Jan Dziedzic

Polish Air Force

Jan Dziedzic was born on 20 June 1918 in Opinogóra, near Ciechanów, Poland. He had an interest in flying from an early age and graduated in glider training in 1938. He was admitted to Dęblin, the Polish Air Force Academy for Officers in January 1939. Just as he was completing his pilot training at Dęblin, Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939.

The Polish pilots escaped by travelling to Hungary on foot which took many days and nights. On arriving, they were secretly evacuated to France by the Kingdom of Hungary, where he joined the French Air Force. After the fall of France, they were evacuated to England and were fortunate to sail on the last ship that left France for Liverpool.

He started his RAF flying course in June 1941, in Kingston near Carlisle, moving onto Wellington X Bombers in 1943. He volunteered for secret missions dropping supplies and spies behind the enemy lines with 305 Squadron. 305 Squadron was reorganised on 9 August 1943. It had a record 27 months of non-stop combat operations, with 1,117 sorties during which 1,555 tonnes of bombs and mines were dropped.

Jan’s very detailed flight logs miraculously survived, listing numerous missions that he undertook during the Second World War. These missions were often harrowing experiences on the edge of life and death. With the aid of the flight crew, he was fortunate to survive. Jan paid tribute to a number of his flight crew in his book.

Jan was awarded:

the Order of Virtuti Militari, Silver Class V
the Cross of Valour (3 times)
the Air Force Active Service Medal
the Polish Air Force Medal 1939-45 (3 times)

Jan settled in Stansted, Essex with his wife Helena.