Hungarian Ground Attack Squadrons

[bearoutwest]

Hello All. It's time to seek assistance from your collective knowledge.

A friend's father flew for the Hungarian Air Force during the Second World War. The gentleman has never spoken in any great detail to his family about his flying during the war. My friend is seeking some background information on his father's flying career.

This is what we have been able to piece together so far.
- The pilot's name is Savanyo.
- Trained pre-war.
- Flew in a Bf109E ground attack squadron on the Eastern Front.
- Transferred from the East to the Italian/Austrian border from March to June/July 1943*. (My friend is uncertain whether this was a personal transfer of his father; or a squadron transfer.)
- The squadron was based about 30 miles from the Austrian-Italian border. This seemed to have been for a prolonged period of time. His father recalls being staged through Wiener Neustadt. We surmise possibly to collect new aircraft.
- On or about 5.Oct.1943*, pilot Savanyo was shot down near the Semmering Pass by a P-38 Lightning. We are uncertain what aircraft he was flying at the time. He spent the next 9-10 months in hospital and then some time as a POW.
- There is a possibility that the dates were mixed up, and this may have occurred in 1944.

We would both like to know a little more background to the story.
- What Hungarian ground attack squadrons flew Bf109Es?
- What Hungarian units were based near the Austrian/Italian border, and for what purpose? Aircraft collection? Reformed units undergoing operational training?
- Would such Hungarian units have flown operationally against Allied raids, while based around the Austrian/Italian border?
- Does anyone know what US P-38 pilots/units made claims against single engine aircraft near the Semmering Pass in early October 1943 (or 1944)?
Over to you.
TIA for you efforts.
...geoff