A Romanian IAR-81C aircraft being inspected by Soviet personnel after a crash, sometime between 1942 and 1944.
The IAR-81C was an upgrade on Romania’s main WW2 fighter, IAR 80.
The IAR 80 first flew in 1939, and at the time it was comparable in performance with similar aircrafts of more advanced military powers. However, due to production and ammunition issues, it only entered service in 1941.
As the war went on it became less and less effective, although it still recorded notable victories, including when the US Air Force attacked the important Ploiesti oil fields on June 10th, 1944.
The IAR 80 remained in frontline service until the end of the war.
Book suggestion ⤵️
📖 Romanian Fighter Colors 1941-1945 (Teodor Liviu Morusanu, 2009)