Leon Basaj

Polish Air Force in the UK

Leon Basaj was born to Andrzej and Anna (nee Urbanowicz) on 5 February 1911 in Koszelewo, Nowiny district, Nowogródek province, Poland. When the war broke out, Leon was living in Serafiny, working as a driver.

Leon was arrested by the Russians on 24 September 1939 and accused as a socially dangerous element under Criminal Code 74 of the Byelorussian SSR. He was sentenced to 8 years in the Kargopol forced labour camp in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. He was released by the ‘amnesty’ on 28 August 1941.

Leon joined the Polish Army in the USSR at Kotubanka on 25 December 1941. He evacuated to Persia in 1941 and served in the Polish 2nd Corps in the Middle East for 2 months before being transferred to the Polish Air Force in the UK (service number 704604).

He was sent to the UK for training, and ended up a Gunner in the 300, 301 and 305 Squadrons and then was sent to Brindisi in Italy to the 1586 SD unit, where he finished his active service on 24 October 1944. He then joined the Polish resettlement Corps in the UK and was demobbed in March 1948.

He was awarded the following medals:

Polish Medals:

Cross of Valour (3 times),
Wounded Badge,
Air Force Medal (twice),
Army Medal

British Medals:

1939/45 Star with Bomber Command Clasp
Air Crew Europe Star
Italy Star
Defence Medal
1939-1945 War Medal

Leon settled in Morecambe, Lancashire. He married Lillian Jones and they raised two children: Stefan Andrzej, and Linda Ann. Leon passed away in Morecambe on 4 January 1991, at the age of 80 years.