One of the 12 Hurricane I fighters (1 to 12) delivered to ‘Escadrila’ 53 in 1940. Although the new Mihai Cross has been painted on the fuselage, the prewar roundel is still visible beneath the wing. At the outbreak of war, the under wingtips, a band round the rear fuselage and the entire nose forward of the wing were painted yellow to conform with ‘Axis’ recognition distinctions on the Eastern Front. Hurricanes served as the air defence for the port of Constanta, claiming 35 victories over Soviet bombers in 1941 for only one loss in combat, and continued to operate there until mid-1942. They also engaged in a rivalry with the Romanian Navy over engine spares, as there were also three Merlin-powered Vosper MTBs based at Constanta.

Romania received eight SM.55 flying-boats (I to VIII) for ‘Escadrila’ 102 over 1933-1936, the last of which was withdrawn in 1943. Although fitted to carry torpedoes, Romania seems only to have armed them with bombs.

Romania built five more SM.62‘bis’ (XV to XIX) in 1936, using the engines from stricken aircraft of the earlier Italian delivery. Seen at Mamaia in 1942 XVIII sports the ‘Axis’ Eastern Front yellow recognition ring round the rear fuselage. The last four remained in service until 1943.

Romania ordered twelve Cant Z.501s (1 to 12) in 1939, all of which were delivered the following year. They went to ‘Escadrila’ 102, whilst the surviving older Italian flying-boats were concentrated in ‘Escadrila’ 101. The Cant Z.501 bore the main burden of Romanian operations over the Black Sea in 1941-1942, before being withdrawn in 1943. The mottled camouflage scheme and yellow Axis recognition ring around the rear fuselage were applied after the outbreak of war. It is not clear if the older flying-boats also received mottled camouflage.

One of at least seven Avia Ba 122s bought from Czechoslovakia in 1938.

Three ex-LOT Lockheed 14 Super Electras nearer the camera, and three Lockheed 10A Electras in the distance. This photograph is thought to be of the commissioning ceremony of the ‘Escadrila’ LARES in June 1941.