Kingdom of Hungary (1943)
Reconnaissance aircraft – Over 28
During the Second World War, Hungary aligned itself with the Axis powers, and in 1941, they dispatched their armed forces to support the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Initially, the Hungarian Army, particularly its Air Force, was poorly equipped for this conflict and lacked many vital military resources, particularly modern weapons and aircraft. For example, its Air Force had to conduct tactical reconnaissance using obsolete biplane aircraft. In 1943, to support their ally, the Germans supplied a small group of the modern Fw 189 reconnaissance aircraft to the Hungarians. Although these aircraft were limited in number, they saw extensive action until the end of the war.
History
Despite many attempts to improve its Air Force during the 1930s, Hungary faced numerous obstacles that hindered its progress. The most significant challenge were the restrictions on developing certain military technologies, including aircraft, imposed by the Treaty of Trianon in June 1920. Although the geopolitical landscape in Europe had changed considerably by the 1930s, rendering the Western Allies incapable of enforcing this ban, it did little to assist Hungary. The country simply lacked the financial resources and could not find any potential sources from which they could purchase a large number of new aircraft from.
As a result, the Hungarian Air Force had to rely on the Weiss Manfred WM 21 Sólyom, a biplane developed domestically in the late 1930s, for reconnaissance operations. Fewer than 130 of these aircraft were built. To supplement the WM 21, Hungary acquired the Heinkel He 46 from Germany. However, by the time Hungary entered the war with the Soviet Union in 1941, both aircraft were clearly obsolete. Nevertheless, with no better alternatives available, they had to continue in their reconnaissance roles.
By 1943, it had become clear to Hungarian Air Force officials that the two aging aircraft in their fleet needed to be replaced. With limited options available, they turned to the Germans for assistance. At that time, Germany was deeply entangled in the conflict with the Soviet Union and was in desperate need of support from its allies. Realizing the necessity of keeping Hungary well-equipped in the fight against the Soviets, the Germans agreed to supply a small contingent of the well-known Focke-Wulf Fw 189 reconnaissance aircraft to reequip the Hungarian forces.
A Brief Fw 189 History
The history of the Fw 189 dates back to 1937, when the German Ministry of Aviation initiated the development of a new tactical reconnaissance aircraft. The role of the aircraft was to survey the front line, and carry out army liaison duties. One of the companies that responded to this competition was Focke-Wulf, which presented the Fw 189. This aircraft won the contract, leading to a production order that began in 1940. The Fw 189 was a twin-engine aircraft with a heavily glazed central fuselage which gave its crew excellent visibility. It was well-liked in service and generally performed well, with most of them being employed on the Eastern Front. By the time production ended in 1944, some 900 of these aircraft had been built.
Operational Service Life
While the Fw 189 aircraft were allocated to the Hungarian Air Force, they operated under German command. This was not irregular; in fact, to better coordinate their efforts, large parts of the engaged Hungarian Air Force were placed under German operational control. In May 1943, Germany supplied the Hungarians with a group of 12 Fw 189A models, which were assigned to the 3rd Hungarian Flying Squadron under the command of Captain Lorand Telbisz. This squadron was subordinate to the German 4th Air Fleet.
The first aircraft operated from airfields near Harkow, where they undertook over 224 reconnaissance missions against Soviet forces. Some of these missions even targeted Soviet partisans in the Pripet Marshes. During one of these operations, the Hungarians lost their first Fw 189, when it was shot down in late May.
The aircraft also saw heavy action during the Battle of Kursk, performing reconnaissance missions and, in many instances, conducting light bombing attacks against enemy forces. However, with the failure of the German offensive, the Hungarian forces were forced to retreat as well.
In September 1943, a lone Hungarian Fw 189 achieved remarkable success against Soviet fighters. On the 21st, during a reconnaissance mission, the Hungarian Fw 189 was engaged by a group of three Yak-9 fighters. To evade the enemy, the Fw 189 pilot descended sharply, making abrupt turns. Despite intensive enemy fire, the rear gunner managed to shoot down one of the fighters. A second Soviet fighter was lost when its pilot misjudged his altitude and crashed into the ground. The last surviving fighter disengaged and retreated. While the Fw 189 lacked for a heavy defensive armament, its spindly form and exceptional maneuverability made it a difficult target for interceptors, when an experienced pilot was at the controls.
Later that same day, another Fw 189 was attacked by at least six La-5 fighters. After extensive maneuvering and exchanging of fire, the rear gunner of the Fw 189 claimed two of the attackers. In both cases, the Fw 189s successfully returned to their bases.
During this period, the Germans added a few more aircraft to the unit to replace losses and worn-out planes. By the end of October 1943, the 3rd Flying Squadron had completed its 1,000th flight mission. However, while it remained active until the end of the year, a lack of fuel and spare parts greatly reduced the number of operational flights. By March 1944, the unit had only one operational aircraft left. That same month, the unit was officially disbanded, and the surviving personnel were sent back to Hungary.
The story of the Fw 189 in Hungarian service did not end there. In April 1944, the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron was relocated to Hungary and stationed at Bydgoszcz. The squadron’s crew underwent training in night reconnaissance operations, which were completed by May. Following their training, the unit engaged in extensive action on the Eastern Front, ranging from Poland to Hungary. They remained active on the frontline until September, when it was disbanded. Following the unit’s dissolution, the surviving aircraft were returned to the Germans. While the exact number of Fw 189s operated by this unit is unclear, they are known to have lost between 10 and 11 aircraft of this type to all causes. This marked the end of the Fw 189’s service within the Hungarian Air Force.
It is not clear precisely how many aircraft of this type were operated by the Hungarians. Author G. Punka (Hungarian Air Force) places the number of 28 aircraft of this type, while in another book, Hungarian Eagles, written by Sarhidai, G. Punka, and V. Kozlik, a figure of 21 is given. While most of these received Hungarian Air Force markings, many of them retained the original German markings, which makes identification somewhat confusing, likely contributing to this ambiguity.
Technical Specification
The Fw 189 was designed as a twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft with a unique construction. Its central fuselage featured extensive glazing, with the cockpit at the front of the compartment, followed by a small crew area, and a gunner’s station at the rear. The fuselage was bulkier at the front and tapered toward the rear. Access to the crew area was provided through two hatches above the cockpit and a larger hatch at the rear. Although the extensive glazing left the crew more exposed to enemy fire, it was ideal for its reconnaissance role, offering excellent all-around visibility.
The wings are composed of two distinct sections. The central, square-shaped panel connects the nacelle and engines, while the second section extends outward from the booms. The wings feature a metal base covered with duralumin, though the ailerons and split flaps are clad in fabric.
The aircraft was powered by two 465 hp Argus As 410 A-1 12-cylinder air-cooled V-12 engines. These engines demonstrated remarkable effectiveness and reliability, even under the harsh winter conditions of the Eastern Front. With these engines, the Fw 189 achieved a maximum speed of 335 km/h, though exact figures may vary between sources. Each engine drove a two-blade, constant-speed propeller. Fuel was stored in two 110-liter tanks, which were housed in the tail booms. The Fw 189 had a maximum operational range of approximately 670 km.
The landing gear consisted of two landing gear assemblies that retracted into the engine nacelles. The rear smaller tail wheel was located inside the vertical stabilizer and was retracted in flight. While nominally a reconnaissance aircraft, the aircraft could be armed with machine guns for strafing targets, and had four underwing shackles for bombs, or flares.
Conclusion
The Fw 189 was a well-designed aircraft that excelled in its intended role. Given its effectiveness, it’s no surprise that the Hungarians made extensive use of the few aircraft they were supplied with. These planes were deployed exclusively against the Soviets, primarily in 1943 and late 1944.
Fw 189A-1 Specifications |
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| Wingspans | 18.4 m / 60 ft 4 in | |
| Length | 12 m / 39 ft 5 in | |
| Height | 3.1 m / 10 ft 2 in | |
| Wing Area | 38m² / 410 ft² | |
| Engine | Two 465 hp Argus As 410 A-1 engines | |
| Empty Weight | 2,805 kg / 6,185 lbs | |
| Maximum Take-off Weight | 3,950 kg / 8,708 lbs | |
| Maximum Speed | 335 km/h / 208 mph | |
| Cruising Speed | 315 km/h / 196 mph | |
| Range | 670 km / 416 miles | |
| Maximum Service Ceiling | 7,000 m / 22,965 ft | |
| Crew | pilot, rear gunner, and observer | |
| Armament |
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Illustration
Credits
- Article written by Marko P.
- Edited by Henry H.
- Illustration by Oussama Mohamed “Godzilla”
Sources:
- D. Nesic (2008) Naoružanje Drugog Svetsko Rata-Nemacka
- G. Punka (1993) Focke-Wulf Fw 189 in Action, Signal Publication
- D. Monday (2006) The Hamlyn Concise Guide To Axis Aircraft OF World War II, Bounty Books
- G. Punka, Hungarian Air Force, Signal Publication
- G. Sarhidai, G. Punka, and V. Kozlik (1996) Hungarian Eagles, Hikoki Publication
- S. Renner. (2016) Broken Wings The Hungarian Air Force, 1918-45, Indiana University Press