Hungarian Fighter Colours 1930-1945, Volume 2
by Denes Bernad and Gyorgy Punka

Stratus/Mushroom Model Publications

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron

The evolution of Hungarian air power after 1918 shared similarities with the rise of the Luftwaffe.  Banned by treaty from having a military air wing, the nationalist government of Miklos Horthy created a force in secret that was not publicly announced until the late 1930s.   Grievances over post-World War I territorial boundaries – amongst other reasons – saw Horthy's regime increasingly aligned with the fascist governments in Rome and Berlin, and it was from these countries that Hungary sourced most of its warplanes.

Mushroom Model Publications' two volume set "Hungarian Fighter Colours 1930-1945" tells the story of the fighter aircraft operated by Budapest during this period.  I haven't seen the first volume in the series, although its chapter titles are helpfully listed at the beginning of volume 2 so you know what authors Denes Bernard and Gyorgy Punka have already covered.  This includes scene-setting discussions on the camouflage and markings of Hungarian aircraft, which I assume provide useful context for the subsequent aircraft-specific chapters.  For volume 1, this means the Fokker D.XVI, FIAT CR.20 / CR.30 / CR.32 / CR.42, Bf 109 D/E/F, and the locally built AVIS.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

Thumbnail panels:

The narrative is continued in volume 2, to the extent that the page numbering starts at page 192 rather than a new count, as would usually be the case. 

Chapter titles and details are as follows:

• "Heinkel He 112 – an elegant passer by" – describes Hungary's unsuccessful attempts to acquire this German fighter beyond three airframes received in 1939, before undertaking a detailed analysis of the camouflage and markings of these machines.  This structure sets the pattern for all of the subsequent aircraft-specific chapters – first the acquisition and operational history is discussed, followed by colours and markings.

• "Avia B-534 – a bird captured in combat" – examines the use of a Slovak Avia B-534 captured during the 1939 Hungarian/Slovak border dispute, which ended its days as a glider tug at the Technical University of Budapest's flying club.

• "PZL P.11a – the one that got away" – another war prize, this time a PZL P.11 flown to Hungary by escaping Polish officers after the German invasion of that country in September 1939.  This machine also ended up at the Technical University of Budapest, with civilian registration and a spectacular red-and-cream paint job.

• "WM-23 – Hungary's silver arrow" – an indigenous fighter design that was developed into a flying prototype but did not enter production.  The authors have made good use of the limited available information in preparing this interesting chapter.

• "Reggiane Re.2000 Heja/MAVAG-Heja – Hungary's Italian monoplane fighter" – Hungary ordered 70 Re.2000s from Italy in 1939 (delivered between 1940 and 1943) and licence-built at least 185 more at the Hungarian State Iron, Steel and Machine Works between 1942 and 1944.  These aircraft saw extensive service, particularly against the Soviet Union, and their operational record, production details and camouflage and marking variations are discussed in great detail.

• "Messerschmitt Bf 109 – The Hungarians' ultimate fighter" – nearly a third of the book is devoted to the Bf 109 Gs operated by Hungary in the last two years of the war.  Their use on both the Eastern Front, and in home defence against the USAAF, is covered ahead of what is arguably the most thorough analysis to date of Hungarian Gustav camouflage and markings.

• "Messerschmitt B 110 – an unemployed night fighter" – Hungary received one Bf 110 F and two early production Bf 110 Gs in spring 1943 to support a night-fighting capability that was never fully realised.  This is despite Germany's subsequent provision of dedicated night fighter training to Hungarian crews, along with a number of radar-equipped Bf 110 G-4s; by the time this occurred in late 1944, it was a case of 'too little, too late'.  Their limited operational effectiveness aside, these Bf 110s are interesting modelling subjects given Hungary is one of the few countries other than Germany to have used the type.

• "Messerschmitt Me 210Aa-1 – Uneasy night fighter and unproven heavy fighter" – Hungarian night fighter crews also trained on locally-produced Me 210s, but did not fly them on operations.  Use of Me 210s against USAAF daylight raids in 1944 saw significant Hungarian losses for only a few American aircraft destroyed.

• "Focke-Wulf Fw 190 – a fighter-bomber that also hunted" – this last aircraft-specific chapter looks at Hungary's use of Fw 190 Fs and Gs in the final months of the war.

The book concludes with four appendices providing additional information on the
following issues:

• "The making of an aircraft profile – the saga of reconstructing the Me 210 Ca-1's side view".  This appendix provides a short explanation of the challenges involved with preparing an accurate profile illustration of a World War 2 Axis aircraft, when the artist's main source of information is contemporary black and white, often poor-quality photographs.

• "Hungarian Air Force unit structure" – a short section listing English-language equivalents of Hungarian air force organisations.

• "Bibliography" – two pages detailing sources consulted.

• "Aces" – its title notwithstanding, this appendix details all Hungarian fighter pilots who scored victories during the war, regardless of whether they achieved 'ace' status.

All of this adds up to a large amount of information, which the authors convey through a combination of text, photographs and profile art.  The text is quite readable although dense with facts – it is aimed more at dedicated students of aviation history than casual readers.  The photos are generally high quality, and relevant to the accompanying text and profiles; a number of colour photos are particularly welcome.  Where poorer quality photos are used, it is always because they are needed to convey a point being made by the authors.

The stars of the show, however, are the colour profiles that have been carefully based on photographic and other evidence, and should provide considerable inspiration for modellers.  Most are side profiles only, although several three- and four-view illustrations are included.

This book and its companion volume are essential library additions for anyone interested in Hungarian military aviation in the lead up to and during World War 2. 

If you're a modeller, you'll also find plenty of ideas for projects that will make your model stand out from others of the same aircraft type. 

The impression I was left with after finishing "Hungarian Fighter Colours" is that it has been a labour of love for the authors, and it's hard not to pick up on this enthusiasm while you're reading the book. 

Very highly recommended.

Thanks to MMP Books  for the sample.

All MMP Books are available direct from the publishers, who now accept credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Switch)  

North American distributors are MMD, Australian distributors are Platypus Publications. In Europe, the books are available from any good bookshop (via our UK distributors, Orca). Contact MMP direct in case of difficulties. 

Thanks to Roger at MMO Books  for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2015 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 8 January, 2015
Last updated 8 January, 2015

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page