The Royal Hungarian Air Force continued to rely on popular Italian fighters like the Fiat CR-32 and later the CR-42. Here an open-cockpit CR-32 biplane is about to proceed into action. In the later war years, however, these Fiats became obsolete.

Fiat CR-32 Fighter in Hungarian Air Force

Most of the RHAF personnel were volunteers, given thorough training at various locations. Many of them had been introduced to flying by interwar glider clubs. Here a group of officers gathers at a Hungarian air base.

Air Force Officers, Hungary

Lajos (Lewis) Tóth was a leading fighter pilot of the RHAF. During 95 missions flown, he accumulated a total of 28 kills, principally in Me fighters. He earned the German Iron Cross first class decoration. Returning from US captivity after the war, he was tried on trumped up charges by the Communist regime and was executed in 1951. The current free Hungarian government has rehabilitated his name.