page_title: Romanian Air Force
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: Romanian Air Force / History / World War II
caption_attribution_description: Two IAR-80 return from IAR factory after being repaired there.
context_page_description: The Romanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade. Reserve forces include two air bases and three airfields.
  In 2019, the Romanian Air Force employed 15,000 personnel.
context_section_description: When Romania, allied with Nazi Germany, went to war against the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, the Romanian Air Force had 621 airplanes, including its locally made fighter IAR 80/81. The air force accomplished hundreds of missions, contributing to Romania's recapture of Northern Bucovina and Bessarabia, which had been occupied by the Soviet Union a year earlier. Until the Odessa episode, the Romanian military fighters gained 661 air victories. Romanian Military Aviation fought on the Eastern Front until August 22, 1944, bringing an important contribution to the great battles at Stalingrad, in Crimea, and the Ukrainian fronts.
  Between 1941–1944, Romanian aircraft won 2,000 air victories. The most famous flying aces were Captain Prince Constantin Cantacuzino, who gained 68 certified victories, Captain Horia Agarici, and Captain Alexandru Şerbănescu, who shot down 60 enemy airplanes.
  In the aftermath of King Michael's Coup of August 23, 1944, Romania turned against Germany and joined the Allies.
caption: A pair of IAR-80 fighters on patrol during World War II
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