Lt. Ioan DiCezare Bf-109 E-3 "Hai Fetito", The corect number on fuselage

For many years i've been searching the complete markings for DiCezare Bf-109E-3 " Hai Fetito" flown on eastern front in '41-'42. Rated as a good looking kit scale model.
But i was not the only one. Many modelers around the world asking " What is the number on Bf-109E Hai Fetito ? "
After I saw an TV interview of DiCezare and a visit to him the mistery was solved.
Here is a picture from the wall in DiCezare's office room.

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on July 24, 2005 06:59 pm

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Yes, the number is "yellow 9". But the poor quality of the picture and ortocromatic film need someone with good eyes to see it. So i just made a contur to see more clear.



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Here is a picture with "Hai Fetito" during the Stalingrad campaign. We can see the old markings color roundels under the wings that confirm it was from the first batch of 40 Bf-109 E received in 1940.

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And a color profile of "Hai Fetito". Searching documents the werk number for Bf-109 E nr 9 "Hai Fetito" was 2486

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on March 22, 2005 09:50 am

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Di Cezare flew Bf 109 E nr 9 at the begining of operation Barbarosa in summer '41 winning his first victories with it. After a batlle damage the plane was return to ASAM Cotroceni for repairs. Meanwhile DiCezare for a short period flew other Bf-109 from the group (among them was nr "yellow 27") but theris no photo or document evidence that he painted "Hai Fetito' on these temporary planes.
"Hai Fetito"( Go Girl ) was a racing Horse before the war. And DiCezare named his plane after it thinking it would bring luck for him .
Documents stated the Bf-109E nr 9 heavy damaged was left at Karpovka airfield after the Stalingrad retrait.

I rework the nice picture with Dicezare Bf 109 nr 9 instead of nr. 27

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on July 24, 2005 07:01 pm

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And a picture with Bf-109 nr yellow 27 ( behind yellow 28 )flew temporary by Dicezare. But we can not see the cowling if something is written on.


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Indeed, when we made that poster for mr. Dicezare we wanted to find out what was the plane number, unfortunatelly nobody was sure so we used number 27.When we presented the gift to him, mr. Dan Antoniu showed to Dicezare the number on the plane and said we were not certain about it, mr. Dicezare said that it is correct, he also flew with number 27 but he also recalled flying with number 9 (as I remember he mentioned 09 :/ anyone knows why ?).

here you can see Dan Antoniu pointing towards the plane number:





PS: the poster represents Dicezare shooting down a Pe2 in Stalingrad area.

This post has been edited by D13-th_Mytzu on December 21, 2004 11:19 am

Here is a ceremonial to bless a new Roumanian ME-109 by Gen.Otto Dessloch along with ARR commanders .

Al

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Documents stated the Bf-109E nr 9 heavy damaged was left at Karpovka airfield after the Stalingrad retrait.

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on March 22, 2005 09:52 am

Hey Mytzu, I am in the picture too ( on the right ) thanks I didn't noticed until know.Thanks
DiCezare also mentioned he flew nr.7 but like I said these were probably only temporary mounts.

He was flying no. 27 when he was hit by AAA on 18 July 1941 and had to make a crash landing neare Husi.

I can confirm what Cantacuzino wrote about 'Hai Fetito!' (C'mon Lassie!).

Nr. 9 was lost at Stalingrad, left behind at Karpovka a/f.

Nr. 27 was still extant in early 1944, being under repair at ASAM.

Gen. Dénes

Not so "on topic" but I think the story worth it.
Dicesare just visitated me and I was with a pacient who is a helicopter pilot.
I introduce them and Dicezare after telling the other pilot that the hates Helicopters,since they fall like a rock...he told us a short story:
He had to fly someone(I forgot who) from Tiraspol to Tuzov.
The Fleet they flew sudenly decided to became a glider and stoped the engine.
Dicezare made a force landing between two lakes but the Fleet soped finaly in a water 1.5m deep.A peasant came with ox cart and took them directly from the cocpit.The airplane was left there(and my be there evan now).

Did Di Cesare ever think of writing his autobiography or telling to a writer the story of his life?

Gen. Dénes

I did asked him the same question,and said he wasn't interested.
I do have about 120 min of video tape,with his memories,that hopefuly will be soon on the site.