Caproni CA-135b

Not long ago, this small photograph found its way into my collection. It depicts the crew of an Italian-built Caproni Ca.135bis bomber in service with the Royal Hungarian Air Force. Although modest in size, the image preserves a fascinating glimpse of one of Hungary's early wartime bomber crews.

The aircraft carries the emblem of the famous Boszorkány ("The Witch") Bomber Regiment, based at Szombathely. The distinctive insignia became closely associated with one of the Royal Hungarian Air Force's best-known bomber formations, whose crews flew reconnaissance and bombing missions during the opening years of the Second World War.

Originally designed and manufactured in Italy by Caproni, the Ca.135bis was acquired by Hungary as part of its efforts to modernize its air force during the late 1930s. Although the type was eventually replaced by more capable aircraft, it played an important role in the early wartime operations of the Hungarian bomber arm.

Photographs such as this are far more than simple portraits of an aircraft and its crew. They preserve the faces of the airmen who served together and the history of the unit to which they belonged. More than eighty years later, this small photograph remains a valuable reminder of the men of the "Boszorkány" Bomber Regiment and their place in the history of the Royal Hungarian Air Force.

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Hungarian Caproni CA-135b grounded on the eastern front.

 Admiral Miklós Horthy listening to a speech. 

The WW1 cemetery in the town of Kecskemét.

The Soldiers of Füzér

In the small northern Hungarian village of Füzér, two unknown soldiers of the Second World War found their final resting place. Their identities have long since been lost, yet their graves remain a quiet reminder of the human cost of the conflict that reached even the most remote corners of Hungary.

Across the country, countless military graves mark the places where soldiers were laid to rest by their comrades or by local residents in the closing months of the war. While some were later identified and reinterred, others remained anonymous, their names disappearing with the passage of time. Today, these graves stand not only as places of remembrance but also as symbols of the many lives forever changed by war.

The peaceful surroundings of Füzér offer a striking contrast to the violence that brought these men here. Whether they fought together or met only in death is unknown, but their shared resting place reminds us that the fate of countless soldiers remains untold.

More than eighty years later, these two simple graves continue to bear silent witness to history. Though their names are unknown, their sacrifice has not been entirely forgotten, and their resting place serves as a lasting reminder of the many soldiers whose stories were lost amid the turmoil of the Second World War.

During the battles around Füzér between 17 and 18th of December 1944, 138 soldiers went missing or perished. Only three of the killed soldiers were identified. Márton Espák Jr, Lajos Jámbor and Lajos Magyari.

Medal for bravery.

The Silver Bravery Medal of Emperor Charles I of Austria, awarded for acts of courage and gallantry performed in the face of the enemy during the First World War. Instituted during the reign of Emperor Charles I, the decoration continued the long Austro-Hungarian tradition of recognizing exceptional bravery among the Empire's soldiers.

This example is mounted on the characteristic Austrian trifold ribbon and features a metal clasp on the ribbon. The clasp indicates that the recipient had been awarded the Silver Bravery Medal for a second time, a distinction that reflected repeated acts of courage under combat conditions. Rather than issuing a second identical medal, additional awards were denoted by devices attached to the ribbon.

The Silver Bravery Medal was one of the most respected decorations available to enlisted men and non-commissioned officers of the Imperial and Royal Army. It recognized personal heroism in battle and was worn with great pride by those who had distinguished themselves in combat.

Today, examples bearing the ribbon clasp for a second award are especially desirable to collectors, as they represent soldiers whose bravery was officially recognized on more than one occasion. The decoration remains an enduring symbol of courage and devotion to duty during the final years of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.

"FORTITVDINI" (Fortitudini), The Latin word for bravery

Hungarian Honvéd (Private)

- Original photo, digitally colourized -

István Horthy de Nagybánya

(1904 - 1942)

In the early morning of August 20, 1942, István Horthy few his air-plane for his final mission.

70 years ago, he died in an unexplained air-plane crash over the front near the village of Aleksejevka in Russia.