Photographs illustrating post-1945 Hungarian military aircraft are rare, the secrecy was tightened even further following the 1956 revolution. A few prints have survived that hectic period, among them this one illustrating Il-28 ‘Red 44’ of the Magyar Nephadsereg Honi Legvedelmi Csapatai - Home Defence Troops of the Hungarian People’s Army.

Reportedly, Hungary had eight Il-28s in service from 1954 onwards, plus a few Il-28U trainers. If that is so, half of the entire Il-28 fleet is illustrated at Kecskemet air base. Left to right they are ‘19’, ‘55’, ‘44’ and ‘47’. Along with their national markings, consisting of a five-pointed red star, outlined with white, having a white circle and green dot in the centre, all Hungarian Il-28s carried a two-digit red tactical number, both on the nose and fin, outlined in white.

This archive shot shows a Martlet prior to delivery carrying a very prominent ferry registration. The ‘whiteness’ of this registration and of the apparently painted out roundels and fin flash make it appear' that these are all the work of the censor. Can readers add anything?

P-47D-23-RA 42-27615, formerly with the 35th FG, served with the 201st, but suffered AA damage on June 20, 1945.

P-47D-30-RA 44-33721 ‘18’ of the 201st over Manila Bay, June/July 1945.

P-47D-30-RA 44-33722 ‘20’ of the 201st, 1945.

Maintenance under way on a 201st Thunderbolt, the Philippines, 1945.

P-47D-28-RA 42-29462 of the 201st in the snow at Pacaletto, Idaho, during training 1944-45.

Unfortunate P-47D-30-RA, possible with the 58th FG or with the 201st.

‘V.5+40’, c/n H-070, was first flown on August 6,1941, being officially handed over the MKHL on September 24. This fighter trainer, painted in the rarely used Italian-style mottle camouflage scheme, near hangars of Budapest-Budaors airfield in late 1943. The pilot already sits in the cockpit and the WM-14B type radial is running. It seems that the port tyre pressure needs to be adjusted.

Zaszlos (ensign) Tibor Muranyi, with his fist raised into the air as sign of relief that he survived his first encounter with USAAF aircraft. In the background his aircraft, MAVAG Heja, ‘V.5+07’, is parked in front of the camouflaged hangar at Szolnok airfield, April 1944.