Last modified: 2003-07-05 by dov gutterman
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1991-
by Zeljko Heimer, 2 November 2001
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by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
The Red Hungarian Air Corps (Vörös Légjárócsapat) was
formed in March 1919, and carried three styles of national
insignia. The first, consisting of (from the earliest)
red/white/green chevrons on the wings, was soon superseded by a
red star on white square. A variation existed on this style,
where a white star was placed on a red square on a Fokker D.VII.
Later camouflaged aircraft used a red star with a fine white
outline.
Representative types: Chevrons Aviatik Berg D.I; red star/white
square Fokker (MAG) D.VII, UFAG C.I, Hansa Brandenburg C.I; red
star/white outline Phnix C.I.
The prohibition of military aviation by the Allied Control
Commission meant that any air force activity had to be carried
out under civilian cover. Military aircraft carried registration
letters and numbers up to 1923. From 1924 until 1937 military
aircraft carried standard registrations in the style of H-Mxxx.
The Hungarian flag was used on the tails of aircraft from 1931.
Hungarian civil registrations changed to the HA-xxx form in 1933.
By 1934, the registrations were becoming smaller, and large code
letters began to make an appearance on the fuselage sides.
Individual squadron badges also began to be used.
Representative types: Hansa Brandenburg B.I, Udet U12, Bcker Bu
131, Fokker C.V, Heinkel He 46, Junkers Ju 52/3mg, Junkers Ju
86K, Fiat Cr-20, Fiat Cr-32, Fiat BR 2, Focke-Wulf Fw 56 Stsser,
Focke-Wulf Fw 58 Weihe, Messerschmitt Bf 108B Taifun.
During secret military exercises in the summer of 1931, a
Black St. Stephen's cross was painted over a square tricolour
(colours, from top, were red, white and green). This appeared on
aircraft fuselages. Rudder striping was also carried.
Representative types: WM-Fokker CVD.
Further secret military exercises in the autumn of 1932 saw
the appearance of a roundel that consisted of a green St.
Stephen's cross on a white roundel surrounded by a red outer
ring. This appeared on wings and fuselage. Rudder striping was
also carried. This marking was to be used in case of a
mobilisation for war, but in the event was not needed.
Representative types: WM-Fokker CVD.
by Zeljko Heimer, 2 November 2001
The overt emergence of the Hungarian Air Force led to the
re-introduction of the red/white/green chevron insignia. This
took the form of a triangle in the ratio of 2:1. This was applied
to both wing and tail surfaces. The chevron pointed in the
direction of flight. A camouflage finish was in use on most
aircraft by the time Hungarian forces occupied parts of Slovakia
in 1938.
Representative types: Reggiane Re 2000, Fiat Cr-32, Fiat Cr-42,
Heinkel He 70K, Heinkel He 112, Heinkel He 46E-2, Focke-Wulf Fw
56 Stsser, Savoia-Marchetti SM 75, Caproni Ca 135bis, Focke-Wulf
Fw 58, Weiss Manfred WM 21.
As an ally of Germany, Hungarian aircraft carried yellow bands on the cowling, wing tips and fuselage. After the invasion of the Soviet Union, it was discovered that the visibility of the chevron was poor, and many Hungarian aircraft were attacked by their German allies. Germany pressed for a unified insignia for all Axis countries, but this was resisted. The Hungarian General staff suggested a black-edged white cross on a green square outlined in red. Experiments showed that this did not solve the visibility problem.
by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
In late 1941/early 1942 a revised Hungarian insignia was
agreed. This consisted of a black square with white cross, to be
carried on the wings and fuselage of all Hungarian aircraft. The
Hungarian tricolour was to be applied on both the fin/rudder and
horizontal tailplanes. From 1944, many aircraft dispensed with
the tail tricolour markings. The white in the cross was sometimes
painted over in grey to reduce visibility.
Representative types: Messerschmitt Bf 109 (included variants
from D-1 up to G-14), Messerschmitt Bf 110G, Messerschmitt Me
210C, Reggiane Re 2000, Fiat CR 42, Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8, Junkers
Ju 87B-2, Junkers Ju 86K-2, Caproni Ca 101, Focke-Wulf Fw 58,
Caproni Ca 135bis, Heinkel He 111P-2, Fiat G.12, Arado Ar 96A
& B, Focke-Wulf Fw 56 Stsser, Dornier Do 17K, Dornier Do
215B-4.
Some aircraft on the Eastern Front did not receive full
details of the new national insignia, and retained German
markings, their Hungarian nationality only being denoted by the
tricolour on their fin/rudder.
Representative types: Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4B.
by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
A variation of the white cross/black square was carried by
several German types due to a misinterpretation of the
regulations.
Representative types: Focke-Wulf Fw 189A-1, Messerschmitt Bf 109.
by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
After WW2, military flying in Hungary was prohibited until
June 1947. The Hungarian Peoples Army introduced the next
marking, a red roundel with a white triangle and green centre
circle.
Representative types: Arado Ar 96A & B/Avia C-2, Fieseler Fi
156 Strch, UT-2.
by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
To better reflect Hungary's communist government, the national
insignia was changed to a red star on a roundel, of which the
colours were (from outside) red, white, green and white. This
marking was also used on the tail, thus dispensing with the
tricolour flag.
Representative types: Arado Ar 96A & B/Avia C-2, Zlin Z 381
Fecske.
by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
To avoid confusion with the Yugoslav national insignia, the
national markings were changed yet again. A white-outlined red
star with white and green circles inscribed would survive until
1990.
Representative types: Yak-9P, Ilyushin Il-2, Ilyushin Il-10, Mil
Mi-4, Mil Mi-8, Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-15, Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21.
Rebel forces in the Hungarian uprising of October 1956 had the
use of some aircraft, and various types of marking were used.
These were usually hastily applied and many have not been
documented.
Representative types: Type 1 Mil Mi-4A; Type 2 Jak-11 lyv
(Buzzard); Type 3 Aero 45 Kócsag (Egret); Type 4 Daru II.
by Ferenc Gy. Valoczy, 2 July 2003
The end of communism in Hungary led to the re-introduction of
more traditional markings. A roundel within which was inscribed
the Hungarian chevron was used during 1990 as an interim
insignia.
Representative types: Mil Mi-8S, Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21PFM.
The chevron mark has now been formally re-introduced as the
Hungarian Air Force marking. The chevron is, as before, based
upon a 2:1 ration triangle. The width of the red and white
stripes are one sixth of the triangles base. The marking is
surrounded by a 1 cm White border. Stencilling marks are often
visible on this border when the marking is applied.
Representative types: Mil Mi-8S, Mil Mi-24, Mikoyan Gurevich
MiG-21PFM, Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29 & MiG-29UB.
According to Album 2000 [pay00]
- Aircraft marking - Triangular marking (as a note expains with
point always turned towards front) of red-white-green
"arowheads".
Zeljko Heimer, 2 November 2001
The Hungarian Air Forces 1920-1945 by Srhidai, Punka &
Kozlik, Hikoki 1996.
Small Air Forces Observer, No. 75.