Mieczysław Adamek
Mieczysław Adamek DFC | |
---|---|
Tashkent, Soviet Union | |
Died | 18 May 1944 English Channel | (aged 25)
Allegiance | Poland France Armée de l'Air Distinguished Flying Cross (UK) |
Mieczysław Adamek (18 September 1918 – 18 May 1944)
Biography
Early life
Mieczysław Adamek was born in Tashkent to Polish parents on 18 September 1918.[3] After the end of World War I and the rebirth of the Polish State, Adamek returned to Poland with his family, where he grew up, graduating high school before attending the Crafts and Industrial School in Przemysl.[3]
Flying career
In 1936, he entered the Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer's School for minors in
In April 1943 he was transferred to No. 58 Operational Training Unit at RAF Grangemouth, Scotland where he served as an instructor. In November 1943 he was ordered to the No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron, based at RAF Chailey in East Sussex, an Advanced Landing Ground designed to support the invasion of continental Europe by Allied Forces.[9]
Death
On 18 May 1944, while particIpating in a 'Ranger' mission over Fecamp, France as Flight Commander,
Adamek is memorialised at a monument which can be found at RAF Chailey, alongside Flight Lieutenant Jan Kurowski of 308 Squadron, who was killed in action three days later. The monument carries a quote from Josef Chielnicki of RAF Poland: "A Nation will always live, if there are people ready to die". Adamek and Kurowski were the only two airmen to have been lost from this base.[citation needed]
Adamek is buried in Northwood Cemetery, London, UK.[citation needed]
Aerial victory credits
Confirmed kills
Probable kill
- Bf 109 - 23 June 1941
Awards
Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), four times
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
References
- ^ ""Lista Bajana"".
- ^ TracesOfWar.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- ^ a b c "Mieczysław Adamek". www.polishairforce.pl. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
- ^ Kubit 2019, p. 449.
- ^ Sikora 2014, p. 351.
- ^ a b Youngs, Kelvin. "Aircrew Remembered Aviation Personal Histories and Databases". Aircrew Remembered site. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ Sikora 2014, p. 352.
- ^ Krzystek 2012, p. 65.
- ^ Zieliński 1994, p. 60.
Further reading
- Wojciech Zmyślony. "Polskie Siły Powietrzne w II wojnie światowej Mieczysław Adamek biografia" (in Polish). Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- "Myśliwcy – Mieczysław Adamek biografia" (in Polish). Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- Cumft O., Kujawa H. K., Księga lotników polskich 1939-1946, Wydawnictwo MON, Warszawa 1989.
- "odznaczenia – Mieczysław Adamek". Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- "niebieskaeskadra.pl - Mieczysław Adamek". Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- 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, p. 65. ISBN 9788361421597
- Janusz Kubit: Szkoła Podoficerów Lotnictwa dla Małoletnich, Krosno 1938-1939. Krosno: Graffia - Agencja wydawniczo-fotograficzna, 2019 ISBN 9788395521102
- Piotr Sikora: Asy polskiego lotnictwa. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Alma-Press. 2014, pp. 349–354. ISBN 9788370205607
- Józef Zieliński: Asy polskiego lotnictwa. Warszawa: Agencja lotnicza ALTAIR, 1994, p. 60. ISBN 83862172.