G-ral Dobran and his small Mustang

Does anyone know why g-ral Dobran had a small Mustang on his t-shirt ( o insigna) at 18 aug 2004 on Ghencea at the Serbanescu * s 60 years since his death ceremony? It was unusual because Serbanescu died because of a Mustang

When I visited him, he also wore that small blue Mustang insignia on his shirt. I'd guess it was probably a present from an USAAF veteran.

BTW, Serbanescu did not die because of a Mustang, but because of the pilot who flew that particular Mustang.

Col. Dénes

Dobran got that insigna ,from Dan Stoian,who toghether with some other ARR vets,went to a meeting in Hungary(early 90's).In the event took part veteran pilots from almost all the sides.
Stoian met an American Mustang pilot who after comparing stories and data,was damaged by Dobran but managed to get to Soviet lines.Before knowing all of this ,he gave Stoian that Mustang.
After finding out the story,he gave Dobran the mustang..
Nice story,isn't it :?: :keep:

Aha, now I know the full story. Thanks, Doctor.

Two interesting points:
1, that particular scene, when Dobran damaged a P-51 on June 6, 1944, is depicted on the cover of my Aces book, published by Osprey, so we know the American pilot who donated the insignia to Stoian,
2, it was I, how originally insisted in inviting Rumanian airmen too to the veteran airmen's international meeting held in Budapest in 1992. I wrote letters to Mr. Stoian and other veterans sending them the invitations. I was also planning to be the offical host and translator for the Rumanian delegation; however, in the meantime I emigrated to Canada and could not attend the reunion.

Col. Dénes

Do you know the name and the unit of the american pilot (the Fighting Group and the Squadron)?

QUOTE

Do you know the name and the unit of the american pilot (the Fighting Group and the Squadron)?

2nd Lt. Barrie Davis, 317th F.S., 325th F.G.

Col. Dénes

QUOTE

Aha, now I know the full story. Thanks, Doctor. Two interesting points:   1, that particular scene, when Dobran damaged a P-51 on June 6, 1944, is depicted on the cover of my Aces book, published by Osprey, so we know the American pilot who donated the insignia to Stoian, Col. Dénes

Do you really think Barrie Davis was the US vet in Budapest? From what I recall he denied repeteadly that he was the one Stoian damaged that day, so why would he agree 10 years before.

Edit: I meant Dobran, not Stoian, obviously.

quote:
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Originally posted by Victor

-Do you really think Barrie Davis was the US vet in Budapest? From what I recall he denied repeteadly that he was the one Stoian damaged that day, so why would he agree 10 years before.
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Barrie Davis was part of american vet. delegation in Budapest in '92 together with Herschell "Herky" Green. They gave souvenirs (325FG Mustangs insignias) probably to all others vet. ( Stoian included ).Stoian gave this Mustang insignia to Dobran because of his "friendly encounters" :loool: with 325Fg pilots in summer'44. Barrie was injured ( he was awarded with "Purple heart" )and his Mustang heavily damaged after Dobran attack on 6 june. One of Dobran 20mm Mauser bullet was found not exploded in Barrie Mustang fuel tank. Barrie's P51 B Mustang nr. 24 "Bee" was scrapped in Poltava and Davis come back in Italy with another Mustang from a pilot who got sick.

I wonder if Romanian aces who fought in the East during the second world war, are willing to exchange gifts and souvenirs with Soviet Pilots, - and the other way around..
What about with Luftwaffe aces who fought them after 23 August? Uffz. Tammen? 8) ?
I guess our love for the west is stronger then for the east, or the cold Germans.

They fought in the west only8 months :roll:
comparing to the years in the east :roll:

Col. Herschel "Herky" Green, who flew with the 325th Fighter Group, "The Checkertail Clan", and scored 18 confirmed aerial victories (plus an additional ten ground kills), died on Aug. 18, 2006, at Torrance. California.

May he rest in peace.

Gen. Dénes

In this link:
www.aeronautics.ru/archive/wwii/books/cockpit

...there are many photos of cockpits for fighters.
The real size images are really big!

PS: I see it does not work as "link", so you have to "Copy" and "Paste" in Internet address bar.

This post has been edited by Florin on August 28, 2006 06:35 pm