In the summer of 1944, Hungary found itself at the centre of a rapidly shifting front as Soviet forces surged westward and Allied bombing intensified. Air Battles over Hungary 1944?45 ? Volume 1 offers a comprehensive, richly illustrated account of the escalating air war during this pivotal year, when the skies over Hungary became a deadly arena for fighters, bombers, and ground-attack aircraft from multiple nations. This volume traces the development of the campaign from its early stages through to the final weeks of 1944. It explores in detail the operations and experiences of the Royal Hungarian Air Force, the Luftwaffe, the Red Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Drawing from a wealth of archival material, combat reports, memoirs, and previously unpublished photographs, the book reconstructs a dynamic and often chaotic picture of aerial combat as Hungary's strategic importance grew. Chapters examine not only key air battles and bombing raids but also the evolving tactics, shifting force structures, and logistical challenges faced by all combatants. From the defence of Hungarian oilfields to the Soviet air assaults supporting the Red Army's encirclement manoeuvres, the narrative balances technical detail with human experience, offering insight into the everyday realities of pilots, crews, and commanders on both sides. Volume 1 also places the Hungarian campaign within the broader strategic context of the Eastern Front and the Allied bombing offensive. The Luftwaffe's diminishing resources, the Royal Hungarian Air Force's struggle to remain operational, and the Red Air Force's growing effectiveness all receive detailed attention. Meanwhile, the increasing presence of the USAAF over Hungarian targets adds a further layer of complexity and destruction. Accompanied by rare wartime images, colour aircraft profiles, and detailed maps, this volume is an essential resource for readers interested in the final phase of the air war in Europe, and for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the role played by Hungary in the climactic battles of 1944. Volume 2 Siege and Breakout will continue the story through the siege of Budapest, the German relief attempts, and the final collapse of Axis resistance in Hungary during early 1945. AUTHOR: Dmitriy Khazanov, who was born in 1954, is a military historian and a Russian aviation historian. He graduated from Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics in 1977, attaining his Candidate of Technical Sciences PhD qualification in 1989. He was born in Moscow, and still lives in the city. He has written about 60 books or monographs, and more than 200 articles, including those that have been translated into English, French, Japanese, Spanish, Polish, and Czech. 125 b/w photos, 25 colour profiles, 3 b/w maps, 6 tables
