Ioan Dicezare
# 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, 2 days before his 96th birthday. 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)
