Bolesław Drobiński DFC | |
---|---|
Born | Ostroh, Poland | 23 October 1918
Died | 26 July 1995 England | (aged 76)
Allegiance |
Poland United Kingdom |
Service/ |
Polish Air Force Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1937-1948 |
Rank | Major |
Service number | 76731 |
Unit |
No. 65 Squadron RAF No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron |
Battles/wars | Polish Defensive War, World War II |
Awards | Virtuti Militari; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Cross (UK) |
Bolesław Drobiński DFC (23 October 1918 – 26 July 1995) was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 7 confirmed kills and one shared.
Drobiński made his first flight on a glider in 1934. On 2 January 1938 he entered the Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin. [1] After the Invasion of Poland he was evacuated to France via Romania and Italy, then he came to England. [2]
On 11 September 1940 Drobiński was assigned to the No. 65 Squadron RAF and took part in the Battle of Britain. [3] On 2 March 1941 he was posted to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 15 May 1941 he damaged a Ju 52 which was on the ground. On 21 June 1941 Drobiński heavily damaged the plane flown by German ace Adolf Galland [4] and forced him to a crash-landing. From 18 March 1942 to 9 August 1942 he was an instructor in No. 58 Operational Training Unit at RAF Grangemouth. [5] On 18 October 1943 he was ordered to No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 3 April 1944 he began to work in the Ministry of Defence. On 26 September 1944 he took command of No.303 Polish Fighter Squadron. [6]
Drobiński was demobilized in 1948. He worked in the oil industry in America. In 1950's he settled in a village in Surrey. [7] In 1960 he obtained British citizenship. In 1969 he acted as a technical advisor for the Battle of Britain. In 1943 he married a South African woman, they had two sons and a daughter. [8]
Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), three times
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (
link)
Bolesław Drobiński DFC | |
---|---|
Born | Ostroh, Poland | 23 October 1918
Died | 26 July 1995 England | (aged 76)
Allegiance |
Poland United Kingdom |
Service/ |
Polish Air Force Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1937-1948 |
Rank | Major |
Service number | 76731 |
Unit |
No. 65 Squadron RAF No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron |
Battles/wars | Polish Defensive War, World War II |
Awards | Virtuti Militari; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Cross (UK) |
Bolesław Drobiński DFC (23 October 1918 – 26 July 1995) was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 7 confirmed kills and one shared.
Drobiński made his first flight on a glider in 1934. On 2 January 1938 he entered the Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin. [1] After the Invasion of Poland he was evacuated to France via Romania and Italy, then he came to England. [2]
On 11 September 1940 Drobiński was assigned to the No. 65 Squadron RAF and took part in the Battle of Britain. [3] On 2 March 1941 he was posted to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 15 May 1941 he damaged a Ju 52 which was on the ground. On 21 June 1941 Drobiński heavily damaged the plane flown by German ace Adolf Galland [4] and forced him to a crash-landing. From 18 March 1942 to 9 August 1942 he was an instructor in No. 58 Operational Training Unit at RAF Grangemouth. [5] On 18 October 1943 he was ordered to No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 3 April 1944 he began to work in the Ministry of Defence. On 26 September 1944 he took command of No.303 Polish Fighter Squadron. [6]
Drobiński was demobilized in 1948. He worked in the oil industry in America. In 1950's he settled in a village in Surrey. [7] In 1960 he obtained British citizenship. In 1969 he acted as a technical advisor for the Battle of Britain. In 1943 he married a South African woman, they had two sons and a daughter. [8]
Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), three times
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (
link)