"Bazu" Cantacuzino fighter planes profiles, Color profiles of "Bazu" mounts .

And below the picture of one lucky pilot who flew Bazu Bf-109 "white A" .
Sgt. Marinciu Ioan, one of the best 7th FG pilot.( courtesy Ioan Marinciu )
On 15 july '44 saved the life of Cpt.Toma Lucian by driving away a 52FG Mustang from his tail near Turnu Severin.



This post has been edited by Victor on January 27, 2005 12:52 pm

And today a venerable WWII vet. the sole romanian pilot surviving from the 10 june '44 fight with lightnings attacking Romana-Americana refineries. He was credited that day with one Lightning shot down at Giulesti near Bucharest.( picture courtesy Dan Melinte)


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And below a file from Marinciu WWII missions log. His personal mount in april -june '44 was Bf 109G 4"white M".
On 24may'44 he provided escort for Antonescu Ju-52 visit on the front.
On 30 may '44 he flew 2 escort missions for rom. Hs129 on moldavian front with Bazu plane "white A'' confirming that Bazu left 7thFG a day before for joining 9thFG (Tecuci airfield ) of Cpt.Serbanescu from begin of june '44.
At the same time the 7th FG was removed from moldavian front ( Bacau airfield) and sent to Boteni and Pipera for home defence against american raids..
Also we can see his claim, a Lightning on 10 june '44 near Giulesti (NW of Bucharest) with his Bf-109G "white M". ( courtesy Ioan Marinciu )

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on January 27, 2005 01:33 pm

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Dan from your book Aviatzia Romana in WII , I found a photo of Bazu I really like

Al

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Dan and All

Thîs photos taken on the West front presumably Slovakia in winter 1945 where Bazu was stationed depicts a top ranking officers of the ARR visiting the Roumanian Air Divsion ( note their flying cloths and boots of the latest state) from AVIATIA ROMANA IN WII

Alex

This post has been edited by alexkdl on January 27, 2005 02:01 pm

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And below for Artur and not only, the english translation (from the book of Vasile Tudor )of Bazu fight with Bf -109G4 "white 24"on 16 august '43 near Kramatorskaia.
Thanks to Toppy and Mytzu for their unpriceless help with translation.
http://ram.rdsnet.ro/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=81&t=3759

The first mission flown on the 16th of August by Bazu was the escort of a german FW-189. For this, he tookoff at 4.05, with Sl. Petre as a wingman. They flew togheter with the german plane, that had to fly a recon mission over the frontline in the Slaviansk-Kramatorskaja. At about 4.45, their airbase was attacked, while they were near the roconnaissance plane. Warned from the ground, they left the german plane at altitude and in friendly airspace, and went to chase the enemy. After the bombing, the enemy was flying towards north-east, heading towards his teritory. Catching up with the last enemy plnes not very far from Kramatorskaja, Bazu engaged a tight fight with two LaGGs. From the first moments, for unknown reason, his wingman separated fom him. The engagement fought by the prince took place at low altitude, this being very convenient for him, being an ace of flying inverted, near the ground. Maneuvering inteligently and with a lot of skill, he got behind the enemy plane “administering him a severe burst”. He saw how pieces were falling from him, but, like all fighters, overwhelmed by the succes, he wanted to folow the enemy in his way to the ground. But the second soviet pilot speculatedm immediately the mistake of the temerary romanian pilot, dropping on his back, in a classical position for shooting him down, with 100% chances of succes. And since his wingman was missing, probably this would have been his fate. Luckily adj.av. Ursachi, who was nearby, and turned towards the place of the fight, making the soviet to breake, giving up any other attemp of attack. In the air, the adjutant, did not knew wo he was helping, he only saw the number 24 on the fusselage of the romanian plane. And since our pilots could not keep their planes, they were flying on the available ones, only at the airfield he found out it was Bazu, who hurried to thank him, especialy since he confirmed his victory. The fight had been heared from the airfield too, so they were welcomed with lots of joy, while the smell of the exploded bombs was still in the air.
After having breakfast, he hurried for a a second escort mission of a german plane. Togheter with lt.av. Nicolae Batranu, he tookoff at 8.20. The flight near the reconnaissance plane evolved without problems, not being disturbed by by enemy planes. On the way to the airfield, around 9.10, while they were flying over the Dolina Gora area, they observed several assault planes, that were attacking out ground positions. Aldough they were not far from the fuel limit, Bazu dived quickly, manageing to hit an enemy plane, who, rolling more and more, went down to the ground. Since he was diving from very high, the speed surplus, forced him to breake, pulling up sharpy. This way, he was able to get back behind the plane that was in formation with the one he hit on the first pass. This one, probably didn’t noticed the intervention of the romanian fighters, and being very well placed, Bazu opened fire behind him. When the gunner of the enemy plane, retorted dangerously, he went behind him, firing his guns from 20-25m and seeing very well how his bullets that hit the plane exploded. After a few seconds, the enemy plne entered a dive near the vertical, falling in the enemy lines, north of the area of the fight. After Bazu’s first attack, it was the turn for Batranu, who also hit a plane in his left wing, damaging it. He turned tightly and camed back for a second attack, also, firing from below the fuselage, not giving him many chances to return to base. He gaved up chasing him only whenwhen he was attacked by enemy fighters, rejoining with his leader. The fight took place between 200 and 500m, for wich reason Batranu fired in the second plane hit by bazu. Anyway they were leaving behind them 3 planes shot down for sure, hurrying both toward their airfield, because they were already out of time.
A third executed by Bazu on 16th of August 1943 and recorded by documents was the one in wich he had to make the protection some He-111 bombers and a free hunt in the sector. For this, togheter with the same Nicolae Batranu, he tookoff at 10.40. It was upposed to be a small presence in the sector, in order to assure the acces of several formation that would hit the enmy in Izium.
Around 11.30, exactly when a german formation consisting of six planes was bombing the target, five soviel LaGG-5 planes, closed in on the target area, with the intention of intercepting them at the exit of the antiaircraft defences area. Noticeing them Bazu attacked quickly, manageing to get behind one of them, from where he fired several bursts. Since the romanian fighters were only two, it wasn’t very difficult for the soviets to retort, thus, closely engaged, our ace had to break away, without knowing if the airplane in wich he fired was shot down and where. He was hoping that it was seen by his wingman, who, normally, was supposed to follow him. But, he, probably because of the disputes he had with his leader after the prevoius mission in wich Batranu had fired upon and even shot down a plane on wich Bazu also had claims, during the fight they got separated. It was told that because of the prince insisteces of not giving up on even half of a victory to the wingman or to anyone else, he lost some of them, and even some of the kills that they, aggrieved, didn’t confirmed them to a “civilian” who had no use in kills.
After aproximately 15minutes, while he was flying alone in an area south-east of Izium, he met another He-111 formation, that bombed their target, and was returning home. But one of them, left behind at about 500m, was folowed by four LaGG-5 planes. Seeing them, Bazu imediately headed towards the bomber that was already under attack. The fight wan’t easy, because of the numerical superiority of the enemys, but, self-confident, Bazu intervened, shooting down one of them.

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on January 27, 2005 03:02 pm

And a nice picture with Prince Cantacuzino. In the back his personal Fleet with Kinner engine. ( courtesy Aeromagazin)


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Denes, regarding serial numbers for these Bf-109 with letters on fin. Bazu was in squadron 57 ( 7thFG ) from the end of march '44 with Rozariu, Andrei Pop, Filoti, Pavel Barbu, Catana, Marinciu,I.Florea,Constantin Ilie, Hapaianu, Vasile Carciovaianu. From my reserch the Bf-109 with letters were from this squadron.
At the begin the planes arrived without sq. indentification nr. (like Bazu Bf-109).
Later ( middle of april ?) were painted the letters on the fin from A to P.
But one of this planes was crashed ( before letters marking ) with it's pilot Slt.Vasile Carciuvoianu death in training flight on 31 march '44. The werknr for his Bf-109 was 14656.
Mayby this could help you to indentify from where are coming this series of Bf-109G4 to 57th Sq ( 7thFG)in spring '44.

Dan.

Below Bazu smiling with his 53sq. mates. ( courtesy Aeromagazin).



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It's interesting to note that at that point Bâzu still was a Locotenent (1st Lt), so the photo was probably taken in early wartime.

Gen. Dénes

Yes, Denes 53sq with Hurricanes was active in early wartime.

Dan.

I know.
You did not mention during which time period of Esc. 53 vân.'s existence was this photo taken, that's why I noted that it must have been in the early period.

Gen. Dénes

Very nice document.

So, the highest letter of the Bf 109Gs he flew was 'P'? That means 16 aircraft for the squadron (if all letters were used), 12+4 reserves.

Did he fly '109Gs, with identification signs other than letters?

Gen. Dénes

In that picture whit Bazu in a "bunker" are they in a [ cort finlandez ] ?

I have the same data, Bf 109G-2, W.Nr. 14656, stalled and crashed at Colentina on March 31, 1944. No additional info or lead.

Gen. Dénes