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Leon MICHALSKI

Polish Air Force

Leon Michalski was born to Wincenty and Stanisława (nee Drwęcka) on the 10th of April 1915, in Strzałkowo, Poland. His parents were grocery store ownersHe completed elementary school in Strzałkowo, then attended the Corps of Cadets No. 3 in Rawicz. On graduating, he joined the army and on June 1, 1935, he started his training in the Infantry School in Ostrów Mazowiecka. On the 15th of October 1937, he successfully completed his training and was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. He was later assigned to the 17th Infantry Regiment in Rzeszów, where he led one of the platoons.

In 1939, he transferred to the Air Force and was accepted on the Air Observer/ Navigator course at the Aviation Training Centre No.1 in Dęblin. On 25 August 1939, Leon was transferred to Krakow to serve as a Guard Platoon Commander at Air Base No. Following the outbreak of the war, he was evacuated together with the Air Base personnel to the east.

He failed to reach Roumania and was taken captive by the Red Army. Two days later, he managed to escape from the wagon transporting Polish officers east. On the 16 October 1939, he crossed the border into Hungary. Leon reached Budapest, where he received the necessary personal documents. He then headed to France via Yugoslavia and Italy and on November 6, he crossed the French border in Modane, and was directed to the Polish Air Force Base in Lyon. In June 1940, Leon was sent on the Air Observer/ Navigator course in Dinard, but when France was invaded, he was evacuated to Great Britain.

He was first sent to Bramcote Station and then to Hucknall, and then at the Navigator School 6 AONS in Staverton. Upon completion of his course, he was transferred to the 54th Operational Training Unit in Church Fenton for radar operator training, after which he was assigned to the No. 85 Night Fighter Squadron stationed in Hunsdon, north of London. In this unit, he was the radio operator of a heavy night fighter, with a three-member crew. He was then moved to the No. 1454 Flight in Colerne, Wiltshire, which was an RAF night fighter squadron equipped with Havocs and Bostons. In September 1942, the No. 1454 Flight was expanded and replaced by the No. 533 Squadron. In this unit Leon flew with Flying Officer Jan Krzyżanowski

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In October 1942, Michalski and Krzyżanowski were transferred to the 307"Lwow Eagle Owls" Night Fighter Squadron in Exeter, where they were equipped with the twin engine Beaufighter VI. They took part in night time raids and operations with the aim of intercepting enemy bombers. The squadron later began to re-equip itself with the modern Mosquito II planes. The squadron carried out operational sorties over France, and was later shifted to the Scottish Air Base in Drem, where the crews fought the Luftwaffe aircraft taking off from Norway.

Michalski served in the 307 "Lwow Eagle Owls" Squadron until the end of March 1944, completing two consecutive tours of combat. He usually flew with Flying Officer Jan Krzyżanowski, Pilot Officer Jan Pacholczyk or Flying Officer Ryszard Zwoliński. He also carried out single missions with other pilots, among them S/Ldr Jerzy Orzechowski.

On April 2, 1944, Leon began his studies at the Polish Air Force Staff College at RAF Weston-Super-Mare. Upon graduation, he was assigned as Headquarters Officer in the Faculty of Studies. He later worked in the Department of Planning and also in the Department of Demobilisation at the High Command of the Polish Air Force in London.

In August 1946, Leon signed up for emigration to Argentina. In October of that year, he was demobilised from the Polish Air Force with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He was awarded the Cross of Valour, as well as commemorative medals, for his service during the war.

Leon settled in Buenos Aires and started his own transport business. He was elected vice-president of the Polish Association in Argentina. After the military revolt in 1955, he lost all his possessions and emigrated to Costa Rica. There he opened a manufacturing company producing plastic products.

He visited Poland several times and finally decided to return for good. In 1978, just before his permanent return to Poland, his wife (Krystyna, a ballet dancer) died during their visit to Warsaw. He flew back to Costa Rica by himself to organise all of his affairs and prepare for his return to Poland. Unexpectedly, he died of a heart attack on the 22nd of June 1979, aged 64.

Squadron Leader Leon Michalski is buried in the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw.

 

Copyright: Andrzej Michalski

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