Tuesday, 6 February 2018

Messerschmitt Bf.109G, Hungarian Users, part two

The Messerschmitt Bf.106G was the aircraft manned by many of the Hungarian aces of the war.
For instance, it was the aircraft of Lászlo Daniel, who, copying Luftwaffe's tradition, painted white kill marks on his fin. A practice that was really rare in the Royal Hungarian Air Force. He shared the destruction of two B-24 and one P-38 by himself alone plus another P-38 claimed by himself but unconfirmed, all of them during the combat missions during the course of June and July 1944. Later, in January 1945 when they were fighting almost exclusively the Soviet Air Force, he enjoyed some success against them despite being outnumbered every time he took-off. He claimed five kills in March 1945 and, by the end of the war, he had completed 65 missions with 8.5 kills scored.
It was also the first aircraft that flew Lt. Kálman Nánási, who on 27th June 1944 flew his first combat mission. He didn't score any victory against the USAAF, but he managed to destroy nine Soviet Aircraft between December 1944 and March 1945.
During January 1945 he enjoyed considerable succes as he destroyed four Il-2s and one Yak-9 during the course of the month. His 39th mission came to an end on 4th April 1945 as we was shot down by Soviet flak during a ground-attack sortie.
The most famous Hungarian squadron that was equipped with the Bf.109G was the 101st, the Red Pumas, however, there were another two fighter squadrons fighting in the Eastern Front, the 102/2 which had among its files Lt. Lászlo Pottyondy, who was the commander officer of 102/2 "Ricsi" Squadron. They were active in the Eastern Front during autumn 1944 with 13 kills. In spite of being constantly outnumbered and having to struggle with a serious shortage of aircraft he managed to claim half a dozen kills during the final months of 1944. His aircraft wore the emblen of a dog, which was the unit's symbol, in the cowling.
Later, in late October 1944, Pottyondy was promoted to Captain when he regularly commanded his squadron on combined missions with the III/JG.52 which they shared the base with at Budaörs. As the 102/2 was severely lacking aircraft they were disbanded and integrated into the 101st in December 1944.
Like Nánási, Ens. Dezsö Szentgyörgyi had to face the Soviet onslaught in January 1945 and he managed to shot down three La-5, two Yak-9s and one Il-2. His aircraft was written-off during late January 1945 when he crashed trying to take-off with windy weather. Note that after Romania switched sides, on 28th September 1944 a yellow "V" was painted in the underside of the wings of every aircrafts assigned to Jafü Ost in order to help flak crews to distinguish between friendly Bf.109 from Romanian ones. The white part of the Hungarian roundel was either left off or overpainted in grey. The symbol of the Puma was also left off as groundcrew were busier keeping the Bf.109Gs airworthy.










Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109
2. Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces 50 - Hungarian Aces of World War II
3. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

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