Alexandru Şerbănescu

Infobox Military Person
name=Alexandru Şerbănescu
lived=17 May 1918 – 18 August 1944
placeofbirth=Coloneşti, Olt County
placeofdeath=Ruşavăţ, Buzău County


caption=Alexandru Şerbănescu
nickname="Alecu"
allegiance=flagicon|Romania Kingdom of Romania
serviceyears=1941-1944
rank=Captain
branch=Romanian Air Force
commands=57th Fighter Squadron
9th Fighter Group
unit=7th Fighter Group
battles=World War II
* Eastern front
awards=Order of Michael the Brave
Order of the Star of Romania
Iron Cross
laterwork=

Alexandru "Alecu" Şerbănescu (May 17 1912, Coloneşti, Olt County - August 18 1944, Ruşavăţ, Buzău County) was a leading Romanian fighter pilot and flying ace in World War II. On August 22 was assigned a fighter pilot within the 7th Fighter Group, which fought on the Eastern Front, including Stalingrad. He flew mostly on IAR-80 and Messerchmitt Bf-109 fighters.

Early military career

He graduated from the Military College at Târgovişte and the Infantry Officers School at Sibiu in 1933 and was soon appointed the commander of the 3rd Mountain Troops battalion, located at Braşov. In 1942, he joined the Air Force Flight School in Ghimbav and became soon a fighter pilot within the 7th Fighter Group. ro icon [http://www.timpul.mdl.net/Rubric.asp?idIssue=303&idRubric=4183 "Şoimii Grupului Şerbănescu", Şerbănescu's Eagles] , Timpul, May 4 2006. Retrieved on February 20 2008.]

Eastern front

The 7th Fighter Group was detached in 1942 to the Stalingrad front. Şerbănescu distinguished himself in the fierce battles during the retreat from the airfields around Stalingrad. When Soviets broke the German and Romanian defenses in November 1942 and approached the Romanian airfield where the 7th Fighter Group was stationed, Şerbănescu successfully organized the defense of the airbase, helped by his infantry experience. He had at his disposal only two anti-aircraft guns (one Rheinmetall 37mm and one 75mm Vickers-Reşiţa gun), the 20mm guns on the Bf-109Es and a company of ill-equipped and trained soldiers. The Romanians' camouflaged positions and well-led defense stopped the Soviet tanks attacking the airfield for two days. The Bf 109's 20 mm guns were used as antitank weapons on the ground (by lifting the airplane's tail on barrels), this being a unique case of airplane-tank duel. On November 23 1942 the Romanians evacuated eight Bf-109E (another 3 were lost while they tried to take off under fire). Each airplane carried two or three people in the cockpit. After this, what remained of Şerbănescu's unit was stationed on the Morozovskaya airfield and was soon withdrawn to Romania for rest and recuperation. en icon [http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/serban/serban.htm "Alexandru Şerbănescu - from Infantry to Aviation"] , Victor Niţu, Octavian Ghiţă and Dariusz Tyminski, April 29 2001. Retrieved on 21 February 2008.]

Back to Romania

On March 29 1943, Şerbănescu was appointed commander of the 57th Fighter Squadron, equipped with the new Messerschmitt Bf-109G, and promoted to the rank of Captain. Between June and August 1943 he shot down 28 enemy aircraft, and received the highest Romanian military decoration, Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd Class. On October 23, the 9th Fighter Group replaced the battle-exhausted 7th Fighter Group, but Şerbănescu and the other aces remained. He kept fighting and shooting down airplanes and as a result to this he was named the Group's commander on February 13 1944. In May 1944 the Red Army entered Romania and occupied northern Bessarabia and northern Moldavia, but they were stopped after some fierce fighting ("see also: Battle of Târgul Frumos"), in which the pilots also played a very important role. On June 11, Şerbănescu shot down his first USAAF aircraft, a B-17 Flying Fortress, his 45th victory. This was followed by two P-51 Mustangs shot down on July 31 and on August 4 respectively, which were his last kills. ro icon [http://club.neogen.ro/FUNDATIAErouCapAviatorAlexandruSerbanescu/biografie-alexandru-serbanescu/58118/2 Alexandru Şerbănescu Foundation] , January 10 2008. Retrieved on 21 February 2008.]

Death

On August 18 1944, Alexandru Şerbănescu took off on his last mission. On that day, he and his twelve wingmen, together with twelve other fighters from the 9th Fighter Group, attacked a swarm of Mustangs and Lightnings. When Lieutenant Dobran and Adjutant Dârjan tried to clear his tail, it was too late. His last words were: "My boys, I'm going down...". Apparently his radio wasn't functioning properly and he could not hear his wingmen's warnings. Following Şerbănescu's death all Romanian fighters were issued orders to refrain from engaging the Americans until a new strategy would be adopted. Five days later, on August 23 1944, a coup d'état led by King Michael of Romania deposed Marshal Ion Antonescu and Romania switched to the Allied side.

During his entire piloting career, he was credited with 47 confirmed victories (and 8 probable) in aerial combat which, with eight unconfirmed, yielded 55 points in the Romanian scoring system, second only to Constantin Cantacuzino with 69.

Legacy

Today, a boulevard in Bucharest bears his name and passes very close to the Aurel Vlaicu Airport. Each year, on 18 August, veterans, air force officers and aviation enthusiasts gather at his tomb to commemorate him. On August 18 2004, the 30th Honor Guard Regiment commemorated with military honors 60 years since Captain Alexandru Şerbănescu was killed in action. en icon [http://www.worldwar2.ro/arr/p006.htm "Cpt. av. Alexandru Şerbănescu"] , Bogdan Patrascu, Unofficial site. Retrieved on February 21 2008.]

On December 1 2006, the Romanian Air Force 95th Air Base received the "Cpt. Av. Alexandru Şerbănescu" honorific name. [ro icon [http://www.event365.ro/Baza_Aeriana_Bacau_a_primit_numele_pilotului_Alexandru_Serbanescu-n41058.html "Bacău Air Base received Alexandru Şerbănescu honorific name"] , event365.ro, December 3, 2006. Retrieved on 21 February 2008.]

ee also

*List of World War II flying aces from Romania
*Horia Agarici
*Constantin Cantacuzino
*Romanian Air Force

References

Notes

Further reading

*Dénes Bernád, John A. Weal, "Romanian Aces of World War 2", Osprey Publishing, Botley, Oxfordshire, 2003 ISBN 184176535X
*Vasile Tudor, "Un nume de legenda - Cpt. av. erou Alexandru Şerbănescu" (A legendary name, Captain Alexandru Şerbănescu), Editura MODELISM, 1998.
*Ion Bucurescu, "Aviaţia Română pe Frontul de Est şi în apărarea teritoriului Vol. I; II" (Romanian Aviation on Eastern Front and defending the national territory), Editura Fast Print, 1994.