Mieczysław Adamek was born in Tashkent on 18 September 1918. After World War 1 and the rebirth of the Polish State, he returned to Poland with his family, where he graduated high school before attending the Crafts and Industrial School in Przemysl.

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In 1936, he entered the Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer's School in Bydgoszcz, Poland. After his graduation in 1939 he was assigned to the Polish 113th Fighter Escadrille.

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On 18 September, Adamek was evacuated to France via Romania. After training on a Bloch MB.150, Adamek took part in the Battle of France, flying in the 4th Polish Squadron. On 22 June 1940 he flew across the Mediterranean to Algiers, and then via Casablanca and Gibraltar reached Britain in July.

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After training in different British schools Adamek was posted to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron.

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In April 1943 he was transferred to No. 58 Operational Training Unit at RAF Grangemouth, Scotland where he served as an instructor. In November 1943 he was ordered to the No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron, based at RAF Chailey in East Sussex, an Advanced Landing Ground designed to support the invasion of continental Europe by Allied Forces.

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On 18 May 1944, while participating in a 'Ranger' mission over Fecamp, France as Flight Commander, Adamek's Spiftire Mk IX was hit by flak. Adamek struggled to maintain altitude and was unable to return to base at RAF Chailey. Adamek abandoned the aircraft over the English Channel, but his parachute became caught on the tail of his aircraft, and he drowned. There have also been unconfirmed rumours that Adamek was ultimately shot down by British anti-aircraft defences.

Adamek was awarded with Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari, the Cross of Valour & 3 Bars, and Distinguished Flying Medal & 1 Bar.

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Adamek is buried in Northwood Cemetery, London, UK

 

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Source: Aquila Polonica Facebook post

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