Romanian Hs 129's

[daveh]

Are there any reports by Romanian pilots concerning how useful they found the Hs 129 as a ground attack aircraft?

Did the Romanians develop any new tactics for use with this aircraft?
Did the Romanians request any more Hs 129's once they had used them in combat?
What successes did the Romanians achieve with the Hs 129?

[C-2]

QUOTE

Are there any reports by Romanian pilots concerning how useful they found the Hs 129 as a ground attack aircraft? Did the Romanians develop any new tactics for use with this aircraft? Did the Romanians request any more Hs 129's once they had used them in combat? What successes did the Romanians achieve with the Hs 129?

Unfortunatly till now we (Victor and me) didn't find a 129 pilot.
Other pilots talked with a lot of respect about this plane,and said it was very eficient in close suport missions.Very robust and could take a lot of punishment.Titus Axente which flew in one ocasion a very tired 129(the aircraft had no wheels and mechanics improvised a pair of ju 87 for it) said that some comands were electric (insted of hidraulic) and a lot of armour.

[Dénes]

You can read some details regarding your questions also in my book, titled: 'Henschel Hs 129 In Action', published by Squadron/Signal, in 2001.

In short, most Rumanian pilots loved to fly and fight with the Hs 129 and they achieved excellent results, with limited human losses.

Dénes

[Victor]

The Romanian pilots simply loved the Hs-129B2 and used it extensively, some of them flying up to 8missions a day during Soviet offensives. There are many stories to be told about the exploits of the 8th Assault Group: how they practically saved the 24th Infantry Division, how they landed in no mans land to pick up their comrades, how they stopped Soviet attacks in their tracks etc, etc.

[ecky c]

Hi,

I am very interested in the Hs129 in general. Are there any good books on the Romanian Hs129?

Alex

[Cristian Craciunoiu]

Cornel Marandiuc published a book ( about 400 pages ) with pilots testimony. Unfortunately it is only in Romanian language : CAVALERII BIMOTOARELOR DE ASALT. You may see it in www modelism.ro

[Victor]

There was also prof. Valeriu Avram's "Grupul 8 Asalt", published by you in 1995 or '96. It was also very interesting and more historical. Mr. Marandiuc's book is more literary, although also interesting.

[Der Maresal]

This is the personal plane of Assault Commander Lazar Munteanu, leader of the 41st Squadron, 8th Group operating at Genishek, USSR 1943.



The Hs129B equipped the three "staffeln" of the 8th Assault Wing of the Royal Romanian Aircorps. It was quite succesfull.
After the coup on August 23rd, Romania Changed sides, and the Hs-129's were used against the German armies, finally being combined into a groups equipped with Ju87D Stukas. :?

*The image above is from the flight simulator Il-2, where one can find the Hs-129 in Romanian markings, as well as tons of other aircraft from the ARR. Great Simulator (Made by Russians!!! who would have tought)

[Victor]

QUOTE

The Hs129B equipped the three \"staffeln\" of the 8th Assault Wing of the Royal Romanian Aircorps.

I prefer the term Escadrile. Btw, a more correct term is Group, not Wing.

[Victor]

Here is an interesting episode, which shows the ruggedness of the Hs-129B.

The day of 6 October was an "usual" day for the 8th Assault Group. The missions went on one after another. However, for adj. av. Gheorghe Zamfir, it proved to be a quite an experience. During an attack on Soviet armor near the village of Shirokoe his aircraft was hit by 20 mm gunfire, just as he had launched his bombs. A shell had stopped in the armor in his back. He managed to bring it back to the airfield. After 10 minutes he took off in another mission and in another airplane. This time they attacked artillery positions at Alexandrovka. A well-camouflaged tank fired a lucky shot, which hit him in the fuselage and cut off a part of his controls. He barely managed to return to base, where the aircraft broke in two as he was taxiing on the runaway. After 30 minutes he was back in the air again. The Hs-129B2 formation attacked a Soviet troop concentration at Guterka. As he fired his guns, an incendiary shell hit his ammo, which started to explode. With the aircraft in flames he headed towards the front line. He managed to put it down and got out just in time. The Hs-129 exploded. Adj. av. Gheorghe Claru landed next to the burning wreck, took his wounded comrade on board and returned him safely to the airfield.

[C-2]

Are those pilots still alive?

[Cristian Craciunoiu]

A surviver of the Hs 129 pilots is cpt.® Dumitru ( MiTiCA ) Marinescu. His incredible story was published in the Book "A Romanian Papillon ". He was shot down while in ordered mission by two IAR 80 ordered to intercept him over Hungary. Taken prisoner by the Soviets !!! he was sentenced to perpetual forced labor as an enemy of the people.

[Victor]

Wasn't he carrying two passengers trying to cross over to the German side?

[Victor]

Dave, here is the short story of the 8th Assault Group.
http://www.arr.go.ro/g8as.htm