Looking for an Aviator

[papanas]

HI!

I was wondering if you guys could help me gather some info about a brother of my grandpa.

I don't know for sure his full name but his family name was Silaghi. Born in Bihor County (Romania), he was part of a reconnaissance squadron. Flew on the eastern as well on the western front.

Did you happen to find something regarding an aviator matching my description while researching?

Thanks!!

[Ahile]

In what year he was born?

[papanas]

he was born around 1908-1910. his name was sabin and his nickname was Bubu.

[Victor]

Lt. av. Sabin Silaghi started the war in 1941 as an observer. In 1942 he was promoted to the rank of captain. He received the Gold Cross, the first and second bars to the Gold Cross, the Knight class and the first bar to the Knight class of the Virtutea Aeronautica Order. During the 1941 campaign he flew 68 missions, both recon and bombing in Bessarabia and around Odessa.
We can rule out the the 4th Long Range Recon (Blenheim Mk. I), 19th, 20th and 21st Observation Squadron (IAR-39) because these were assigned to the 3rd Army and did not fly any missions around Odessa.

He does not appear in the roster of the 3rd Long Range Recon (Blenheim Mk. I) and 22nd Observation Squadron (IAR-39) that were assigned to the 4th Army. So this leaves as possible units: the 17th Observation Squadron (IAR-39) that was assigned to the 4th Army, the 15th Observation Squadron (IAR-39) that was assigned to the 1st Armored Division (this could be it, because he is cited for missions around Tighina and this Division was the first to reach the city) and the whole 2nd Observation Flotilla (11th-14th Observation Squadron).

[papanas]

Thanks for the info. As an interesting fact I can mention that he was related with an important figure from the Miscarea Legionara group. (well...not that important.. but still). One of his brothrs was Victor Silaghi, a lawyer who was conected with the above mentioned group. (murdered in the early 40s).

Thanks again for the info and if you find something more (pictures/facts/etc) please share them with me.

[papanas]

i was reading one of the jurnals on the site and i found this: "Cpt. av. Silaghi, the CO of the 13th Squadron, after receiving the orders, organized 18 crews, of which 3 had to make a long range recon all the way to Jimbolia, Curtici, Salonta, Episcopia Bihor, Valea lui Mihai and Carei. The other 15 airplanes were divided into 5 patrule of three airplanes. The mission was to stop the trains, but had to do it without damaging the locomotives, the cities or the railroad stations..." Can it be related with this topic??

It is cdor. av. (VR) Tanase Mancu diary.

[Victor]

There was also a cpt. av. Aurel Silaghi.

[papanas]

100% certain Sabin was his name.

[Victor]

I know. I am only saying that there were two: cpt. Sabin Silaghi and cpt. Aurel Silaghi and it is difficult to say with 100% certainty that the cpt. Silaghi mentioned by Tanase Mancu is Sabin Silaghi.

[papanas]

for sure... thanks!! could you tell me the source of your findings??

[Antoniu]

Anul 1933 - Slt. Aurel Silaghi obtain Brevet Pilot Militar Nr.958 / 31 iulie 1933.
If we refer to the year of birth can be.

In 1941 they were in the same unit.

11 iulie 1941. Esc.12 Bombardament Usor - a executat 6 misiuni de recunoastere cu echipajele:

-Echipajul Slt.Av. Nicola Mircea, Obs.Slt.Silaghi Sabin, Mitr.Srg. Tamaioaga Gavril descopera o coloana auto si carute la Sendeni.

-Echipajul Adj.Sef Av. Cretu Marin, Obs.Cpt.Nobinovshi Leonid, Mitr.Srg. Pascivschi Lazar descopera o coloana auto la Cobaesti-Vanatori.

-Echipajul Cpt.Av. Silaghi Aurel, Obs.Slt. Niculescu Nicolae, Mitr.Srg.Bocsan Ioan distruge o coloana de 10 masini la 1 Km.n.e.Dolna.

This post has been edited by Antoniu on August 17, 2013 05:04 am