lt. av. Emil Boian

Bomber Observer

Born: 22 September 1919, Tantareni, Dolj county

Units:

• 22 June 1941 - October 1941: 5th Bomber Group
• 10 August - 1 November 1943: 5th Bomber Group

Combat missions: 57

Victories: -

Decorations:

• Mihai Viteazul Order with swords 3rd class
• Virtutea Aeronautica Order Gold Cross class

War episode:

On 1 November 1943, several Ju-88A4s from the 5th Bomber Group carried out a raid over Liubimovka. Lt. av. Boian was on the lead plane in the first formation, flown by cpt. av. Dem Ben Cārāc, CO of the 80th Bomber Squadron. As they arrived over the target, the Soviet AAA started to fire. Suddenly, the Ju-88A4 no. 126 received a direct hit and simply disintegrated in a ball of fire. Reportedly two parachutes were seen later below. serg. maj. Marin Zbārnau was simply frown out by the explosion and was unconscious for a while. He woke up in midair and opened his parachute and had the luck to land in the Axis lines. The second one wasn't as lucky. It was shot down by Soviet AAA. Both officers aboard the aircraft were decorated with the highest Romanian military award: the Mihai Viteazul Order 3rd class.

Died: 1 November 1943, Liubimovka KIA

@ 2002-2004