Bomber Pilot

Born: 1919

Units:

• 22 June 1941 - 6 February 1944: 5th Bomber Group

Combat missions: over 125

Victories: N/A

Decorations:

• Virtutea Aeronautica Order Knight class
• Eiserne Kreuz 2nd class

War episode:

On 23 october 1943, adj. av. Nicolae Cojocaru was flying the Ju-88A-4 no. 121. Together with him were slt. Gheorghe Mazilu (observer), serg. Ion Dragomir (radio operator) and serg. Gheorghe Burcau (machine-gunner). The aircraft was part of a formation of 10 Romanian bombers, which attacked troop and armor concentrations in the Shirokaya-Shluet area. On their way back from the objective, the formation was jumped by 6 LaGGs. The Ju-88 no. 121 was severely hit and adj. Cojocaru had to make a forced landing. He managed top put it down in friendly lines near village. The crew was unscratched, but the airplane was destroyed in a proportion of about 60%. They were surprised to see their squadron commander, cpt. av. Dem Ben Cârâc, land his bomber near them and take them back to the airfield.

Died: 6 February 1943, on Nikolaev airfield at 1035; he entered with his Ju-88A-4 into two German fighters, while taxiing on the runaway.