Ar 96 in Romania

[Graham Boak]

The new Flugzeug profile, by Dr. Krantzhoff, states that 40 of these trainers were ordered by Romania. I don't recall seeing any other reference to this - did they arrive and were they used? If so, have any photographs been published?

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hallo Graham

It looks like even 50 Ar 196 were ordered by Romania. They were supposed to have been delivered during the autumn 1944. Some 24 WERE indeed sent but remained unpacked when Romania switched side and joined Soviet Union on August 23rd. Soviet Union is reported to have confiscated 22 of these. Most probably those seen in Soviet markings postwar were from this batch plus of course others captured from Germany. There is NO evidence that any were actually put in service by the Romanians.

Cheers
Stig

[Graham Boak]

Sorry Stig, I do mean the trainer not the floatplane.

[Dénes Bernád]

There were no Ar 96s in ARR service. The Bulgarians, Hungarians, Slovaks all had the type, but not the Rumanians.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Guys

Failing eyesight? Sorry about the mistake. I guess I was too eager to beat Denes on his doorstep...

Denes is right of course.

Cheers
Stig

[Graham Boak]

Thanks for the replies, it is what I expected, but the alternative would have been quite exciting.

Does anyone know of photos of the Bulgarian examples? Particularly the armed ones, but any would be interesting.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Graham

Trying to improve my correspondance there is book called Sojusznicy Luftwaffe, Bulgaria (issue 88) which DO have a couple of pictures of Bulgarian Ar 96B, with one of them looking like it has hardpoints....

The Polish sourde above states 24 was received, but Bulgarian sources now claim 29 was the total!!

Cheers
Stig