Few people walking today along Radu Beller Street, one of Bucharest’s most elegant avenues, know that behind this name lies the remarkable story of a young Romanian aviator who gave his life for the glory of flight. Radu Beller was born on November 12, 1898, in the town of Roman, into a respected family with deep roots in the political and intellectual life of Moldavia.

The young hero from Roman

His father came from a family of intellectuals, and through his marriage to the daughter of Vasile Cantacuzino — former prefect of Roman and a prominent local political figure — Radu became the son-in-law of a distinguished household. 

Raised in an environment of education and honor, he was drawn from an early age to the fascinating world of aviation, which was capturing the imagination of daring young men at the dawn of the 20th century.

When Romania entered the First World War, Radu Beller was only 18 years old. Burning with patriotism and driven by a rare thirst for adventure, he enlisted as a volunteer soldier in the Romanian army. Before long, thanks to his skill and courage, he was admitted to the Military Pilot School in Botoșani — one of the country’s first institutions to train aviators.

From the Romanian front to the skies of France

Radu Beller quickly stood out for his dexterity and sharpness, qualities essential for a fighter pilot. Recognized by his superiors for his talent, he was sent to France for advanced training, a mark of great trust and prestige at the time. 

There, he completed intensive flight courses and earned his fighter pilot’s license, joining the French Air Force during the 1917 campaign.

At that time, France was fighting desperately to defend its territory, and the young Romanian took part in several dangerous missions as part of the French Foreign Legion. Beller was one of only five Romanian volunteer aviators who chose to enlist in this elite unit, alongside fellow pilots Alexandru Danielescu and Ioan Romanescu.

The experience he gained in France transformed him into an elite pilot. After the war, Radu Beller participated in numerous international competitions and demonstration flights, showing the world that Romania had aviators of great skill and courage.

His adventurous spirit, bravery, and elegance in flight earned him widespread admiration, and his name began to appear alongside those of Europe’s leading aviators.

Toward the Far East — the fatal flight

In April 1931, Radu Beller’s destiny was cut short during a daring expedition. That year, Prince George Valentin Bibescu — one of the most emblematic figures in both Romanian and international aviation, and president of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (comprising 41 nations) — sought to demonstrate the capabilities of Romanian pilots through an ambitious flight to the Far East, with Saigon as the final destination.

The Fokker aircraft’s crew consisted of four men: Prince Bibescu, pilots Major Traian Burduloiu and Lieutenant Radu Beller, and English mechanic Hunt. The plane took off from Paris’s Le Bourget Airport on April 10, 1931, following a challenging route: Rome – Athens – Aleppo – Baghdad – Gwadar – Jadpour – Allahabad – Benares – Calcutta. It was a risky but thrilling mission, at a time when long-distance flights were true feats of pioneering courage.

On April 17, after passing Jadpour and approaching Calcutta, tragedy struck. As the plane flew at an altitude of 2,500 meters, a colony of vultures — feeding on the remains left by a local religious sect — suddenly rose into its path. 

îThe impact severely damaged the aircraft, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing on a rice field near the small Bhabua train station. Upon contact with the ground, the plane burst into flames.

A heroic end

The fire engulfed the aircraft in seconds. The four crew members became “living torches,” as Major Traian Burduloiu later recalled. With their last strength, Prince Bibescu and the others managed to extinguish the flames burning through their clothes, but Radu Beller, the youngest of them, was gravely injured.

“George Valentin Bibescu,” Burduloiu remembered, “came to Beller’s aid, struggling to tear off his burning clothes, which caused him terrible burns on his hands and legs.” Local villagers rushed to help the aviators and transported them by medical train to Benares.

There, at the British military hospital, Lieutenant Radu Beller passed away at just 32 years old, on April 17, 1931. He was buried with military honors in the Phulwaria Cemetery in the cantonment area of Benares, and on his gravestone was inscribed: “Lieutenant pilote aviateur Radu Beller, tombé au champ d’honneur en service commande, le 17 mai 1931.”

Over time, his grave was lost — the headstone disappeared, and the cemetery records no longer exist. Yet his memory endured in the hearts of his comrades and in the history of Romanian aviation.

Romania’s tribute to a hero

On June 6, 1931, shortly after the tragic accident, a grand ceremony was held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Bucharest’s Carol Park to honor Radu Beller’s memory. In front of officials, soldiers, and a large audience, Prince George Valentin Bibescu delivered an emotional speech:

“I met, on that occasion, the most extraordinary men I have ever encountered in my life… Those three men with whom I lived the adventure in India were, and will always remain, extraordinary.”

His words stand as a profound testament to the bond shared among the pioneers of Romanian aviation — men who risked and often gave their lives for progress and national pride.

Prince Bibescu, who had also founded Bucharest’s Băneasa Airport (built on the estate of his aunt, Countess Maria Bibescu de Montesquiou-Fézensac), was deeply marked by the event. Although he survived the crash, the wounds he suffered in India left lasting damage. He died in Bucharest in 1941, ten years after his comrade, as a delayed consequence of those injuries.

From hero to urban legend

Radu Beller’s story moved Romanian society deeply during the interwar period. His death was seen as a sacrifice made in the name of aviation and national honor. As a sign of gratitude, Bucharest’s city authorities decided to name one of the city’s new streets after him.

Thus, Radu Beller Street gradually became one of Bucharest’s most prestigious avenues — a symbol of a city that honors its heroes. Located in the heart of the Dorobanți district, the street has long been associated with refinement, sophistication, and history — values that perfectly mirror the life of the man whose name it bears.

For the generations that followed, Radu Beller remained an example of courage and devotion. His story shows that heroism is not measured only on the battlefield but also in the spirit of those who, through passion and sacrifice, push the boundaries of human achievement.

The hero who defied time

Though his grave was lost to time, the memory of Radu Beller lives on in Romania’s cultural and urban history. His name, engraved on the street signs of Dorobanți, reminds passersby each day that the city’s history is filled with stories of bravery and sacrifice.

The Romanian aviator who fought for France, who crossed continents, and who died in India in the name of progress remains a symbol of the age of air heroes — a generation of men who risked their lives to take humanity higher, both literally and metaphorically.

In today’s Bucharest of luxury and modern buildings, Radu Beller Street is more than just an elegant thoroughfare — it is a living page of history, a reminder that behind the city’s glamour stands the legacy of those who once dared to fly.

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