Mieczysław Adamek
Mieczysław Adamek DFC | |
---|---|
Born |
Tashkent | 18 September 1918
Died |
May 18, 1944 UK |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch |
Polish Air Force |
Years of service | 1936-1944 |
Rank | Flying Officer |
Unit |
Polish 113th Fighter Escadrille 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) |
Mieczysław Adamek DFC was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 5 confirmed kills and two shared.[1]
Biography
After the end of World War I and the rebirth of the Polish State Adamek came back in Poland with his family. In 1936 he entered the Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer's School for minors in Bydgoszcz. In 1939 after his graduation he was assigned to the Polish 113th Fighter Escadrille. The first day of World War II he scored a shared victory on a He 111. On the 18 September he was evacuated to France via Romania. After training on Bloch MB.150 Adamek took part in the Battle of France in the Wyrwicki section. On 22 June 1940 he flew across the Mediterranean to Algiers, and then via Casablanca and Gibraltar reached Britain in July. After training in different British schools Adamek was posted to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 23 June 1941 he shot down a Bf 109. In April 1942 he was transferred to No. 58 Operational Training Unit in Grangemouth where he served as instructor. In November 1943 he was ordered to the No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 18 May 1944 in-flight re-operations over France, a few miles from the English coast, Adamek plane was hit by the British air defense and fell. Pilot found dead later in the sea. The body fished out and laid in a cemetery in Northwood.
Aerial victory credits
- 1/4 He 111 - 1 September 1939
- 1/5 Ju 87 - 6 September 1939
- Bf 109 - 23 June 1941
- Bf 109 - 23 June 1941 (probably)
- Bf 109 - 12 July 1941
- Bf 109 - 12 October 1941
- Fw 190 - 8 December 1941
- Bf 109 - 14 April 1942
Awards
Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), four times
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
References
Further reading
- Wojciech Zmyślony. "Polskie Siły Powietrzne w II wojnie światowej Mieczysław Adamek biografia" (in Polish). Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- "Myśliwcy – Mieczysław Adamek biografia" (in Polish). Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- Cumft O., Kujawa H. K., Księga lotników polskich 1939-1946, Wydawnictwo MON, Warszawa 1989.
- "odznaczenia – Mieczysław Adamek". Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- "niebieskaeskadra.pl - Mieczysław Adamek". Retrieved 2012-10-16.