
Vasile Claru (KIA) on 12 July 1941. On 15 July 1941, Escadrila 52 transferred its remaining He 112
fighters to Escadrila 51
new IAR 80s. On 27 September, Gnipul 6 Vinitoare transferred its .24s to Grupul 4 Vinitoare
land began training on the IAR 80. The fist 6 IAR 81 fighters came to the frontline with the 59th
Squadron (8th Fighter Group). The first dive bombing mission was on 15 October 1941, when
five IAR 81s bombed Odessa harbour. During the first campaign, 21 LAR 80 and A were lost. Over
100 victories against Soviet airplanes were claimed in the air and on the ground by IAR 80 pilots.
In January 1942, Gropul 6 Vindtoare started to convert to the IAR 81 dive bomber. In April,
Grupul 9 Vinatoare was created, receiving the IAR 80A. Grupul 8 Vindtoare was assigned to home
defence. Its first eal mission was on 12 June 1942, when the USAAF carried out its first raid at
Ploiesti, coded Halpro. In July, Grupul 4 Vindtoare be ‘on the IAR 80A and the turn of
Grupul 3 Vinatoare came in August.
nd joined the 42nd to form the 42/S2nd Fighter Squadron, which received
n traiIn September, the 6th and 8th Fighter Groups were sent to the Stalingrad front. They claimed.
anes shot down, while losing 11 airplanes in dogfights or to enemy AA, three de=
stroyed on the ground, nine in accidents and six captured by the advancing Soviet forces.
In 1943, the IAR 80 was given the role of home defence. Grupul 4
armed (with cannon) IAR 80C and transferred its IAR 80A to the 3rd Fi
squadrons (46th and 49th) on the Black Sea coast at Cetatea Alba and another (45th) at Targson
upul 6 Vandtoare was stationed on the Pipera-Bucharest airfield. In April 1943,
45 Soviet air
received the better
ter Group. It had two
near Ploiegti.
Gnupul 9 Vainitoare abandoned its IAR 804 fighters for the Bf 109G and Grupul 8 Vinitoare was
the Sth Assault Group equipped with the Hs 1298, On 1 August 1943, the second
are and the 45th
Fighter Squadron were credited with seven confirmed and another two probable B-24D bombers
shot down, with a loss of one IAR 80B and another two damaged. In October, Grupul 7 Vindtoare
came back from the front and received the new IAR 81C fighters armed with Mauser cannons. Also
the Ist Fighter Group, stationed on the Rosiorii de Vede airfield received IAR 80C fighters. Gnupul
transformed int
USAAF raid took place against Ploiesti, Operation Tidal Wave. Grupul 6 Vial
A par of IAR 80s parked
‘om the srfield ofthe
Galati Fighter School,
spring 1983,
(Tomasz. Kopatiski
ll)
A row of IAR 80s parked
com the snow covered
oli til, winter
B28.
(Tomas). KopsGround crewmen mount
ing the rina fteron
an TAR SIC of Gopal 2
Vinitar, Ghent
‘cin sil, summer
1944
(Rtvan Bujor coll)
are pilots were credited with seven confirmed victories
ind one probable, in their convoy escort missions during 1943.
In January 1944, some of the active IAR 80/815 were re
armed with 20 mm cannons, and were renamed IAR 80M
(IAR 80C) was stationed
con the Tanca airfield. Escadrila 51 of Grupul 5 Vindtoare was
(“M" for Mauser). Grapul 2 Vato
also equipped with LAR 81C Four fighter Groups were assigned
to home defence: the Ist, 4th, 6th and 7th Fighter Groups. On
1 April 1944, 302 LAR 80/81s were in service, out of which 227
were serviceable
During the subsequent air battles with the 15th USAAF
IAR 80/81 pilots fought bravely claiming about 80 B-24
Liberators shot down,
On 4 April 1944, the fist raid of the US 15th Air Force
took place over Romania. Twenty-four IAR 80Cs of Grepul 1
Vinitoare took-off to intercept the bombers. As a result, the
Group claimed 10 B-24 bombers shot down, of which only 8
‘were confirmed One of them belonged to Cpt.C-dor. Av. loan
Sandu, the unit commander.
On 21 April, the bombers of the 15th Air Force returned,
but this time accompanied by powerful fighter cover. Twenty-
six airplanes of Grupul 1 Vindtoare scrambled. A flight from
the 43rd Squadron encountered about 30 B-24 bombers, which
they attacked and shot down two of them. Another fl
however, was surprised by Mustangs from the 31st Fighter
{Group as they were coming out of the clouds and all four were
shot down,