S/Ldr KOC Tadeusz

Born on 9 August 1913 in Grabowo, near Biala Podlaska. During his secondary education he completed a glider course at the Aircraft Plant in Biala Podlaska. Having graduated from a secondary school and completed a military course, he joined the Air Force Cadet Officers School in Deblin, from which he graduated in 1937, within 10th promotion. He was assigned to 6 Air Wing in Lvov, and served in 161 Fighter Flight. In September 1939 he fought in III/6 Fighter Squadron of the Lodz Army aviation. He was supervising preparations of ambushes near Lask and Orchow!. On 2 September 1939 he participated in a kill of two Bf 110 fighters near Pabianice (1/2 and 1/3 of a kill). On 17 September 1939 he also shot down a Soviet Polikarpow R-5 aircraft in air combat. He reached France via Romania, and then he was evacuated to Great Britain. There, he underwent training, and was assigned to No. 307 (Polish) Night Fighter Squadron City of Lvov, and later to No. 303 (Polish) Fighter Squadron T. Kosciuszko. He did not participate in the Battle of Britain, since he was still a
non-operation pilot at that time. Then he served in No. 245 RAF Fighter Squadron. From March1941 till June1942 he stayed in No. 317 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Wilno. On 8 November 1941 he probably shot down a Bf 109 aircraft, and on 25 April 1942 he participated in a kill of a Fw 190. On 28 and 29 April he also shot down Fw 190s, (one each day). From June 1942 until February 1943 he was A Flight commander in No. 308 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Krakoow. During that service, on 7 September 1942 and 3 February 1943, he probably shot down a Fw 190 aircraft. During the
latter sortie he was shot down over France; he managed to return to Great Britain within 18 days (!). In July1943 he was assigned to No. 303 Squadron, and on 24 September 1943 he damaged a Fw 190 aircraft. Between 20 November 1943 and 25 September1944 he was the commander of No. 303 (Polish) Fighter Squadron T. Kosciuszko. He received
an officer s certificate on VI course in the Air Academy. He was a liaison officer to 12 and 13 RAF Fighter Groups. After the war he was flying in 131 Fighter Wing. After demobilization he left for Canada.

His decorations include:

Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari War Order No. 08495, Cross of Valour and three bars, and Distinguished Flying Cross.