The bust of general Grigore Baștan

THE BUST OF GENERAL GRIGORE BAȘTAN Grigore Baștan was the first paratrooper general in the Romanian army. He was born on 23rd January 1922, in Bessarabia, today the Republic of Moldova. He was a member of the first Romanian paratroopers unit established in 1941 and took part in the operation to defend Bucharest after 23rd August 1944. After the end of the war he continued his military career, becoming an officer in 1948. He was chief of staff of the parachute unit re-established in 1950 in Tecuci, and after its move to Buzău in 1951, he was its commander until 1964. After graduating from the Military Academy in 1967, he worked in the higher structures of the army. He was placed in reserve in 1979 and died in 1983. General Grigore Baștan made a special contribution to the development and promotion of Romanian parachuting. His name is linked to the creation of a parachute (BG-7) and the execution, in 1970, of a jump from 9500 m, which stood as a national record until 2015. He was Master Emeritus in sport. His name was attributed to the School of Military Paratroopers in Crângul Buzăului. In 1998 General Grigore Baștan was declared posthumously Honorary Citizen of Buzău, and since 2014 Secondary School No. 6 of Buzău bears his name. The general’s bust, unveiled on 20th August 1996, is the work of artist Nicolae Doicu of Brașov.