'Bazu' Cantacuzino's life in Spain, Some new facts of BNazu's biography.

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1953 was an important year for 'Bazu'. At early May was held in Madrid the Féderation Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) Convention and also, on May 9th and 10th was flown at Cuatro Vientos Airfield the First Spanish National Championship of Aerial Acrobatics.
When 'Bazu' was invited to fly an exhibition flight because due to his condition of foreigner he can't contend in the Championship, the Prince sent a letter to the President of the Royal Aero Club of Spain (RACE) in which, after showing his decission favorable to fly off-contest, he manifested his gratitude to the Spanish people: "It is with pleasure that I can to say that never I shall forgive the aid I've received from the comrades and from the higher autorities of the chivalrous Spain". Following he noted the coincidence of being, the May 10th, the Romanian National Day, showing his chivalry and patriotism with these words:"Any financial condition can drive me to this participation, as I'm obliged, unfortunately, when I agree contracts with Aeroclubs or Societies in other countries. If, as I understood, the Royal Aero Club of Spain has reserved a quantity of money for us, the foreign pilots, I want, in reference to the money that could be granted to me, to give the half of it to the Orphens of Airmen and the other half to the Romanian refugees."
The letter finishes with these words: "When I obtain a bit of consideration from the Western countries public or Press, I try to contribute with my limited capabilities to proclaim that my country exists and always is waiting for freedom."

As May 10th was, as said, the Romanian National Day, the eve, May 9th, at Cuatro Vientos Field was held, as an advance of the Spanish National Championship, an exhibition with the public restricted only to the members of Royal Aero Club of Spain (RACE) and some guests including the most representative members of the Romanian residents.
First will done some exhibition flights by the Spanish pilots Martin Rey, Torre Marin and Serrano with three Bücker BÚ-131 "Jungmann", flights that were finished with dropping Romanian and Spanish national flags and also the flag of RACE.
After these flights, the Prince took-off with his EC-AEX "Jungmeister" flying one of his spectacular and magistral exhibitions of acrobatics.
After 'Bazu' was the time of Captain Palanca, who flew, also with a "Jungmeister" of the Spanish "Ejercito del Aire" (Air Force) a high style exhibition that would be interrupted due to engine failures.

Next day, May 10th., was held the First Spanish National Champioship of acrobatics. It was the first acrobatics contest that was held in Spain from 1935 and there were a huge mass of public in the airfield.
In the Championship there were three contendants: Fernando Lens, Vicente Aldecoa and Guillermo Palanca, both three captains in the "Ejercito del Aire".
The pilots must fly a series of compulsory figures in 20 minutes. The contest was won by Fernando Lens.

After these flight, there was a free exhibition witn the participation of the new Champion, Capt. Fernando Lens, and the Prince Cantacuzino. There were a series of shivering loopings, rolls, inverted flight, dives, vertical chandles etc..., mainly at very low level that encouraged the public.

The exhibition was closed by the presence of nine Junkers Ju-52, coming from Alcala de Henares A.B. that launched a company of parachutists from the 1st Parachutist Battalion. After the launching, the nine planes landed at Cuatro Vientos, boarded the men that previously launched and took-off for their Base.

And so the days of 'Bazu' in Spain were going by....

Julian Oller

A really nice movie at the following link:
Bu-133 Jungmeister Constantin Cantacuzino

The first time I saw Bazu in action...

Out of topic, a monden thing, his third ex-wife of Bazu Cantacuzino, married later with an american citizen, named Gray. Their daughter was Lida Gray, actress, who played the role Sue Ellen in Dallas serial.

Gray was english citizen (not american). Nadia Herescu divorced Bazu in Italy and married to Gray. In USA they emigrated in late '60. Until then Nadia Gray played in some italien movies directed by Fellini (like the famous Dolce Vita)



This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on January 10, 2010 07:59 pm

Thank you for info, Cantacuzino!

Some aces in this picture, but Bazu is the star,

Having come across this site quite by chance I have registered in order to add something to this discussion. In August 1952 I was learning to fly at Denham airfield, in the UK. Soon after going solo (in a tail wheeled Miles Hawk trainer) the CFI told us that a certain Prince Cantacuzene would be arriving that day in a Bucker Jungmeister and basing it there prior to performing at an RAF "Wings Day" at nearby White Waltham that weekend.

He duly arrived and treated anyone who happened to be watching to a short display before approaching to land inverted. He crossed the boundary fence and we assumed he would climb away inverted. Instead, when almost at the roundout height there was a brief roar from the engine, he flick rolled upright and landed before taxiing to the hangars on the other side of the airfield where he was met by waiting friends.

Rather unnecessarily the CFI warned us NEVER to try anything like that! We went over to see his Jungmeister which was unfamiliar and spoke to him through one of his friends who interpreted. The rudder extension we noted was "to improve rudder power", the small wheels "to reduce drag" while two exterior airspeed indicators had been fitted to a strut to the left of the windscreen in addition to the standard one on the panel. He explained that he had initially practiced flick rolls on the tops of clouds until he could guarantee no loss or gain of height whatsoever before performing them close to the ground. He found that entry speed was critical and consequently had the two extra instruments fitted as a precaution. Unless all three were reading exactly the same he would not perform the manoeuvre close to the ground.

A day or so later I was sent off to practice some solo circuits and landings, and as I did my downwind checks prior to the first takeoff towards the hangars on the far side of the airfield, I spotted the Jungmeister on the apron with its engine running. Assuming that should it be preparing to depart, it would taxi round the perimeter to the downwind end, I commenced the takeoff. After raising the tail I saw it taking off itself straight towards me on a head on collision course, an eventuality which had somehow been omitted from my training syllabus! I shut the throttle but didn't dare try to swerve or brake, at which point he leapt off the ground performing an immediate climbing turn with no collision risk whatsoever.

By then I found myself travelling at unaccustomed speed halfway across the airfield without the experience to judge whether to stop or carry on but realising I had decide quickly. I chose to press on but quickly regretted it as the bank of trees behind the hangars loomed towards me. I managed to stagger over them close to the stall judging by the sloppiness of the ailerons. Shaken, I completed the circuit and came in. The CFI had seen the whole thing and was furious, declaring he would give Prince so-and-so a piece of his mind and demand he gave me an apology. I duly received the apology in broken English from the great man himself. By making no allowance for a possibly inexperienced pupil he could easily have caused an accident.

I never did see him perform again much to my regret, but what I did see - and experience - remains as clear to me today as it was at the time. An incredible pilot and I hope he died in his bed.

Thanks for shering!
He died in his bed,but unfortunatly very young.
Just afew years after you met him.
And the worst is that his body is burried in Madrid and not in his country.

A little off topic.

Reading about his top quality as a flyer (he was indeed very good), I wonder where and how he had learned air shooting?

This is different thing then flying and need some teachers and practice.

If right rember he was not regular military pilot (?), but only civil one.

So the question is about his training in air shooting (where, when and who)?

Regards,
mirekw

A gunnery school was at Mamaia airfield. Probably there learned air shooting when was in 53 sq.
Anyway Bazu was a self learning guy and probably the first campaign was a good oportunity to practice aiming (using easy targets like DB-3 planes).

Hi, mayby you are right, but shooting is not easy job, especialy in air.

In 53. Squadorn it was to less time to practice such training among other military pilots.
You may/can fly but you have to know hoo to good shoot in comabt too. This is fundamental to survive in air. There were no many "second chances", you or enemy is falin in flames, no jokes.

I do not thing so, that 53. Squadron was primary school for him in shooting (?)

Maybe he had practised some shooting before war?

Regards
mirekw

I read in Ion Pantazi's (son of gen. Pantazi) book (Am trecut prin iad), that when he was in prison he met pilot Tony Dusescu. Dusescu told him that Bazu didn't suport Serbanescu's plane, they worked in pairs, when Serbanescu was shot down.

AS far as I know from Dobran.Bazu didn't flew that day.
I belive Dobran 100%.