Smaller Air Forces in WWII Quiz | World War II

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which air force had the curious mix of Messerschmitt Bf.109s, Hawker Hurricanes, Dornier Do.17s and Bristol Blenheims in its inventory at the same time?

Answer: Yugoslavia

They were all used against the German invasion of April 1941. This saw air battles with the Messerschmitt Bf.109E being used by both sides.

2. What was Romania's only fighter aircraft of indigenous design during WWII?

Answer: IAR 80

The IAR 80 was produced in a number of sub-types as both an interceptor and fighter-bomber. It was the main fighter type in service with the FARR alongside the Messerchmitt Bf.109.

3. How many types of national markings did the Slovaks use during the war?

Answer: three

Upon declaring its independence in March 1939, the Slovaks employed a blue double cross within a red disc until 1941. After June 1941, for recognition purposes as an ally of the Germans on the Eastern Front, they adopted a blue 'German-style' cross with a red disc in the centre.

The Slovak Insurgent forces of 1944 reverted to the pre-war Czechoslovak design with a version of the double cross superimposed.

4. In 1939, a Spitfire was on its way to Poland for evaluation by the Polish Air Force.

Answer: True

Spitfire Mk.IA no.L1066 was on its way to Poland for evaluation by the Polish Air Force in July 1939 but it was diverted to Turkey instead. The Poles actually did receive a Hawker Hurricane, trialling it in July-August 1939 before returning it to Britain.

5. Which two nations' air forces employed the obsolete Hawker Fury biplane fighter in combat during the war?

Answer: Yugoslavia and South Africa

The Hawker Yugoslav Fury was a faster, better armed version of the famous 1930s fighter; it was still in service when the Germans invaded in April 1941. The SAAF employed Furies against the Italians in the East African campaign.

6. The RAF airbase at Habbaniyah defended itself successfully with a collection of obsolete training aircraft against constant attacks by aircraft of which air force in May 1941?

Answer: Iraq

In May 1941 the Iraqi government's forces rose up against the continued presence of the British forces in its territory. The small Iraqi air force was pitted against the main RAF base at Habbaniyah. The British adapted Hawker Audaxes, Fairey Gordons and Airspeed Oxfords to defend the base.

The Iraqis did get some help from the Germans, who provided Luftwaffe-manned Me.110s and He.111s in Iraqi markings.

7. Although rejected for service with the German Luftwaffe, which two air forces employed the Heinkel He.112 fighter in combat during the war?

Answer: Spain and Romania

The Roumanian He.112s were employed against the Soviets on the Odessa and Black Sea fronts between 1941-43. Although neutral, a Spanish He.112 shot down a USAAF P-38 Lightning which incurred into Spanish Moroccan airspace.

8. The most modern fighter the Norwegian Air Force had available with which to defend against the German invasion was the Gloster Gladiator biplane.

Answer: True

Although the Norwegians had taken delivery of 19 modern Curtiss Hawk 75A-6 fighters, none were in service or in operational condition ready for April 1940.

9. Apart from the Germans, which other two European air forces employed a 'swastika-style' design as their national markings during the war?

Answer: Latvia and Finland

The Finns had adopted a blue swastika on a white disc as its national markings as early as 1918. It was employed until 1944 when the Finns switched their allegiance to the Russians. Tha Latvians also employed a red swastika on a white disc from 1918 until 1940. Neither symbol had any connection with the German Nazis or any other Fascist meaning.

10. The Bulgarian Air Force pitted biplanes against the USAAF.

Answer: True

On 1st August 1943, USAAF B-24 crews flying over Bulgarian airspace towards the Ploesti Oilfields were amazed to see themselves attacked by Bulgarian Avia B.534s. The obsolete biplanes were only capable of one diving attack before their slow speed precluded further action against the American bombers.

11. Was the highest-scoring non-German fighter ace from the Axis nations - an Italian, Romanian, Hungarian, Slovakian, Bulgarian or Croatian?

Answer: Romanian

Captain Alexandru Serbanescu of the FARR gained 45 confirmed 'kills' in combat, making him the top 'ace' among any of Germany's allies.

12. Most of the aerial victories by Bulgarian Air Force fighter pilots were gained against the USAAF.

Answer: True

Bulgaria did not declare war on the Soviet Union. Most of its aerial victories were gained against USAAF B-24s, B-17s and P-38s in defending its airspace.

13. Which air force employed both the Spitfire and the Focke-Wulf Fw.190 at the same time?

Answer: Turkey

The British and the Germans both tried to curry favour with the Turks in attempts to get them to join their cause. As a result, the Turkish Air Force had both the Spitfire Mk.V and Fw.190A-4 in its inventory as a neutral nation during the war.

14. Which aircraft was an operational failure for the German Luftwaffe, but was a success with the Hungarian Air Force?

Answer: Messerschmitt Me.210

The Hungarians re-engineered the failed Me.210 and built their own version, the Me.210C. It was a successful fighter bomber with the MKHL.

15. Which air force was known as Zrakoplovsto Nezavisna Drzava Hrvatska in the language of its own people?

Answer: Croatia

The ZNDH was formed on 19th April 1941, just nine days after the proclamation of an independent Croat state.

Source: Author Plumbus

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Smaller Air Forces in WWII Trivia Quiz

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