W/Cdr FALKOWSKI JAN

Born on 26 June 1912 in Pohulanka. In 1914, together with his family, he left for Siberia. In 1921, after the death of his parents, he and his brother returned to Poland. He settled in Wilno, where he attended a grammar school, and undertook studies at the Stefan Batory University. However, he soon discontinued civil studies, and in 1933 /1934, was studying
in the Air Force Reserve Cadet Officers School.Having graduated from the school he decided to serve in air force. In 1934 he joined the Air Force Cadet Officers School in Deblin. (That was the first year when candidates for flying courses from other troops were admitted to the school.) He graduated from the school in 1936, as one of thirty commissioned military
pilots (forty candidates were admitted).He was posted to 4 Air Wing in Torun, but in 1938 he returned to Deblin and became a cadet officers platoon leader. At the same time he was a special and flying instructor. He found out about the outbreak of WW II when, during a training flight in PWS aircraft with cadet Czeslaw Mroczyk, he was shelled by an unrecognised aircraft. In the following days he was evacuated to Romania, from where he got to France. In France he was posted, as an instructor, to a training centre at Lyon-Bron. During the war he fought in a fighter section defending the region of Cognac. On 23 June 1940 he got to Great Britain. There he was training in Hurricane aircraft. From 12 September 1940 he was participating in the Battle of Britain in No. 32 RAF Fighter Squadron. On 16 January 1941 he shot down a He 111 aircraft, but he was forced to bale out, since his aircraft was damaged as well. He broke his leg during
landing, and did not return to his unit until March1941. On 29 July 1941 he was transferred to No.315 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Deblin, based at the Northolt airfield. On 14, 19 and 21 August, and on 16 and 21 September 1941 he shot a Bf 109 and a Fw 190. On 22 September 1941 he became a flight commander. On 20 June 1942 he was posted to the Air Academy. Having graduated from the school, he served in the Polish Air Force Inspectorate. On 18 May 1943 he was posted to No. 316 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Warsaw, and on 3 July 1943 he became the commander of No. 303 (Polish) Fighter Squadron T. Kosciuszko. On 22 August and 6 September 1943 he shot down a Fw 190 aircraft, and on 23 September 1943 probably a Fw 190 aircraft as well. From 22 November 1943 he was a liaison officer to 11 Fighter Group HQ, and later to 84 Fighter Group, with which he was transferred to Normandy on 20 June 1944. He was an air force liaison officer to 1Armoured Division (commanded by Gen. S. Maczek). On 31 January 1945 he became the commander of 3 (Polish) Fighter Wing. On 9 March 1945 he was shot down over the Netherlands by antiaircraft artillery. Thanks to the Resistance, he could return to his wing. He took part in 260 operation sorties, and shot down 9
enemy aircraft. After demobilization, in February 1947, he left for Canada. He had a farm there, and later (in a town Janalma) a basic and advanced flying training school. He lived in Peterborough. He published his memoirs "With the Wind In My Face".

Died on 27 July 2001.

He was decorated with:
Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari War Order No. 09338 (on 19 February1942),
Cross of Valour and three bars, and Distinguished Flying Cross.