Ion Dobran is 90 years old., Birthday celebration.

Today at 10 45 I was at his gate.
I was allowed to enter the front door.
Noty like Cantacuzino ,who always enters the servants door.
Dobran was happy to see us.
I gave him a silly but useful present.
Cantacuzino,gave him a spiritual one.
But I'll let him tell the whole story.

Unfortunatly ,it is imposib. to post photos.
I wonder why.




Edit: Photos added. Victor

This post has been edited by Victor on February 07, 2009 01:08 pm

And there's my signed photo!!

I made a little story about Dobran's birthday for my blog (in portuguese, sorry):

http://saladeguerra.blogspot.com/2009/02/e...ion-dobran.html

I'd like to know more about that P-38 pilot that Dan Melinte found.

Cheers!

It's about the fight of 22 july '44 ( one of the shutlle missions of 15th AF) when Lt Dobran chased a P-38 long distance, from Tecuci airfield to Dnestr river (Nistru).
He missed the "american friend" due to guns malfunction and let him escape towards russian lines. Also one of his squadron fellow, Adj Morariu tried to attack the american fighter but he gave up when bullet tracers coming from the P-38 hit him.
The detail of the batlle is written in the famous "Dobran war diary"

Some years ago (in 2000) Dobran asked me to find the name of the pilot who got so lucky to escape alive and tell the story to his nephews.

For Dobran's 90 birthday celebration I was lucky to find the name of this P-38 pilot:

Lt. Henry G. Van Horn (O-763421) 48FS, 14FG, 15AF. Claims 1 victory on 19-Jul-44 and a probably victory on 22 july 44.

And Van Horn recalls for 22 july 44:

" ...Over the target we got into a hell of a fight. When enemy fighters jumped us I was unfortunate to find myself alone after breaking into four 109's coming from behind me. I saw I was in for it, so I hit the deck and headed for Russia alone. My radio was out, so I couldn't call for help.
Three 109's stayed on my tail close enough for me to see the white prop spinners (Dobran's Bf 109 had an large white spiral). I dumped flaps and racked around to the right, and they missed me. I guess theyr gunnery wasn't so hot, or I would have had it then and there ( in fact Dobran's guns were not properly working)
I caught one as he chandelled up, and gave him a good burst. I saw hits, and rolled over and started down from about 200 feet. I didn't see him hit, so it couldn't be confirmed (Probably Adj Morariu who got some bullets from the P-38 he chased).
My gas was getting low, and I began to sweat getting over the front lines. When I saw Dniepr river ( Dnestr river) I was more at ease, but I was running out of gas, so I landed on a wheat field some twenty miles from my destination...."

Van Horn story from the book "14 th Fighter group in WWII" By John W. Lambert.

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on February 21, 2009 01:11 pm

Hello Julio,

Congrats for the blog and for Dobran's 90 birthday article.
I understand most of the part due to my latin origin.
Also I discover in your article that Claudiu Stumer is a fisherman (pesquisador militar ) I didn't knew that

I congratulate you being close to Mr Dobran at his 90 yo birthday.
I hope he will be next august in Ghencea.

Yours,
bernard m

I made the corections

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on February 21, 2009 01:12 pm

Hi Dan, thanks for the kind remarks. Claudiu also told me that he could figure the article out reading in portuguese.

And just a correction: fisherman in portuguese is written "pescador"; "pesquisador" is actually "researcher".

But we need to find more about Stumer's fishing skills.

http://www.jurnalul.ro/stire-special/pilot...ani-510112.html

The only thing is that there were others that made the connection Barrie Davis - Ion Dobran years before the mentioned Polish citizen.

News from www.aviatori.ro site :

Bucureşti, 23 ianuarie 2010, la ora 10:30, la Muzeul Aviaţiei: Colonelul Barrie Davis, în vârstă de 86 de ani, unul din aşii aviaţiei militare americane din al doilea război mondial, va vizita România şi îl va întâlni pe Generalul Ion Dobran, unul din aşii aviaţiei militare române şi fostul său duşman în lupta aeriană de deasupra Ploieştiului.

Această întâlnire neobişnuită a fost organizată de compania de filme Kogainon şi Muzeul Aviaţiei din Bucureşti. Colonelul George Sandachi, directorul muzeului, consideră această întâlnire un eveniment ieşit din comun şi de interes special.

Colonelul Barrie Davis a pilotat un avion de vânătoare P51 care apăra valurile de bombardiere B-24 trimise să distrugă câmpurile petroliere româneşti în 1943 şi 1944. În una din misiuni, avionul lui Davis a fost atacat de Dobran care pilota un Messerschmitt Bf109 şi a fost avariat în aşa măsură încât a trebuit să se întoarcă la baza americană din Ukraina soivetică. Dobran, la rândul lui, a fost atacat de conducătorul brigăzii din care făcea parte Davis, şi avionul său a fost distrus. "Dar Dobran are dreptul să îşi afirme victoria, căci nici avionul meu nu s-a mai ridicat în aer după acel incident", spune colonelul Davis. Cei doi aşi ai aviaţiei militare vor fi primiţi la ambasada americană şi la Clubul Rotary din Bucureşti şi vor vizita zona de luptă din jurul Ploieştiului, precum şi cimitirul aviatorilor americani căzuţi în România în timpul bătăliei aeriene asupra Ploieştiului.

Informaţii despre filmul documentar "Reign of Fire" pot fi găsite pe situl www.kogainonfilms.com .

Let's hope it wont became a circus...

It would be so cool if Lt. Henry G. Van Horn (O-763421) was still around and you could get the two of them together for a reunion.

I don't know who are those who org. this meeting.
Dobran is very exited ,and Julio have spoken with Barrie DAvies who is also.
The problem is that they are 91 and 86.
BD is going to fly for many hours,Dobran's health may change from day to day,and like I already told in private to some forum members,it's very important that the org. are decent,let the two to have their time and not suffocating them.
I hope for a pleasent eveniment and not just for publicity for some.

http://www.military.com/news/article/wwii-...html?ESRC=eb.nl

Here are some of the photos from the event.

The Air Force Chief of Staff waiting for the American guests to arrive


The meeting:


The two former enemies, reunited after almost 66 years:


C-2


The Chief of Staff gives his speech:


Barrie Davis gives his speech:


General Dobran gives his speech:


Mytzu is getting a tan:


Barrie Davis receives the Taralunga painting (probably a copy):