The IAR 80 fought primarily against the Russians, although on June 10, 1944, it engaged in combat with an American P-38
The Romanian IAR 80 was a fighter during World War II. It was equivalent to modern designs used by the air forces of the most technologically advanced military nations, such as the Hawker Hurricane and Bf 109E when it made its first flight in 1939. The IAR 80 didn’t enter service until 1941 as a result of production issues and a shortage of armament. It was still in use on the front lines until May 1945.
‘The IAR-80 was a Romanian aircraft that looked much like the German Fw 190,’ says Bruce Gordon, former F-86, F-100, F-102, and F-106 pilot, on Quora. ‘It fought mostly against the Russians, but one engagement on June 10, 1944, put it against America’s P-38. I have talked with P-38 pilots who flew against the IAR-80, and it is the closing story in my book, “The Spirit of Attack”. I compared the report by the Americans to the report by Dan Vizanty, the Romanian commander. When I sent my article to the P-38 pilots to review, they strongly disagreed. The Americans and the Romanians had wildly different views of what happened. The “Fog of war” shows that both sides claimed more kills than the other admitted losing.
‘Basic situation: 75 P-38s were flying a low-level mission from Italy to bomb the Romanian oilfields at Ploesti. Their route took them right over a Romanian base with IAR-80s. The Romanians got a warning in time to climb to about 4,000 feet over their base. 26 IAR-80s dove down on the P-38s, mostly engaging one squadron of 12 P-38s with other squadrons joining the furball.’
Gordon continues:
‘In the ensuing dogfight, the Romanians claimed shooting down 24 P-38s, but that is the total P-38s lost in the entire mission, including planes lost to AA fire as they dive-bombed Ploesti and other engagements. I believe 13 P-38s were lost to the IAR-80s. American pilots claimed shooting down 12 IAR-80s (the Americans reported the enemy was Fw 190s). The Romanians admit to losing only three IAR-80s.
‘In this engagement, the Romanians had the advantages of altitude, surprise, and speed, diving on the P-38s which were cruising with loads of bombs and fuel tanks.’
Gordon concludes:
‘In a real war, there are few “fair” fights. Someone always has an advantage, and luck plays a big role. This battle shows that the IAR-80 was a very worthy opponent for the P-38.’