When Romania, allied with Germany, went to war against USSR, on 22nd June 1941, the Romanian Military Aviation had 621 airplanes; on the Eastern front Combat Air Group operated with 253 fighter, reconnaissance and bombing airplanes. The air forces accomplished hundreds of missions effectively contributing to liberation of Romanian provinces North Bucovina and Bessarabia from Soviet occupation (USSR's troops occupied them in July 1940). Until Odessa episode, Romanian military aeronautics gained 661 air victories. Romanian Military Aviation fought on the Eastern front until August 22nd, 1944, bringing an important contribution to the great battles in Stalingrad or Crimean and Ukrainian fronts. Between 1941-1944, Romanian airplanes won 2000 air victories. It could be mentioned Captain Prince Constantin Cantacuzino who gained 68 certified victories (acknowledged by the Germans too), and Captain Alexandru Serbanescu, who shot down 60 enemy airplanes, or Lieutenant Tudor Greceanu - 42 victories, Second Lieutenant Ioan Dicezare 40, NCO Ioan Milu - 30, NCO Ion Mucenica - 22, etc.

Henschel Hs-129		SM-79

Ju-88		Me-109E

After 23rd August 1944, when Romania joined the United Nations, the Military Aviation restructured as Romanian Air Corps under General Emanoil Ionescu's command (8th September 1944-11th March 1945) and General Traian Burduloiu's (12th March-12th May 1945), brought its significant contribution to liberation of Romania's North-Western part, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. From 23rd August 1944 to 12th May 1945, Romanian Air Corps accomplished 4200 missions, delivering 8300 sorties and flying 11000 hours. During those missions, crews launched 1360 t bombs shooting down 126 German and Hungarian airplanes. Other 228 airplanes were captured by Romanian airmen.

Generalul Emanoil Ionescu

On the Western front, Romanian airmen participated in missions with 415 airplanes, out of which 176 were shot down. Romanian Air Corps along with auxilliary and rear formations lost 729 people. On the whole, Romanian Military Aviation lost 2000 pilots, observers, technical and auxilliary personnel between 1941-1945.

On 1st August 1945, all air units returned home and General Emanoil Ionescu became Minister of Air, in rank of State Subsecretary.

During the WW II, Romanian pilots proved their remarkable skills in air combat, proved themselves real champions and among them: Constantin "Bizu" Cantacuzino, Alexandru Serbanescu, Ion Dobran, Vasile "Chitu" Gavriliu, Ion Milu, Tudor Greceanu.

Locotenentul Tudor Greceanu

The most important feature characterizing the period from 112th May 1945 to 30th December 1947 is transition from wartime to peacetime organization, a rather difficult process consisting of significant strength downsizing through demobilization, operational commands and many combat / auxilliary units disbanding. Many other changes were made such as: Aviation and Antiaircraft Artillery Commands under Air State Sub-Secretariat control were disbanded and a new command established - Aeronautics Command, with its own Headquarters which included 1st Air Division (with 2 squadrons) and Air Force Military Schools.
Following Romanian Air Corps returning home, based on a decision made by Allied Control Committee, the Romanian Military Aviation was re-organized as follows:1st Fighter Fleet: Messerschmitt 109 airplanes; 2nd Fighter Fleet: IAR-80 airplanes; 3rd Strike Fleet: Henschel 129; 4th Dive Fleet: Junkers 87; 5th Heavy Bombing Fleet: Junkers 88 and Savoia Marchetti SM-79; 6th Intelligence Fleet: IAR-39; Seaplane Fleet; Airlift Fleet and Aerostation Fleet.

Based on General Staff Order no. D.L. 01909/15.06.1946 and in accordance with Law no.946/1946, military aviation was once more subject of an re-organization process. The General Inspectorate of Aeronautics was established instead of the Air State Sub-Secretariat, and it included the Division for Education, Culture and Propaganda having under its control the Aeronautics Command including headquarters, an air division with 4 fleets, an airlift group and Air Training Center.
In 1947, Romanian air combat units had in its inventory 168 airplanes of various types: IAR-80/81 fighters, Messerschmitt 109G, strike airplanes Henschel 129, heavy bombers Ju-88 and J.R.S. SM-79, dive bombers Ju-87, intelligence airplanes IAR-39 and airlift Ju-52. Other 108 mostly Romanian-made airplanes were in service with the Air Force Schools.