Airforces

59th TFW history

A single squadron within the 59th TFW operates all
the Hungarian Gripens, and the 1st Tactical Fighter
Squadron ‘Pumas’ has an illustrious history.
Maj Tibor Molnar explained: “The emblem of the
‘Puma’ Squadron dates back to 1938. The former 1/3.
Fighter Squadron transformed into the 2/2. Squadron,
which then became the 5/1. Wing, and then finally the
101st Tactical Fighter Wing in 1944. The squadron
fought on the Eastern Front as well as defending
Hungary against the large-scale bomber raids and their
escorting fighters. Flying Bf 109s in the final years of
the war, they sometimes faced a ratio of one against 30.

“On the Eastern Front in 1943, the ‘Pumas’ were

officially credited with the destruction of 70 Soviet

aircraft, to which they added a further 218 during the

Home Defence combats in 1944-45. They were credited

with 64 American four-engined bombers and 47 fighters

of the USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in 1944-45. The total

number of victories against all opposing forces was 399.

“Relative to the small number of ‘Puma’ pilots, the

losses were heavy. The 101st bore the brunt of the

fighting in the summer of 1944. From its creation in

spring 1944 until the end of the war, the wing (and later,

regiment) suffered 51 killed, 30 wounded and 21 missing

in action, while seven pilots become prisoners of war.

“After the war the continuation of the wing was

impossible. The image of Hungarian fighter pilots

and aces – most of them very successful on the

Eastern Front – was politically unacceptable to the

new communist leadership. The insignia, motto,

and traditions of the ‘Pumas’ were only reborn in

1988, when the 1st Tactical Fighter Squadron of

the Hungarian Defence Forces’ 59th TFW assumed

the name once again. The unit flew MiG-21 and

later MiG-29 fighters. Today it proudly serves under

the motto: ‘Courage leads, luck escorts us!’”

Left: JAS 39C serial 35 returns to the Albacete
flight line. Note the Litening targeting pod
carried on the right chin pylon.
Right: A ‘Puma’ pilot signals from the relatively
tight-fitting cockpit of his Gripen, JAS 39C serial
31 (39-3302).
Below: A ‘Puma’ jet, JAS 39C serial 35 (39-3306),
takes off from Albacete-Los Llanos for a TLP
mission on October 3.

Ground crew from the

59th TFW at work on Gripens

on the TLP 2017-3 flight line.