Born on 12 September 1914 in Ryzawka (eastern borderland). In 1934, having completed a secondary school in Lublin, he joined the Air Force Cadet Officers School in Deblin. In 1937 he graduated from the school (12th position), was promoted to officer rank, and assigned to 161 Fighter Flight of 6 Air Wing in Lvov. Six months before the outbreak of the war he was transferred as an instructor for fighter training to the Air Force Training Centre No. 1 in Deblin. In September 1939 he fought within so-called Deblin Group. Via Romania he reached France, and in January 1940 was posted to Great
Britain. In Great Britain he underwent conversion training at 5 OTU in Aston Down. He was assigned to No. 152 RAF Fighter Squadron, later to No. 234 RAF Fighter Squadron, and then to No. 609 RAF Fighter Squadron. Within those
three squadrons he fought in the Battle of Britain. On 15 August 1940 he shot down a German fighter Bf 110; and further two Bf 109s on 5 and 6 September 1940. He was then an instructor at 55 and 58 OTU. In December 1941 he returned to combat flying at No. 315 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Deblin. In April 1942 he became the commander of a flight
at No. 306 (Polish) Fighter Squadron City of Torun. From 5 June till 28 December 1942 he commanded No. 316 Fighter Squadron. In July 1943 he became a deputy commander of a wing at Northolt. He commanded the wing in 44 combat
sorties. In December 1943 he was posted to the RAF Fighter Command. In March 1944 he was posted to the Empire Test Pilots School. After a one-year course he was assigned to an experimental armament unit at Boscombe Down. For the
two subsequent years he was testing aircraft; he flew over 40 types of planes. In 1947, having retired from the Polish Air
Force he was a test pilot at the Gloster Aircraft Plant in Great Britain. In 1952 he left for Canada and became the head of test pilots at the Avro Canada. He still lives there.

S/Ldr Janusz Zurakowski is decorations include:
Silver Cross of Virtutit Militari War Order No. 08488 (awarded on 20 December 1943) and Cross of Valour and two bars. In recognition of his merits for Canadian air industry he was admitted to the Canada s Aviation Hall of Fame, and in 1996 his effigy was presented on a twenty-dollar coin commemorating the first flight crossing the sound barrier in Canada.