The Heinkel 112 in Hungarian service
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Author: Rodolfo Hertrig

 History

Hungary, defeated in 1918 and separated of Austria, maintained the airplanes of its Air Force with civil markings until the 1938, year in which the same one came out of its secrecy imposed by the Versailles tried. The rearmament itself, returned in this manner, possible, prompted by the events that they developed in Europe (Germany there was invaded Austria and threatened the Czechoslovakian territory). Hungary desired to recuperate territories that in 1918 was obliged to yield to Romania, as likewise guaranteeing its territorial security. Due to the scarce of airplanes in its Air Force, is decided the reequipment in the fighters weapon (provided with Fiat CR-32). It is during the Spanish Civil War that Hungarian officers took contact with the Heinkel 112; to enlarge the knowledge upon the type, the Hungarians sent some officers to the Heinkel factory. In the course of these visits the major Barkasz and other two pilots test the Heinkel 112 V9 (D-IGSI). Their report went so positive that the authorities performed a request by 36 machines. In that time Heinkel was delayed with the machines for Japan and Spain, but the knowledge of the Germans of the Romanian-Hungarian problem, provoked that the shipment of the airplanes was retarded; the pretext went the license of production of the MG FF gun (Oerlikon under license) and then the shipment of Jumo 2ll and DB-601 engines. To the end, the 10 March 1939, a He-l12 Bl/U2 was shipped for Hungary. Again it is a matter of reimpulse the negotiations with Germany by the license; but it is given the priority to Romania. Recently, in May 1939, yields the license to the company Weiss Manfred to manufacture 12 Heinkel 112 B2, but the Hungarian interest would be derived to the Reggiane Re-2000.

Control Panel and commands of the He-112.

Other two He-112 Bl/U2 went envoys to end 1939, these received the Gebauer 39M 8mm. machine guns in replace of the MG-17 in the fuselage, as also backups for bombs in the wings. Likewise there was themselves considered the replace of the MG FF by Danuvla 39mm Hungarian guns. The 3 machines were assigned to the Repülö Kiserleti Intezet, or RKI, (Air Technical Institute) which compared them with other fighters that they were going to enter in service, until December 1939, when they distributed them to different fighting squads. In 1940 the tension among Romania and Hungary was enlarged, for which the 3 He-112, together with other fighters, they were mobilized to the border of the country, without seeing action. In 21 August 1940 the Heinkel went envoys to Debrecen in order to guarding train lines. After the invasion to Jugoslav, on the part of Germany, Hungary, Italy and Bulgary, were unfolded to the south but without taking part in the conflict. In 1944 they were inmobilized, probably for lack of replaces, and destroy for the allied bombing the same year.

Heinkel 112 in which is observed the propeller blades camouflage.

Camouflage and Insignia The camouflage consisted of RLM 65 in the lower surface of the airplane, and bands in RLM 61, RLM 62 and RLM 63 in the upper surfaces, likewise the propeller blades they went painted in camouflage. The paint scheme varied lightly among the 3 machines. The registry number they were V.301 to V.303, in black in the sides of the fuselage, national insignia in tail plane and in the four positions of the wings. Then these they changed in the summer 1942, to the form of a black square with a white cross in the center, located in the 4 habitual positions of the wing, more tail plane, stabilizers planes in red, white and green (only confirmed in the V3 + 02 airplane). In June 1941 was painted a yellow band in the fuselage and the tips of the upper surfaces wings.

Heinkel He-112 V.303 number, Hungarian Air Force, 1940.

Heinkel He-112 B1/U2 "V 303" of the Hungarian Aviation seen in April, during the Jugoslav campaign.