[烛光生存狂]-【罗马尼亚老兵系列】特纳塞·满(Tanase Mancu)

http://www.worldwar2.ro/arr/?article=435

The memories were transmitted to us by the benevolence of mr. Bernard Miclescu.

Part 1

Three days after the beginning of the war [24 June 1941], the Russians installed a heavy artillery unit made up of 12 guns [a battalion] on a hill NW of Reni, at the western limit of the Slobozia Mare village. These guns were constantly shelling Galati[加拉茨], especially the port, the railroad station and the center. The 5th Romanian Corps, to which the 13th Observation Squadron was subordinated, ordered that within 24 hours the Soviet guns must be located and eliminated. The squadron CO gave me this mission. At 1430 hours we were in the air. We entered Bessarabia[比萨拉比亚] south of Cahul[卡胡尔] and went as far as 30-40 km east of the river Prut[普魯特河]. Then we turned southwards towards Reni[烈尼]. We looked very carefully in the area around Reni and Brates Lake, but did not see anything. After landing back at the airfield I contacted the Military Command in Galati and found out that between 1455 and 1525 hours the Soviets had stopped the shelling. We took off again at 1740 hours and this time we were in permanent radio contact with Galati, which gave me the present situation. When we were at about 10-15 km east of the village Slobozia Mare, they communicated that the shelling had stopped. From our altitude, about 4,500 m, it was difficult to spot the well camouflaged guns, but west of the village, over a corn field, I discovered some grey smoke, which resulted from the artillery fire. I noted the site on the map and we headed home. Ten minutes later, Galati communicated that the shelling restarted. There were many victims among civilians.

The next day, at 0500 hours, together with the mechanics, I loaded the airplane [an IAR 39] with 24 bombs and I also took about 100 aerial-launched grenades in the cockpit. I considered that once we spotted the enemy artillery position, these munitions were enough to destroy them. I also instructed the pilot to fire for intimidation, before we got over the objective. Then I would launch bombs and grenades, through the hatch in the cockpit. After we passed, the machine-gunner had to keep firing on the entire area, in circular motions, in order to keep the Soviets down and prevent them from firing back at us.

We took off at 0600 hours and flew from Ivesti[伊维斯蒂] to Tecuci[泰库奇], SW Galati, Isaccea[萨克恰], Tulcea[图尔恰] and then we crossed the Danube into USSR, west of Ismail[伊斯梅尔]. From there we headed west, towards Reni. Because our route passed close to the Soviet airfield at Bulgarica, where there were several fighter regiments, we flew at about 50-60 m above the wheat fields. As we were approaching the point on the map where we saw the smoke the other day, the pilot told me: "The guns are firing. They are just in front of us." "Then fire on them!", I ordered him. We climbed to 250 m and I dropped 12 bombs and about 30 grenades over the entire area. After we passed over the area I told the machine-gunner: "Fire, Huluban, for intimidation!" The airplane turned left and then came back over the area. The pilot fired, I dropped 6 bombs and 40 grenades and then the machine-gunner fired, just like before. We then made one last pass over the target, using the same tactic, and I dropped the last 6 bombs and 30 grenades. Their effect was recorded by the gun-camera.

I ordered the pilot to climb to 2,000 m and head for home, in the direction of Oancea, where the AAA protecting the HQ of the 5th Corps was located. After a short while, the machine-gunner cried: "Enemy fighters! Nine of them, coming from Bulgarica!" We were an easy prey for them. I told the pilot to descend. We entered the friendly AAA area, which engaged in a fierce battle with the Soviets. Four were shot down and another two had to make emergency landings. We landed safely at Ivesti. The guns had stopped firing on Galati and never restarted.

This mission led later to the decoration with the "Virtutea Aeronautica" Order Gold Cross class of the entire crew: adj. av. Gheorghe Serbanescu (pilot), serg.av. Gheorghe Huluban (machine-gunner) and slt. av. Tanase Mancu (observer and aircraft commander).

Part 2

It was beautiful day in July 1941. We were gathered in front of the squadron's CO, cpt. av. Romeo Anca. He said that there were two missions: a reconnaissance in southern Bessarabia and a photo flight in the Cahul-Tiganca-Varzaresti area. "Slt. av. Mancu will execute the photo mission. There will be about 10 fighters in the area for your protection. The airplane must fly level at any cost, while taking photos, so that the lab can be able to build a larger picture out of them."

At 1030 we were in the designated area. I started the camera. The machine-gunner said: "Three enemy fighters behind us, 1000 m higher! They are attacking!" "Then fire also!" I then ordered the pilot to make a tight turn to the left and dive to low altitude. The Soviets passed by us at high-speed and then attacked from below. The pilot was firing, I was firing and so was the machine-gunner and we managed to get away untouched. After we passed over the Prut, the Romanian troops also began to fire on the enemy fighters, which left us and retreated.

The pilot asked me: "Papa, what now? Are we going to the airfield?" "No, we pick up from where we were when they attacked us". We only managed to continue the photographing for three minutes, because the fighters reappeared, just above us. I ordered the machine-gunner to fire in circles, in order to maximize the effect on them. I also told the pilot: "Serbanescu, you know the range of the fighters". After 40 minutes of fighting, they had to retreat and we continued our mission. I started the camera for the third time. The pilot said: "We are being attacked head on by the 3 fighters!". He fired for a few seconds and then dived towards the river Prut. It was their last attack. They left afterwards. We returned to the area and started to take photos. Adj. av. Serbanescu, the pilot, told me that we did not have enough fuel to reach Ivesti, so I decided to land at Barlad, where there was a also a photo laboratory. After we landed there, we gave the camera to the lab and they said that it will take about three hours to process the pictures. Our fuel should have run out 40 minutes ago and our comrades at Ivesti were worried. We refueled and went home, where we were greeted with much enthusiasm. I reported what happened and I told the CO that I had to be back at barlad at 1530 to pick up the photo. In the meantime, the 5th Corps ordered that at 1700 hours, the the crew of the airplane that fulfilled the mission bring the photo to the HQ.

There, the general [probably lt. gen. Aurelian Son] and a staff officer were waiting for us. After we landed they toured the aircraft, looking for bullet holes. I saluted and presented myself. Then I presented the pilot, mentioning his great merit in our success and safe return home. The general shook his hand and kissed him. The same with the machine-gunner, saying: "Truly courageous men!". We went in the command center and there the general and his staff started to examine the map, on which the Soviet positions were quite clear. The general ordered one of his staff officers to put us on thel ist of proposals for decoration with the "Virtutea Aeronautica" Order.

Part 3

On the night of 19/20 November 1942, in the Don Bend area, a very thick fog came down, reducing the visibility to 2 or 3 meters. It was then when the Soviets launched their counter-offensive.

Our aircraft were not equipped with low visibility flight instruments. With great difficulty and courage we managed to take off and brake through the clouds at about 500-600 m. We arrived at Morozovskaya by using the compass and calculating the time we spent in the air. We couldn't see anything.

During the days of 20-24 November, the Soviets managed to encircle and

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