Monday 8 January 2018

Messerschmitt Bf.109F - Hungarian users

Today's post isn't very long, but anyway, it's full of content!.
In October 1942 an agreement was reached by the Luftwaffe and the Royal Hungarian Air Force to partially re-arm them with the Bf.109F. The previous type of the Bf.109  So, subordinated to the JG 52 on the Eastern Front, the first Hungarian unit to convert to the Bf.109F-4 was the 1./1. vadászszázad (fighter squadron) and shortly after, zászlós (ensign) Lukács Otto flew the first combat sortie, on 15 October 1942.
They were used mainly in the fighter-bomber role, so most of them were of the F-4/B variant.
The first kill of an Hungarian Bf.109F didn't come until 16th December 1942 when fohädnagy (Lieutenant) György Bánlaky and hadnagy (Second Lieutenant) Imre Pánczél shot down four Ilyushin Il-2, which were the first victims of the Hungarian Bf.109Fs. Many other Hungarian units converted either to the Bf.109F and more advanced Bf.109G types during the course of 1943.










Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_operational_history#Combat_service_with_Hungary
2. Hikoki editions - Hungarian Eagles - The Hungarian Air Forces 1920-1945
3. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

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