Aleksander Klemens Gabszewicz was born in Szawle, Poland on 6 December 1912 and entered the Cadet School at Komorow in October 1931. He took a gliding course in September 1933 after which he was commissioned and posted, as an infantry officer, to command the 6th Company of the 30th Kaniowscy Fusiliers in Warsaw.

Gabszewicz had previously applied for transfer to the Air Force. This came through and in September 1934 he was posted to the Air Force Officers Training Centre at Deblin.

He qualified as a fighter pilot and joined 114 Squadron in 1937. On 1 September 1939, the day the Germans invaded Poland, he and another pilot shared in the destruction of a He111, the first to fall in the Warsaw area. Later that day he was shot down and baled out, with burns.

After the fall of Poland, Gabszewicz escaped to Romania and then to France, arriving in October 1939. He joined l'Armee de l'Air and in March 1940 he did a conversion course at Lyon-Bron, after which he joined an ad-hoc flight for the defence of Lyon, flying the Caudron C714. He commanded this unit from 11 June 1940, attached to GC III/10, operating the MS406. Gabszewicz was credited with destroying a He111 on 1st June.

After the collapse of France, he flew across the Mediterranean to North Africa and then travelled through Algeria, Morocco and Gibraltar, arriving in Britain on 22 June 1940. After arrival in England, he was commissioned in the RAFVR.

​

Gabszewicz went to 5 OTU Aston Down on 25 September 1940, converted to Hurricanes and then joined 607 Squadron at Tangmere on 9 October and moved to 303 Squadron at Leconfield on 12 November 1940.

On 22 February 1941 he went to 316 Squadron at Pembrey at its formation, as Flight Commander. On 1 April 1941, Gabszewicz shared a He111 and on 24th July he shared a Me109 destroyed and probably destroyed another.

 

He was given command of 316 Squadron on 14 November 1941. He claimed Fw190s destroyed on 10, 25 and 27 April 1942, a probable Fw190 on 4th May and shared a probable Me109 on 6 May.

Gabszewicz was posted to HQ 11 Group on 4 June. On 25 September 1942 he went to 58 OTU Grangemouth as an instructor.

He was promoted on 27 January 1943 to lead No. 2 Polish Wing at Heston, moving later to lead No. 1 Wing. On 4 April 1943 he destroyed a Fw190, on 4 July another and on 6 July a Me109. He destroyed one Fw190 and damaged another on 19th August.

He left the Wing on 12 December 1943 and was attached to 56th Fighter Group USAAF. Gabszewicz was promoted to Acting Group Captain on 29 February 1944, to command HQ 18 Fighter Sector.

He moved as CO of HQ 131 Wing on 12th July 1944. Ten days later the advance party of the Wing landed in France.

Gabszewicz went to HQ 84 Group on 19 June 1945, was given command of RAF Coltishall on 2 February 1946 and was released from the Polish Air Force in January 1947.

 

 

He was awarded:

• the French Croix de Guerre

• the KW (x 4)

• the Virtuti Militari (5th Class)

• the Virtuti Militari (4th Class)

• awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross

• the Didtinguished Service Order

• invested with the Order of Orange-Nassau

​

Gabszewicz settled in Britain after his release. He died on 10th October 1983 and in 1992 his ashes were scattered over Deblin airfield in Poland.

​

Source: Several posts on Facebook.

​

​

​

Copyright: Gabszewicz family

​

​