Jozef Bondar was born to Aleksander and Anna (nee Lozow) on 8 July 1916 in Trycze, Białystok province, Poland.  He attended primary school in Trycha, then attended the Teacher’s Seminary in Grodno, graduating in 1936. He spoke French and Russian fluently.

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From 1 September 1936, he served in the Polish Army, after passing the unitary course at the Infantry Basin School in Rozanie.

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From January 1937 to mid-June 1939, he was a student at the School of Aviation in Deblin. He then trained as a fighter pilot and on 1 August 1939, was promoted to second lieutenant. He was assigned to the 151st Fighter Squadron, as part of the mobilization of the Independent Operational Group “Narew”. In this unit, he flew on outdated PZL P.7 planes.

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1 September 1939 the Germans attacked Poland. Bondar wrote about his participation in the September Campaign in a report submitted in France at the end of 1939. He mentioned that from 1st to 8th September the 151 Squadron was stationed in the Bielic area (100 km north-east of Warsaw). During this period, he made his first combat flight, escorting a reconnaissance aircraft along the German border. He made no less than 4 flights from Biel. The squadron was later moved to Ceranów, then to Brest, and later to Lilytyn.

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After the Soviet aggression on 17 September, the squadron crossed the Romanian border and landed in Chernivtsi (now in Moldova). He left for Bucharest, where he stayed until 25 September. He arrived in Marseilles on 16 October with a passport number 254574.

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During the September campaign Jozef had made a total of 9 combat flights, he fought the enemy 6 times, and his plane was hit 3 times. His commanders rated him as a very good, courageous, willing pilot with a very positive attitude towards flying. He was even presented with the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari, but he never received the decoration.

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Serving in Polish Air Force created alongside Arme de l'air, Bondar flew in Rabat, Morocco. After the fall of France, he evacuated by sea to England. Arriving there on 16 July 1940, he was sent to Blackpool in Lancashire. He studied English in the following months before he returned to pilot school from March to May 1941.

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In May 1941, Bondar attended the 56 Operational Training Unit at Sutton Bridge, and on 18 May 1941, he was assigned to the already famous 303 Fighter Squadron. “Tadeusz Kościuszko”.

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After several training flights at the controls of the Spitfire, on 16 June he took part in his first combat flight in the Polish Air Force in England. It was a sweep, which consisted of provoking Luftwaffe planes to soar into the air and fight. This resulted in the Germans losing their planes.

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His second combat flight took place the next day. Bondar was shot down in a fight between Dover and Folkstone. He managed to parachute out, but suffered minor injuries. Despite this, he returned to the battle not long afterwards.

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On 23, 24 and 25 June, he took part in the "Circus" - raids of bombers (then primarily Blenheim IV) with cover - usually about 100 fighters and 20 bombers. The targets of the airstrikes were Chocques, Comines, St Omer and Hazebrouck, respectively.

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On 23 June, Bondar reported the likely downing of Messerschmitt Bf 109E. In his report, he wrote: “I saw four Me 109E preparing to attack a Spitfire. I fired at one of them from behind at 200 yards, which resulted in explosions and the plane went through a vertical dive and was seen close to the ground, but no crash site was observed. Used ammunition: 12 bullets per gun.” This victory took place over Desvres, at an altitude of 12,000 feet. The target of the bombers was the Chocques power plant. The Royal Air Force lost two Blenheims in this action.

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On 28 June, Bondar was one of 12 pilots of 303 Squadron who took part in the Circus 26 flight. The target was the power plant in Comines.

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The 23 planes met with their escort over Martlesham (Suffolk County) and headed towards the French shore. Only 22 planes crossed him the Dunkirk area, as one of the Blenheims had to turn back. The direct escort consisted of 303, 306, 308 Squadron and the 3rd RAF Fighter Squadron. In total, 19 fighter squadrons were involved in the operation (totaling about 220 aircraft). They dropped 22 tons of bombs on the target.

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In the fight against the Messerschmitts Bf 109 from Unit III, a JG 26 shot down Bondar’s Spitfire. The plane, dragging a streak of white smoke, crashed on a corner of the Chemin du Bois de Biez street in Aubers. The pilot died on the spot.

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For the 303rd Squadron, the action closed with the result of 4 enemy aircraft down, but also a loss of one of its own pilots. Jozef Bondar was killed in action on 28 June 1941and was buried at the British War Cemetery in Aubers, France.

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Source: Polish Air Force website

(translated from Polish)

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