Stabsfeldwebel Ferdinand Udvardy was a Hungarian
conscript into the military of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
who became a
flying ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...
credited with nine aerial victories. Upon the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, Udvardy became a Hungarian citizen, and in the
aftermath of World War I
The aftermath of World War I saw drastic political, cultural, economic, and social change across Eurasia, Africa, and even in areas outside those that were directly involved. Four empires collapsed due to the war, old countries were abolished, ne ...
, defended his new nation against invasion.
Before and during World War I
Ferdinand Udvardy was born in what was then
Pozsony (today
Bratislava
Bratislava (, also ; ; german: Preßburg/Pressburg ; hu, Pozsony) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Slovakia. Officially, the population of the city is about 475,000; however, it is estimated to be more than 660,000 — approxim ...
,
Slovakia
Slovakia (; sk, Slovensko ), officially the Slovak Republic ( sk, Slovenská republika, links=no ), is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to the south, Austria to the s ...
) in 1895. He was of Hungarian parentage. He joined military service in 1915 and posted to the 72nd Infantry Regiment of the
Austro-Hungarian Army. After infantry
basic training
Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique deman ...
, he volunteered for aviation training, was posted to ''Fliegerersatzkompanie 6'', and graduated a pilot with the rank of
korporal on 21 September 1916. He was assigned to ''Fliegerkompanie 10'' on 1 October 1916, flew six combat missions in their two-seater reconnaissance craft, and promptly requested duty as a fighter pilot. He trained further, as the
Hansa-Brandenburg D.I fighter was tricky to fly at lesser speeds and low altitudes, and was transferred to ''Fliegerkompanie 42J'', which was a dedicated fighter unit, in May 1917. ''Flik 42J'' had some eight aces on its rolls:
Johann Risztics
''Stabsfeldwebel'' Johann Risztics (alias Janos Risztics) (1895-1973) was an Austro-Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with seven reliably confirmed aerial victories. After his wounding early in World War I, he switched to aviation duty as a ...
,
Otto Jaeger,
Karl Teichmann
''Feldwebel'' Karl Teichmann (1897–1927) was a Austro-Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. His path to aerial victories began in 1915, when he joined the Austro-Hungarian infantry. His prewar training as an aut ...
,
Friedrich Hefty,
Ernst Strohschneider,
Georg Kenzian
Oberleutnant Georg Kenzian Edler von Kenzianshausen followed his father's profession of arms, and served the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I. He became a fighter ace, scoring eight aerial victories. After the dissolution of Austria-Hunga ...
,
Franz Graeser, and
Karl Patzelt
'' Oberleutnant'' Karl Patzelt (1893-1918) was an Austro-Hungarian World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories. Entering World War I as an officer in an infantry regiment, he distinguished himself during the first two years of the w ...
.
Udvardy stayed with ''Flik 42J'' until war's end. The unit's equipment evolved to include
Aviatik D.I and
Phonix D.I fighters, but Albatros D.IIIs came to predominate. While with the unit, Udvardy won eight aerial victories, and was awarded the
Gold Bravery Medal twice and the
Silver Bravery Medal First Class thrice. He was wounded once, in the knee on 27 October 1917, and took three months recuperation before he could fly again. He would become close friends, both on the ground and in the air, with two other noncommissioned officers in the squadron; after Hefty and Risztics won their own Gold Bravery Medals, the trio became known as "The Golden Triumvirate". Udvardy would soldier on through being shot down without injury on 27 October 1918. He ended his war promoted to ''Stabsfeldwebel''.
Post World War I
When
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
dissolved, Udvardy became a Hungarian citizen. He served in the 8th Squadron of the
Red Air Corps, along with Risztics, Hefty,
Alexander Kasza, and
Stefan Fejes, when Hungary battled invaders in 1919. Udvardy won his last aerial victory against the Romanians at this time.
Udvardy is believed to have survived the Second World War, but died soon thereafter.
[O'Connor, p. 118.]
List of aerial victories
See also
Aerial victory standards of World War I
Endnotes
Sources
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Udvardy, Ferdinand
1895 births
Year of death uncertain
Hungarian air force personnel
Military personnel from Bratislava
1945 deaths
Austro-Hungarian World War I flying aces