Mariana Drăgescu | |
---|---|
Cmd.av. Mariana Drăgescu (pictured, 2nd lt) | |
Born | 7 September 1912 |
Died | 24 March 2013 | (aged 100)
Place of birth | Craiova |
Place of death | Bucharest |
Allegiance | Romanian Armed Forces |
Service/branch | Romanian Air Force |
Years of service | 1940-1955 |
Rank | Comandor (OF-5) |
Unit | White Squadron |
Battles/wars | |
Awards |
Order of the Star of Romania, Order of Aeronautical Virtue, Order of the German Eagle |
Marie Ana Aurelia (Mariana) Drăgescu (7 September 1912, Craiova – 24 March 2013, Bucharest) was a Romanian military pilot and aviator during World War II. She was the last surviving member of the White Squadron, a team of female aviators who flew piloted medical aircraft during World War II.[1][2] Romania was the only country in the world to allow woman to pilot medical missions during the war.[3]
Drăgescu received her pilot's license in 1935 when she was 23 years old.[2] She became one of the few woman in the world to hold a license at the time.[2] In 1938, with the threat of conflict growing in Europe, Drăgescu was invited to join a new, all-female aviation team which would become the White Squadron.[3] The other four women to join with her were Virginia Duțescu, Nadia Russo, Marina Stirbey, and Irina Burnaia.[3] The contributions of Drăgescu and the other women of the White Squadron to the history of Romanian aviation were ignored during the country's Communist era, but have received a more appropriate estimation in recent years, following the Romanian Revolution of 1989.[2]
Mariana Drăgescu died on 24 March 2013, at the age of 100.[2]
References[]
- ↑ (Romanian) Marin, Iulia (2013-03-26). "A murit Mariana Drăgescu, fost pilot în "Escadrila Albă"". Adevărul. http://adevarul.ro/news/eveniment/a-murit-mariana-dragescu-fost-pilot-escadrilaalba-1_5150e49500f5182b854fcd54/index.html. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 (Romanian) "A murit Mariana Dragescu, fosta mare aviatoare in cel de-al Doilea Razboi Mondial. Avea 100 de ani". Pro TV. 2013-03-25. http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/a-murit-mariana-dragescu-fosta-mare-aviatoare-in-cel-de-al-doilea-razboi-mondial-avea-100-de-ani.html. Retrieved 2013-04-12.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 (Romanian) Focșa, Daniel (2007-05-11). "Mariana Drăgescu și Escadrila Albă". Ziarul Financiar. http://www.zf.ro/ziarul-de-duminica/mariana-dragescu-si-escadrila-alba-i-3028733. Retrieved 2013-04-12.
The original article can be found at Mariana Drăgescu and the edit history here.