S/Ldr GNYS WLADYSLAW

Born on 24 August 1910 in Sarnowo (later Kielce province). In autumn 1931 he joined aviation. He started his training in the Gunnery and Bombardment School at Grudziadz. Then he completed a fighter course and, in the rank of corporal,he was flying in 4 Air Wing in Torun. From 1935 he was a training instructor in the Air Force Officers Training Centre at Deblin. In 1937 he joined the Air Force Cadet Officers School in Deblin, from which he graduated within the 12th promotion. However, as early as June 1939 he was assigned to 2 Air Wing in Krakow. In September 1939 he fought in 121 Fighter
Flight, which together with 122 Fighter Flight formed III/2 Fighter Squadron supporting forces of the Krakow Army. On 1 September 1939 he shot down two German bombers Do17; the first aircraft shot down in WW II. He reached France via Romania. He was defending French sky in a section of Groupe de Chasse III/1. In combat sorties he shot down one German aircraft (on 12 May 1/3 of a He 111; on 16 May 1/3 of a Do 17; on 25 May 1/3 of a Bf 109). After the armistice he was evacuated to Great Britain. He arrived there on 14 July 1940. After training, on 28 July 1940, he was assigned to the newly formed No. 302 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Pozna, in which he fought in the Battle of Britain. On 1 February 1941 he was decorated with Cross of Valour. On 30 January 1942 he was exempted from combat sorties. He served at the command post of No. 302 Squadron, and later in No. 303 (Polish) Fighter Squadron T. Kosciuszko. On 22 December 1942 he started to fly in No. 302 Squadron. On 10 February 1943 he became a flight commander in No. 316 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Warsaw. From August 1943 he served at the same post in No. 309 (Polish) Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron Czerwiensk Land. On 20 October 1943 he was decorated with a bar to Cross of Valour. He was appointed as a liaison officer to 84 Fighter Group HQ. From 25 August 1944 he was the commander of No. 317 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Wilno. In the first combat sortie as the squadron commander(on 27 August 1944) he was shot down over France. He was wounded and got to German captivity. Freed by the French Resistance he returned to Great Britain. After recuperation he worked in the Polish Air Force HQ, and later (from 17 September 1945) as a liaison officer to the Fighter Command. On 1 June 1945 he was decorated with Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari War Order No. 10766, and on 31 October 1947 a second bar to Cross of Valour.After demobilization he left for Canada. In 1982 he published his memoirs The First Kill. In 1999 the President of the Republic of Poland decorated him with the Commander Cross of the Poland s Restitution Order with the Star, and promoted him to Group Captain.