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Feliks GAZDA

Polish Air Force

Feliks Gazda was born to Jan and Aniela (nee Morek) in Zakrzów on May 6, 1903. He graduated from Teachers' College and taught primary school at Hrubieszow, near the current border with Ukraine. In 1924, he enlisted in the Armed Forces and studied at the Warsaw Cadet Officers' School. Graduating with the rank of Officer Cadet, he was assigned as an instructor to the 34th Infantry Regiment at Biała Podlaska.

Shortly afterwards, he enlisted in the Air Force and in 1926 joined the Air Force Officers' School in Dęblin. He completed his aviation training specializing as an observer. As a graduate with the rank of Officer Cadet/Sergeant, he was assigned to the 35th Combat Flight of the 3rd Air Force Regiment in Poznań. There, he flew Potez XXVII aircraft. In 1929, he was promoted to the rank of Pilot Officer.

He later served as pilot in the 132nd Fighter Flight which at that time was operating Spad 61 C1 aircraft. Following more training, he was given the duty of technical officer. Later, he became commander and of this Flight.

In 1938, Gazda was transferred to the Non-Commissioned Officers' Air Force School for Youth in Bydgoszcz, where hhe served as the Commander of the Platoon of the 3rd Special Flight and then later he was appointed commanding officer of the Pilots Squadron of the Non-Commissioned Officers' Air Force School for Youth. He retained this rank until the onset of the war.

After the Soviet aggression on Poland on September 17, 1939, he crossed the border to Roumania, with his group of students and first year pilots from the Air Force Cadet Officers' School, and was interned in Slatina where he became the Polish commander of the camp. He escaped and made his way to the Black Sea coast and then to France.

Gazda was appointed to the Air Force Training Centre in Lyon, and was the Deputy Chief of Pilotage at the Air Force Training Centre. There, he took part in the re-training of Polish pilots in the use of French equipment for the attacks on German forces in Western Europe, and for military flights against German bombers, piloting MS-406 fighters. When France capitulated, he made his way to Blackpool, England.

He was first assigned to the 1st School of Army Cooperation, where he underwent training in the use of British equipment. Next, he underwent both theoretical and practical training at the RAF White Waltham, RAF Old Sarum and RAF Kemble.

In 1941, he was selected to go to Africa as part of the strategy to strengthen the Polish Aircraft Delivery Unit. He sailed from England and made his way to Takoradi on the Gold Coast (now Ghana). The mission was to fly aircraft (shipped by sea in crates and then assembled on site) from West Africa to Egypt. He flew 6 times across Africa before the year was out, transporting Hurricanes and Blenheims.

He was then assigned to the 71st Operational Training Unit in Khartoum where he refreshed his fighter pilot skills on Hurricanes and Tomahawks. Three months later, he was assigned to the 112 "Shark" Squadron stationed in Gambut air base. After a speedy orientation on the Kittyhawks being used by this unit, he began fighter flights over the Libyan Front. He carried out six of these missions, including patrol, fighter sweep, and the interception of enemy planes. From 1941 to  1943, he flew across Africa 23 times.

In the fall of 1943, he joined the 216 Transport Group, and he ferried planes throughout North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea, adding Spitfires, Mustangs, Beaufighters, Ansons, Dakotas and Wellingtons to the types of aircraft he was flying.

 

In November of 1944, he left the 216 Group and returned to Great Britain.

At first, he was assigned to Transport Command HQ and became the Polish liaison officer for the 44th Transport Group. In 1945, he was transferred to a Polish Depot in Dunholme Lodge. Then, in 1946, he was the administrative officer in the 84th Fighter Group. Towards the end of 1946, he was stationed at the RAF Hethel, and was formally discharged from the Polish Air Forces at this time.

Feliks Gazda completed his service in the Polish Air Force with the Polish rank of Squadron Leader (Major). He was awarded the Cross of Valour, the Silver Cross of Merit with Swords, as well as commemorative medals.

In 1947, he joined the Polish Resettlement Corps. He decided on emigration to Argentina, and moved there with his wife and son, in 1948. He settled in Quilmes, near Buenos Aires. He worked for a short time as a pilot and then did construction work.

 

Thanks to the financial support of pilots in Argentina and Canada, he emigrated to Montreal in October 1953. He was hired by Aviation Electric where he tested aviation instruments. Due to the onset of Parkinson's disease, he took early retirement and moved to Rosemere, a suburb of Montreal. Shortly after arriving in Montreal, he and several Polish pilots had become co-founders of 310 "Wilno" Wing, connecting Polish veterans of the Second World War.

Squadron Leader (Major) Feliks Gazda died at the age of 67 on 9 May 1970 in St Jerome, Quebec, and is buried in the veterans' Field of Honour cemetery in Pointe Claire, Quebec.

 

Excerpts from: https://www.polishairforce.pl/gazdaeng.html

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