Jan Artymiuk

Polish Air Force

Jan Arymiuk was born to Józef and Karolina, on 24th June 1915 in Branica Suchowolska, in Poland. In 1933, he attended an Officer Cadet School in Bydgoszcz and graduated as a wireless operator in 1936.

He was transferred to the 1st Air Regiment in Warsaw where he completed his training as wireless operator and air gunner. He was then transferred to the 213th Bomber Squadron, 1st Air Regiment in Warsaw which was renamed to the Bomber Training Squadron in 1938. Until the outbreak of the War, it was equipped with PZL.23 "Carp", as well as PZL.37 "Moose" planes. In accordance with the mobilisation plan, Jan was transferred to the 21st Radio-Navigation Platoon of the Bomber Brigade. In September 1939 he did not take part in the September Campaign, but was evacuated with his unit to the east. On 17th September, he crossed the border of Romania in Kuty.

Jan took the sea route via Beirut to Marseilles. He reached the non-commissioned officers' camp for airmen in Istres, where he later applied to evacuate to England. On 24th December 1939, he sailed in one of the first groups to Great Britain. Initially, he stayed at the RAF Eastchurch base, after which he was transferred to Bramcote where, in the summer of 1940, the bomber squadrons, 300 "Mazowiecki Land" and 301 "Pomorski Land", were formed.

Artymiuk found himself amongst the initial personnel of this first unit. The squadron trained in light-aircraft bombers with three-man crews, and Artymiuk became the gunner/wireless operator. In August and September 1940, he took part in the fighting against an invasion fleet in the ports of Ostend and Boulogne. After these defensive battles, the 300 Squadron flew Wellingtons by November 1940. Jan flew with a crew comprising: pilot P/O Józef Kuflik, pilot P/O Jan Janicki, navigator P/O Nikodem Koziński and gunners Sgt Marian Sztul and Sgt Aleksander Suczyński.

On the night 23rd to 24th March 1941, as a member of one of four crews, Artymiuk flew on the historical bombing of Berlin by Poles. During the following months, targets were bombed in France, Holland and Germany.

On the night of 10th to 11th July 1941, the first of 29 missions began with the bombing of Cologne. While returning to base, they were shot down in the Turnhout region of Belgium. The whole crew successfully escaped the plane by parachute but were all captured and taken prisoner. Artymiuk remained a prisoner until the end of the War. He spent time in Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, as well as Slag Luft 3 in Żagań, after which he returned to England. There is a lack of information about his postings in the years 1945-1946.

Jan Artymiuk completed his service in the Polish Air Force with the rank of Warrant Officer. He was decorated with Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari (no. 9053), and Cross of Valour with three bars. He joined the Polish Resettlement Corps, and was stationed at the airbase at Dunholme Lodge. Jan was demobbed in August 1948, and emigrated to Australia. He reached Sydney on board the ship "Strathnaver".

He first reached a immigrant transit camp in New South Wales. Initially working as a labourer in a sawmill in Goroke in western Victoria, later at Rocklands Dam, as well as the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme. He qualified as an electrician and worked in a power station in eastern Victoria. His last position was that of a senior electrician in a brickwork in Melbourne.

Jan Artymiuk was very active in Polish organisations in Australia, such as the Polish Airmen's Association in Victoria (serving as Vice-President as well as Treasurer) and the Polish Association. For this work, he was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit.

He passed away in Melbourne on 27th January 1986 at the age of 70. He was buried in the local Springvale Botanical Cemetery.