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| WorldWar2.ro Forum > ARR - Romanian Royal Aeronautics > 'Bazu' Cantacuzino's life in Spain |
| Posted by: Julian September 21, 2007 11:11 am |
| During the war, The Bazu's nephew Mihai Brancoveanu, also a pilot, married the daughter of the Spanish Ambassador in Bucarest. That marriage produced close contacts between 'Bazu' and the Spanish residentes in Bucarest. Mihai Brancoveanu was KIA during the war and his widow came back to Madrid. There in Madrid were also his relatives, Princes Stroza-Mavrocordato, and his good friend -from the Bucarest pre-war times- Luis Beneyto, former Spanish Consul in Bucarest. So, when his purposes to perform with Max Manolescu in air shows in France (in 1948-1949) failed, he was advised to install himself in Spain. 'Bazu' arrived to Madrid in early weeks of 1950 in a total bankrupcy. He was hosted by his relatives, the Stroza-Mavrocordato and was introduced in different sectors of the Spanish aeronautical world searching for a job. Through Luís Beneyo he knew Jose María Ansaldo, then Chief Pilot of Iberia Airlines and also a "big stick" in other aeronautical companies. As it was impossible that Cantacuzino flew as a pilot for Iberia (then a State-owned Company) due his condition of foreigner, Ansaldo offered him other possibilities, the most profitable of all these being to fly as a crop-sprayer pilot. Ansaldo was, also, the General manager and the public face of a US company that -for having the possibility of obtaining state contracts, forbidden to foreing enterprises in the General Franco's autarchic economy- had created a Spanish branch wich linkage with the public administration was Ansaldo. The company name was "Servicios Aereos Agricolas S.A." and flew Boeing Stearman PT-13 and PT-17 spraying mainly in the vast olive-tree fields in Andalusia. 'Bazu' worked there from 1950 to 1956, and maybe this work permit him don't lose the acrobatic feeling. Have you information about the 'Bazu' facts in Italy and Paris in 1948-1949. Thanks a lot Julian |
| Posted by: Julian October 14, 2007 09:25 am |
| At the end of 1950, Bazu Cantacuzino bought a plane in Spain. As has been said, he worked them as crop-spraying pilot and although those pilots were then well paid, his financial possibilities were not enough to buy a plane. So, he was aided by his friends, mainly by Juan Beneyto, the former Spanish Consul in Bucharest. 'Bazu' wished to fly a Jungmeister, like the YR-BIZ that he had left in Romania, but the only Jungmeister in Spain were those belonging to "Ejercito del Aire" (Spanish Air Force). So, he employed his relations and his friends for asking the Ejercito del Aire to withdraw from service one of those planes and to sell her to him. All these deals were successful done but, when the decission was taken by the Air Force Command for selling the aicraft, a new problem would be appear: The Spanish Law (then and now) requires a public auction for selling goods belonging to the State, and the Law about public auctions don't permited (then) a foreigner to bet for bought. The problem was solved with the aid of Francisco Pons, one of the Bazu's friends that was a member of the "Real Aero Club de España" (Royal Aero Club of Spain) executive board. Francisco Pons bought the plane for himself and some weeks after this transferred the aircraft. Now 'Bazu' had his own plane. The aircraft, a Bücker Bü-133 Jungmeister with c/n (WkNr) 1015, was one of the 30 Jungmeisters that the RLM (German Air Ministry) sold to Spanish uprising moviment of General Franco in 1937 and 1938. She was an original German aicraft powered by a Siemens Sh-14A, not one of the 25 Spanish licence-built Jungmeisters. In the "Ejército del Aire" that plane wore the indicative 35-30 and, from 1945, ES.1-30. When transferred to the civil register, she wore the register EC-AEX. 'Bazu' ordered some modifications to the workshops (smaller wheels, enlarged rudder) in order to have the same flying characteristics he had in the YR-BIZ. As said himself to the press, in an interview in 1957, the EC-AEX flew as well as the YR-BIZ. The EC-AEX wore the same decoration as YR-BIZ. All grey-silver fuselage with a red flash and the letters EC-AEX in black on both sides. The rudder wore the Spanish national colours, as compulsory, and in the fin was the crest of the "Real Aero Club de España" (Royal Aero Club of Spain). The upper wing wore a scalloped yellow leading edge. I hope give more information about the Spanish period of Bazu's life in following messages. Regards from Spain Julian |
| Posted by: Radub October 14, 2007 05:29 pm |
| Hi Julian, This is very interesting stuff. I have a photo of Cantacuzino's Bu133, but the registration is EC-ALP. Was the plane re-registered or is it a different one? Radu |
| Posted by: Julian October 17, 2007 03:08 pm |
| Hi, Radu EC-ALP was not the aircraft owned by 'Bazu' but by other big Spanish Pilot, Jose Luís Aresti, the creator of Aresti Code for Acrobatic Flight. EC-ALP has survived and now belongs to Pipe Aresti, son of Jose Luis Aresti. The plane can be seen in the FIO collection and performs (when airworthy) every first Sunday (except January and August) al Cuatro Vientos airfield, in Madrid. In 1957, some months prior his death, 'Bazu' bought a second Jungmeister fron the "Ejercito del Aire" that recived the civil registration EC-AMO. The plane was sent to workshops for modifications (small diameter wheels, bigger rudder, etc...). Thinking he would have the EC-AMO for the next Airshows season, 'Bazu' sold his old EC-AEX to a U.S. citizen and the plane was sent to North America. I've not been capable to found information of EC-AEX after going to America. 'Bazu' don't arrived to fly his new EC-AMO, when he died the aircraft was yet at the workshop. Regards Julian Oller |
| Posted by: Radub October 18, 2007 08:56 am |
| Thnaks Julian for the clarification. This is very interesting. Radu |
| Posted by: Julian October 22, 2007 12:22 pm |
| In 1951 and already with his new Bücker EC-AEX, 'Bazu' took part in an Airshow held at Toussus-le-Noble Airfield, in the Paris townskirts and also in airshows in the United Kingdom, as those that accompanied the Hartfield and King's Cup Races and also in the Swansea Airshow, in Summer 1951. In all his performances, 'Bazu' achieven a high success and in all them the Press and mainly the Specialized Press wrote great praises about his actuations. In reference to the Toussus-le-Noble, "France-Soir" noted "that through ten minutes performed the most audacious acrobatics, finishing with a barrel close the ground very dangerous". "Sporting Life" with reference to the Airshow accompaining the Hartfield National Air Races, said that Cantacuzino "performed the most spectacular and best quality acrobatics in every times". Similar judgements can be found in reference to other french or british airshows. In 1952 he multiplies his interventions in british airfields. "Sunday Times", "Newcastle Journal" and "Northern Echo" wrote specially about a "shuddering inverted flight at only three feet off the ground". In August 1952 flies in the Hsy Airshow and, from his performances, serious and relevant magazines like "The Aeroplane" and "Flight" considered that his actuation has totally eclipsed the other pilots. In these years his flights in Spain were only profesional crop-dusting ones. I hope this information would be useful. Regrads from Spain Julian Oller |
| Posted by: Daviator October 25, 2007 06:41 pm |
| Hi Julian To add to your very interesting account of Bazu in Spain, he did fly EC-AMO because I saw him display it at RAF station Woodvale in NW England on 12 June 1957. I was a teenager at the time and I have never seen a display so spectacular. He also flew at the Blackpool Squires Gate Airshow the same day. I am told that EC-AMO had a Lycoming engine. |
| Posted by: Julian October 26, 2007 08:34 am |
| Thank you for adding information to this chapter in 'Bazu' Spanish life. It's true that EC-AMO was powered by Lycoming. I have the full participation of Cantacuzino in airshows in Spain in 1951-1957, but I've some holes in the information about Airshows in other countries. Regards Julian |
| Posted by: Cantacuzino October 29, 2007 08:27 pm | ||
Hello Daviator, Do you think below picture with Bazu was taken somewhere in England. Take a look at the tail of the plane ( in the background) with UK registration. Picture courtesy " Aeromagazin" http://imageshack.us |
| Posted by: Cantacuzino October 29, 2007 08:36 pm | ||
Bazu famous " rasmoote" inverted flight. Picture courtesy Razvan Bujor. http://imageshack.us |
| Posted by: Julian October 30, 2007 09:40 am |
| The EC-AEX was modified with a extension enlarging rudder (as can be seen in the photo posted by Cantacuzino) and with smaller wheels in order to reduce drag. The photo is very interesting because showns clearly the rudder modification. Regards Julian Oller |
| Posted by: Daviator November 07, 2007 11:35 am |
| Hello everyone, sorry for the delay in responding. I have asked friends in England for information on the photo. The location is possibly Yeadon in northern England (today's Leeds-Bradford Airport) One of my friends was at the airshow there on 7 June 1954 in which Bazu displayed, but the aircraft in the background (a GAL Cygnet) was not there on that day. In my opinion, Bazu was one of the best pilots ever and his career needs to be documented in detail. |
| Posted by: MaxFax November 13, 2007 07:36 pm |
| I think that only using the information from this topic, it could be the a nice start for a great articol in an aviation magazine ?! |
| Posted by: Daviator November 16, 2007 04:07 pm |
| For Julian and anyone else interested, the British magazine Flight International has just put its archive back to 1909 (?) online. There are many references to Bazu and also another Prince Cantacuzino who flew in England in 1912. Was this Bazu's father? Sorry I cannot give a link because my computer crashes! Google flightglobal archive and you will find the site. Search using Cantacuzene, as this was the English spelling of his name. There are dates of all his performances at British airshows and some details of them. This is real treasure for a Bazu researcher! |
| Posted by: Dénes November 16, 2007 08:25 pm |
| THanks for the hint, Daviator. Indeed, there are real treasures to be found in The Flight's archive. Here is one caption referring to Cantacuzino, in 1951: 'The dashing Prince Cantacuzene — a romantic figure with a highly practical turn of mind and an aerobatic pilot of the first rank'. Gen. Dénes |
| Posted by: MaxFax November 17, 2007 06:28 pm | ||
Here are the links: For images: http://www.flightglobal.com/StaticPages/images.html For the magazine http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/index.html For cutaways http://www.flightglobal.com/StaticPages/cutaways.html |
| Posted by: Julian December 22, 2007 11:10 am |
| 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 |
| Posted by: montana January 10, 2010 12:21 pm |
| A really nice movie at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NXEmAYJ4xU&feature=related |
| Posted by: C-2 January 10, 2010 02:32 pm |
| The first time I saw Bazu in action... |
| Posted by: contras January 10, 2010 06:16 pm |
| 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. |
| Posted by: Cantacuzino January 10, 2010 07:55 pm | ||
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) http://img44.imageshack.us/i/dolcevitafellini.jpg/ |
| Posted by: contras January 10, 2010 08:33 pm |
| Thank you for info, Cantacuzino! |
| Posted by: Alexei2102 February 09, 2010 08:20 pm |
| Some aces in this picture, but Bazu is the star, |
| Posted by: Bakery October 30, 2010 12:07 am |
| 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. |
| Posted by: C-2 October 30, 2010 05:21 am |
| 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. |
| Posted by: mirekw November 28, 2010 03:46 pm |
| 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 |
| Posted by: Cantacuzino November 29, 2010 11:44 am | ||
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). |
| Posted by: mirekw November 30, 2010 05:08 pm |
| 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 |
| Posted by: contras December 09, 2010 08:20 pm |
| 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. |
| Posted by: C-2 December 09, 2010 09:27 pm |
| AS far as I know from Dobran.Bazu didn't flew that day. I belive Dobran 100%. |
| Posted by: Dénes December 10, 2010 06:15 am | ||
'Bâzu' did fly on that fateful 18 August 1944. However, he wasn't Serbanescu's wingman. Gen. Dénes |
| Posted by: C-2 December 10, 2010 06:10 pm |
| Yes indeed. I was innhurry... There was a discusion between S and Bazu.Serbanescu said that with Bazu they are gonna be 13 ,and that's bad luck. I quoted Dobran. |
| Posted by: mirekw June 11, 2011 11:37 am |
| BTW, I would like to inform you, that last month (May 2011) in Poland was edited a short, nine pages biography of Cantacuziono in Lotnictwo numer specjalny 15 (Title: As myśliwski Constantin „Bâzu” Cantacuzino). Story including 3 color drawings (1 Hurricane, 2x Me 109 G). Alle the best. mirekw |
| Posted by: C-2 June 11, 2011 01:40 pm |
| Hi Mirekw, Can you post some scans from the article? |
| Posted by: yugit June 11, 2011 03:46 pm |
| Hello I would like to join this topic too as this is of personal interest to me too and me too I would appreciate if Mirekw would post the mentioned article and photos on here. At my end however I have an other question whose answer may be known on here. After wars end Col.Jim Gunn , former deputy CO of the 454th BG in Italy was during numerous times in contact with Buzu who lived in Madrid One of Buzus main goals was to use Gunns influence in getting a US resident visa. Despite Gunn aquaintance with Gen.Twining , the Ike administration declined him categorically such permit when in fact Bazu was a hero who saved through his involvement over 1200 US POW lives and whose single fault was to have fought the Soviets in the past under Antonescu and Mihai .While Mihai was awarded Pobeda and US Legion of Merit , Bazu was considered Persona Non Grata. Bazu made an other attempt through an old friend and a very influential person at that time namely the OSS (CIA) agent who worked in Bucharest during the war time , namely USN LCDR Frank Wisner who in the meantime has become a key chief operative at CIA of that time. Also Wisner efforts were turned down by Ike administration ( Wisner son is still working at the US State Departement nowadays) What were the real grounds for Buzu US entry denials , especially that his applications were post Stalins death when the Russians had no longer influence in Washington ? When and where was the attached photo of Buzu and Wisner taken at ? http://img820.imageshack.us/content_round.php?page=done&l=img820/4159/wisner3.jpg Thanks |
| Posted by: yugit June 11, 2011 04:39 pm | ||
The second photo shows from left to right : Uknown Royal Scottish Guard Officers, LCDR Wisner , Air Vice Marshall Stevenson, . Victory Parade 1945 Bucharest. Next photo is basically the same but it includes Maniu http://img707.imageshack.us/content_round.php?page=done&l=img707/4989/wisner4.jpg |
| Posted by: C-2 June 11, 2011 07:57 pm |
| Thanks! |
| Posted by: mirekw June 14, 2011 04:07 pm | ||
Sorry, but not, I have no permission to do this. This is private magazine. Regards, MirekW |
| Posted by: mirekw June 14, 2011 04:28 pm | ||
One thing could for good stop him, accusation of being secret Sovier spy? It could be done also by Soviet spies too, who coulde be around him. There were distributed many such flase opinion to destroy not good for Soviet person, may he was one of them? May someone had done around him wrong opinion, as he stayed in Romanina up the begining of 1948? I think that only such nasty opinion was very solid barier to do not let him go to USA in this period? This is of course pure speculation Regards, mirekw PS If I am right there were 1025 USAAF's POW taken from Rumania in 1944 |
| Posted by: yugit June 14, 2011 07:02 pm |
| I don't think that the US administration of that time ever believed that he was a Soviet spy , especially after he ditched Ana Pauker private flight services and defected to Spain. No one can really tell for sure on why they denied him the US entry . There were some 1200 POW's who left Popesti Leordeni between them also RAF crews , two SOE and 4 OSS operatives and several Rumanian citiziens with various missions. |
| Posted by: Petre June 15, 2011 01:51 pm |
| http://www.funaereacv.es/Relatos/contenidos/agr61/cont201/docu/Cantacuzeno.pdf |
| Posted by: mirekw June 16, 2011 03:43 pm |
| I don't think that the US administration of that time ever believed that he was a Soviet spy , [QUOTE] It has no matter what I think, and what do I belive, it was about 60 years ago. In the 50-ties there were cold war and any suspection about such thing (KGB's connections) could be very dengerous to anybody. There were many false information so, one of them could be about him? There were no formal, official reason to not let him go to USA, despite being Soviet "spy" or but less, more stupied as 'nazi supporter". In this time such stupid information could stop him in Spain. To Petre Nice job, congratulation, good done, :-) Regards mirekw |
| Posted by: yugit June 16, 2011 03:53 pm |
| I red and heard much about Buzu in the past, by chance a family member of mine served with him in the AAR. He was known to all parties including the Germans and Russians as very fine man .....as an outstanding pilot and a man who who would not betray his believes...who used to like women " beyond the call of duty" Even the Russians NARCOMs and VVS pilots with whom he fought shoulder to shoulder in the Western front respected him very much. By no means the Yanks ever suspected him of any wrong doing,period..... there could be something else totally unrelated. |
| Posted by: mirekw June 16, 2011 04:10 pm |
| By no means the Yanks ever suspected him of any wrong doing,period..... there could be something else totally unrelated. I can not doubt about his valour and etc. But any kind of administration, especialy inteligence unit has own specific logic. For these people only paper counts and secret opinion about visitor. If was put any knd of cross beside his name it would mean no for entry. There are not any important succes etc. for such people, this is only administrative job, working with hundreds peapers, every day. Plus or minus. To the USA had come many people from Europe and they got permission. He did not? Do you belive, that his was to old or too young for USA or he had not sincerley smile during talking with US ambassy clerk and it was the real reason? Sorry, but I do not belive with such things. Regards, mirekw |
| Posted by: Dénes June 17, 2011 05:53 am | ||
Can you please detail a bit this 'shoulder-to-shoulder' fight with Soviet pilots? Thanks, Gen. Dénes |
| Posted by: yugit June 17, 2011 08:23 am | ||||
What I meant is bother in arms and under the Soviets command....nothing but this. Thank you |
| Posted by: Radub June 18, 2011 10:07 am |
| In the absence of any hard fact, it is impossible to say why Bazu was denied entry to the US, but as anyone who ever travelled to the US can tell, there are a number of reasons why one could be denied a US visa. When applying for a visa, there are a number of questions that could have affected Bazu, such as "did you ever take part in military actions against the US", "were you ever associated with fascist or extreme-right movements", "were you ever associated with communist or extreme-left movements", "were you ever associated with movements involved in the Holocaust or persection of minorities", etc., etc. Now (before anyone has a "nationalist brainbelch" and spoils this thread) I am not accusing Bazu of being an US-hating antisemitic fascist but it is a hard and undisputed fact that he fought against the US Air Force over Romania with a noted degree of success. He was heaped with an extremely proeminent profile for his success in these operations while flying on behalf of a state closely associated with Fascist Germany. His "profile" was too big... not an easy thing to hide, deny, ignore, forget or forgive easily... Maybe with time, this could have changed, but he died before that time. Yes, there were many cases in which the US went against their own rules when issuing visas (Google "Operation Paperclip"), but Cantacuzino was not the type of person that would usually warrant such waivers. Radu |
| Posted by: yugit June 18, 2011 03:19 pm |
| Radu Your opinions is probably the most matching reality of what may have happened at that time, which is kind of matching Frank Weisners memoires and Col.Gunns remarks during his life time during ex Rumania POW's association reunions. In a way Mihai had more luck with the Allies and the Russians and remained unscaved . Thank you again |