S/Ldr HORBACZEWSKI EUGENIUSZ

Born on 28 September 1917 in Kijow. Still in the Romuald Traugutt Secondary School in Brzesc on Bug, he completed a glider course, and in 1935 in Bezmiechowa he became a C class glider pilot. In 1937 he passed the final certificate exams, and then passed the entrance exams to the Air Force Cadet Officers School. Before that, he had completed the
Divisional Course for Reserve Cadet Officers at 79 Infantry Regiment in Slonin. On 2 January 1938 he started studies inthe School of Eaglets, from which he graduated within the 13th promotion. In September 1939, together with a group of officers and cadet officers, he crossed the Polish- Romanian border. He reached France via Yugoslavia and Greece. He was in a flight commanded by S/Ldr Robert Hirszbandt at Bordeaux. On 27 June 1940 he arrived to Great Britain. On 25 August 1941, after conversion training in 58 OTU, he was assigned to No. 303 (Polish) Fighter Squadron T. Kosciuszko. In this squadron he shot down: on 4 April 1942 a Fw 190, on 16 April 1942  a Bf 109, and on 19 August 1942 another Fw190. He stayed in the squadron till September 1942. Between September and December 1942 he served in No. 302 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Pozna. At the beginning of 1943 he joined the Polish Fighting Team at Northolt. In the North Africa he shot down: on 28 March1943 a Ju 88, on 2 April 1943 a Bf 109 fighter, and on 6 April 1943 again a Bf 109. On 22 April 1943 he shot down further two Bf 109s. For his merits he was offered to stay in the North Africa, and to command of No. 43 RAF Fighter Squadron. He remained the commander of No. 43 Squadron between August and October 1943. On 4 September 1943 he shot down a Bf 109, and on 16 September 1943 two Fw 190s. On 7 November 1943 he was decorated with Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari War Order No. 08478. Upon his return to Great Britain, on 16 February 1944, he was appointed as the commander of No. 315 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Deblin. Commanding the squadron he was credited with 1 and 1/2 kill of Bf 109. He also shot down a Fw 190 in air combat (on 12 June 1944). On 18 August 1944, leading twelve squadron s aircraft, he fought with nearly sixty German fighters Fw 190, near Beauvais over France.
Pilots of No. 315 Squadron shot down 16 enemy¹s aircraft (that was the squadrons greatest achievement). F/Lt E.

Hobaczewski shot down three of them; however, he himself was killed. He was buried on a cemetery in Creil, France (army parcel, grave No. 2379).

On 11 October 1944, he was posthumously decorated with Golden Cross of Virtuti Militari War Order No. 00061. He was also decorated with: Cross of Valour and three bars, Distinguished Service Order (awarded on 17 August 1945), Distinguished Flying Cross (awarded on 30 November 1943), and many other.