Romanian 43.Fighter Squadron

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Have found several mentions about the Romanian 43.Fighter Squadron in the documents of German Admiral Black Sea. In Dec.1942 and Jan.1943 it was in Kertsch (Eastern Crimea), 20.Jan.43 had 14 planes. In the end of Jan.43 it (partly or in whole) was transferred to Eupatoria (Western Crimea) for the protection of the sea convoys.

Geleitführer Krim-Kaukasus wrote on 27.Jan.43 that the planes was PZL11. Seems strange, and according to H.W.Neulen's "In the Skies of Europe", 43.FS had IAR80s. According to the same book, 43.Sqn (IAR80) and 20.Sqn (IAR39) had fought over the Kuban after Stalingrad i.e. in the beginning of 1943.
Can't found any mention in German 17.Army documents about Romanian Air Force participation in the fights on Kuban during Feb.-Mar.43 and later before Jul.43.

In JFV Bd.12/II some Romanian missions during Feb.-Mar.43 are mentioned with reference to Lw-Stab Krim and VIII.Fl.Korps reports. But probably these missions were in Crimea (air cover for sea convoys).

Questions:
1. IAR80 or PZL11?
2. Whether the Romanian AF really fought over Kuban after Stalingrad before Jul.43?
3. Any details about it in Lw-Stab Krim and VIII.Fl.Korps reports are interesting.

Best regards,
Andrey