Michał Maciejowski
Michał Maciejowski DFC** DFM[1] died August 1988) was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II.
Michał Maciejowski DFC** DFM | |
---|---|
Born | Gródek Jagielloński, Poland-Ukraina | 29 October 1913
Died | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | 26 April 2001
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | })
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Rank | podporucznik |
Service number | P-1912 |
Unit | 6 Pułk Lotniczy
No. 111 Squadron RAF |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Virtuti Militari; Polonia Restituta; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Medal (UK); Distinguished Flying Cross (UK) |
Biography
Michał Mirosław Karol Maciejowski (Michael Manson) Lt. pilot. F / L. P-1912 He was born on October 29, 1913 in Gródek Jagielloński. In Rzeszów, he externally completed the 6-year Jan Sobieski gymnasium. He is finishing a 2-year Trade School in Lviv. Appointed to perform military service in the 40th Infantry Regiment. In 1935, he volunteered for a pilot to the 6th Aviation Regiment in Lviv. In the years 1936-39 he served in the 6th Aviation Regiment, where he trained as a corps. remote. On September 9, together with the staff of the Regiment, he moves to Łuck and Kleań, and on September 12 to Kuty. On September 17, he crosses the borders of Romania. He is interned there, but manages to escape and gets on a ship bound for Syria. The beginning of the year 1940. swam to Marseilles. It arrives in Great Britain in February. Trained at RAF Blackpool Center, assigned to the British 111 Fighter Squadron. On September 4, 1940, he shot down the first plane. During the Battle of Britain he shot down three more German planes for sure, one he probably damaged and one. Then he fought in the British 249 Fighter Squadron. April 10, 1941. After training in the 52nd OTU, he was assigned to the 317 Fighter Squadron. He also fought in the 316 Fighter Squadron. On August 9, 1943, around 6.30 p.m. during the Ramrod 191 mission while piloting the Spitfire IX designated SZ-E No. BS302, while flying over occupied France, it had a collision with the pil. Lieutenant Lech Kondracki (Spitfire IX marked SZ-R no. BS457) Kondracki died and Maciejowski saved himself by jumping on a parachute. He was captured and taken to German captivity. Imprisoned in Stalag Luft III. Liberated and restored to service on June 1, 1945. After a refresher course at 16 FTS Newton, on August 21, he was assigned to Squadron 309 in Coltishall. He remained in the squadron until its dissolution in January 1947. Dismissed from the army with the rank of aviation lieutenant. Changes his name to Michael Manson. He returned to the RAF in June 1951. Initially as a test pilot and from 1963 he performed administrative work, later he became a catering officer. In 1970, he ran the large RAF Transit Hotel in Malta. He retired in 1972 as an aviation lieutenant. He lived in England until the death of his wife Christine. In 1987, Winnipeg moved to Manitoba, Canada, to live with his only daughter, Karen Schmidt. He died on April 26, 2001 in Winnipeg at the age of 87
Awards
Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), three times
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Distinguished Flying Medal
References
- 29.10.1913 according to J. Cynk Polskie Siły Powietrzne w wojnie
Further reading
- Chronicle of 317 Squadron https://ilot.lukasiewicz.gov.pl/dday/publikacje/kroniki/
- https://listakrzystka.pl/maciejowski-michal-karol-manson/
- Jerzy B. Cynk, Polskie Siły Powietrzne 1939-1945, AJ-Press 2001, ISBN 83-7237-089-3
- Wacław Król: Zarys działań polskiego lotnictwa w Wielkiej Brytanii 1940-1945, WKiL Warszawa 1990,ISBN 83-206-0852-X
- Tadeusz Jerzy Krzystek, Anna Krzystek: Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii w latach 1940-1947 łącznie z Pomocniczą Lotniczą Służbą Kobiet (PLSK-WAAF). Sandomierz: Stratus, 2012, s. 361. ISBN 9788361421597
- Józef Zieliński: Asy polskiego lotnictwa. Warszawa: Agencja lotnicza ALTAIR, 1994, s. 19. ISBN 83862172.
- Józef Zieliński: Lotnicy polscy w Bitwie o Wielką Brytanię. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza MH, 2005, s. 119–120. ISBN 8390662043
- "Maciejowski w thesoutheastecho.co.uk". p. 1. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "Maciejowski w avstop.com". p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "Maciejowski w acesofww2.com". p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "Maciejowski w warbirdsresourcegroup.org". p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "Pilots in Battle of Britain" (in Polish). p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "photo". p. 1. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- "photo". p. 1. Retrieved 15 June 2012.