^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Hungarian Air Force

Red Hungarian Air Corps 1919

The Red Hungarian Air Corps (Vros Legjarocsapat) was formed in March 1919, and carried three styles of national insignia. The first, consisting of (from front) Red/White/Green chevrons on the wings, was soon superseded by a Red star on White square.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 Clandestine Years 1920-28

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.

Exercise markings 1931

During secret military exercises in the summer of 1931, a Black St. Stephen's cross was painted over a tricolour square (Colours, from top, were Red, White and Green). This appeared on aircraft fuselages. Rudder striping was also carried.
Representative types: WM-Fokker CVD.

Exercise markings 1932

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.

Honvd Lgier 1938-41

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.

Proposed markings 1941

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.

Honvd Lgier 1941-45

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.

Honvd Lgier 1942-43

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.

Honvd Lgier 1944

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.

Hovdsgi Kzlny 1948-49

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.

Hovdsgi Kzlny 1949-51

To better reflect Hungarys 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.

Hovdsgi Kzlny 1951-90

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.

The Hungarian Revolution 1956

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 Kcsag (Egret); Type 4 Daru II.

Hungarian Air Force 1990

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.

Hungarian Air Force from 1991

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 1cm 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.

Useful further references

The Hungarian Air Forces 1920-1945 by Srhidai, Punka & Kozlik, Hikoki 1996. Small Air Forces Observer, No. 75.