A historian from RIM-Dobrich presented the forgotten aviator Georgi Atanasov

The chief curator from the Regional Historical Museum – Dobrich (ROME) Tsvetan Sashev presented to journalists his research on the aviator Georgi Atanasov. “This is a forgotten hero, about whom even his relatives knew very little,” Sashev said and told the story of the aviator.
The historian, with the help of reserve lieutenant colonel Petko Petkov, managed to collect the entire story of the life and activities of Georgi Atanasov, nicknamed Dobrujata.
He was born in Dobrich on November 7, 1919 in the family of Anka and Nikola Atanasovi. He lost his father at an early age and was raised by his mother.
Georgi Atanasov lived at a time when Dobruja, including Dobrich, was within the borders of the Kingdom of Romania. The local people fight against the occupiers according to their capabilities, with the support of the Bulgarian state, through organizations such as the Internal Dobrudja Revolutionary Organization (VDRO), Sashev said. Youth formations are also created. They, like VDRO, work illegally. There are two youth organizations in Dobrich: “Stefan Karadzha” and “Vasil Levski”. Georgi Atanasov became a member of “Vasil Levski.” At Christmas in 1938, this organization was broken up, its members, including Georgi Atanasov, were arrested and taken to Kyustenja (now Constanta). All of them spent three months in prison there, after which they were released until the start of the trial. However, most of them, including Georgi Atanasov, fled to Bulgaria. Atanasov reached Sofia and studied to be a military pilot at the very beginning of 1940. His training lasted almost a year, and he received a professional military pilot’s license and was assigned to fly in the 2nd Orlyak at the height of World War II, Sashev also said. The bombing of Sofia is increasing more and more and becoming more intense. Georgi Atanasov was one of the pilots who took part in the defense of Sofia, taking part in the battles of December 10-12 and in that of December 20, 1943, Sashev also points out.
He adds that the battle of December 20 is known for the self-sacrifice of Dimitar Spisarevski, but Georgi Atanasov also participated in this air battle by shooting down an enemy fighter. He was later awarded the Order of Bravery, IV degree.
Tsvetan Sashev also told how Georgi Atanasov died. On June 3, 1944, Georgi Atanasov, together with his colleague Emil Bulgaranov, took off from “Vrazhdebna” airport to Varna with an Italian “Nardi” trophy plane. The pilots take the plane in order to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Germans, who want to appropriate it. The aviators also brought with them a sum of money intended for the parents of the pilot Dimitar Popov who died on April 17, 1944 near Pernik. Flying over Varna, the “Nardi” plane crashes. Georgi Atanasov was seriously injured and was taken to the local hospital, where he died. He was buried by his mother in his native Dobrich. The grave is still preserved today in the city’s cemetery park. The pilot’s mother, Anka Ilieva, left this world on February 2, 1976.
Tsvetan Sashev said that by chance he came across the name of the pilot in a newspaper from 1944, where his name was mentioned. Then he started asking about him and it turns out that he is not even known at the Aviation Museum.
“Georgi Atanasov is part of a generation of Bulgarian aviators who defended Bulgaria’s skies in a turbulent era. Without real combat experience, these brave boys managed to protect their countrymen to the maximum extent and protect them from the horrors of war – a war that claimed millions of human lives”, concluded the historian and added that the museum will do its best to make it known more and to remember.
The historian said that this year marks the 80th anniversary of Georgi Atanasov’s death and RIM-Dobrich is about to present an exhibition with archival and photo documents about him.