Alexandru Frim

Alexandru Frim was a Romanian bobsledder and aviator.

Frim was born in 1908 and was a direct descendant of Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the first ruler of the Romanian Principalities. After enrolling at a polytechnic school in București, Frim became an automotive engineer and then worked at the Ministry of Finance as an intern. In 1931 Frim learned how to fly aircraft at a pilot school in Băneasa.

Frim then got involved in winter sports. Frim and Vasile Dumitrescu became the world champions in the two-man bobsleigh at the 1934 FIBT World Championships in Engelberg, Switzerland. Frim and Tiţă Rădulescu competed in the two-man bobsleigh at the 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Olympics. The pair finished in 15th place.

In 1934 Frim transferred to the Ministry of Air and Navy. After being employed as an engineer, Frim began to take part in aviation competitions. At the end of the 1930s Frim became a test pilot and gained his fighter and bomber pilot’s license. Frim flew for the Romanian Air Force during World War II and was part of Operation Tidal Wave in August 1943 in Ploiești. The Romanian anti-aircraft guns managed to shoot down more than 30 American planes, including several B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. A decision was made to study the performance of the bomber by restoring one of the planes that had been shot down. This task was led by Frim and his team.

Frim was later awarded with the Order of Aeronautical Virtue. After the war he worked in Brașov.