Ioan Dicezare

Ioan Dicezare (August 12, 1916 in Bucharest – August 10, 2012 in Bucharest ) was a leading Romanian fighter pilot and flying ace in World War II. He was born and died in Bucharest.

On April 22, 1943, Dicezare engaged a Soviet bomber formation and shot down one A-20 Boston, which fell behind Axis lines. He then returned to the airfield and took the group's liaison Bf-108 Taifun. He landed near the crash site and took the pilot and the observer prisoner. In over 500 combat operations, he was credited with 16 confirmed victories (and 3 probable) in aerial combat.

Dicezare died on 10 August 2012, at age 95. He was the last survivor of ”Grupul 7 Vânătoare” pilots who managed to escape the Stalingrad encirclement.

Decorations and awards

 * Order of Michael the Brave, 3rd class (August 30, 1943) - campaign from Mariupol
 * Order of Aeronautical Virtue, Gold Cross with two bars and Knight with two straps (1943) - campaigns in the USSR from 1943
 * Order of the Crown of Romania, 1st class with swords and Military Virtue ribbon (1943?)
 * Iron Cross of 1939
 * 2nd class (probably June 6, 1943)
 * 1st class (probably August 17, 1943)