In his time, Captain Dimitar Spisarevski cut a truly dashing figure, ultimately going down in history after laying down his life to save dozens in Sofia during the bombing of Bulgaria’s capital city in World War 2.

On 1 August, 1943, a US bomber division launched a major operation against Romania. It was not a success and led to heavy losses – the division lost half of its aircraft, six of which were downed by Bulgarian pilots as they overflew its territory. Because of Bulgaria’s involvement in this operation, the allies launched retaliatory strikes against Sofia and other towns around the country. And so it came about that the name of Dimitar Spisarevski, then 27, became the stuff of legend. On 20 December, 1943, during a night-time bombing raid, he downed two American bombers, but because he was out of ammunition, to down the second airplane, he used his own plane as a battering ram, losing his own life. He was promoted to the rank of captain posthumously, and in 2009 – to colonel from the Bulgarian air force.

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It is 106 years on 19 July, 2022 since the birth of Dimitar Spisarevski, and to mark the occasion, a photo exhibition is opening at the Regional Museum of History in his home town of Dobrich. The title of the exhibition “Wed to Bulgaria” comes from Spisarevski’s own words – “I am wed to Bulgaria”. The exhibition is on in the lobby of the Zahari Stoyanov youth centre in Dobrich.

Throughout the day the public will be able to lay flowers at Captain Spisarevski’s commemorative plaque, put up next to the house where he was born. 

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Editing by Vessela Krasteva