Stanisław Brzeski was born to Franciszek and Maria (nee Piotrowska) on 21 April 1918 in the village of Lipnik nad Wisłą, near Baranów Sandomierski. Until 1932, he lived in Sandomierz. He then joined the Army Cadet School in Nisko. After graduating in 1935, he was assigned to the 77th Infantry Regiment in Lida. In 1936 he switched to aviation. He completed glider training in Ustianowa, a basic pilot course in the 5th Air Regiment in Lida, and pilot training at the Aviation School in Grudziądz. He was then assigned to the 152 Fighter Squadron.

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From 1 to 17 September, Stanisław successfully took part in several attacks against German aircraft. When the Russians invaded Poland on 17 September, the squadron evacuated to Romania and went on to France. From 20 May to 22 June, he repeatedly took part in combat flights on MB-152 aircraft. On June 23, he reached Port-Vendres and sailed to Oran. From there, he evacuated through Casablanca aboard a ship to Gibraltar and then to Great Britain.

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He was originally stationed in Blackpool, then he was assigned to 307 Squadron in Kirton-in-Lindsey on 9 September 1940. On 14 October, he was transferred to the 303 Squadron in Leconfield. He began combat training there on the Hurricanes. On 8 November, he left for the 245 RAF Fighter Squadron and in December to the 249 RAF Squadron. On 25 February 1941, he was assigned to the Aklington 317 Fighter Squadron "Vilnius".

 

On 23 April 1943. Brzeski was assigned to the 302 Fighter Squadron "Poznański". On 28 December 1943, he was transferred to the 303 Fighter Squadron. On 30 January 1944, in the rank of lieutenant he took over the command of Squadron B. On 21 May 1944, in a combat flight over Abbeville Brzeski’s plane was hit. He was slightly wounded but landed and hid for four hours, eventually being captured by German soldiers. He was held in custody in Abbeville for three days, then he was in Dulagu Luft in Wetzlar. In June, he was transferred to Stalag Luft 3 in Żagań. In January 1945, he was evacuated by the Germans to Stalag IIIA in Luckenwalde, where he was released by the Red Army on 22 April 1945.

 

He was sent to the Americans and on 26 May 1945 he returned by air to England with the allocation to Blackpool. On 21 August 1945, he was sent to the Polish 16th School of Basic Piloting (16 in Newton for a pilot instructor course. After its completion, he went to the Polish Holding Unit in Hucknall and Newton.

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He was awarded:

• the Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari

• the Cross of Valour (four times)

• the Air Medal (three times), and

• the Distinguished Flying Cross (with two bars)

• the Distinguished Service Order

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On 1 June 1949, he joined the RAF as Flight Lieutenant and was assigned to the Aircraft Control Branch. As a flight controller he served nearly 21 years. On 1 July 1963, he was promoted to Squadron Leader. On 7 March 1970, due to his poor health, he retired.

Captain pilot Stanisław Brzeski died in Norwich on 3 December 1972 at the age of 54. He was buried in Dereham cemetery.

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Source: Various posts on Facebook.

 

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Copyright: Brzeski family

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