Jan Kowalski (RAF officer)

Jan Kowalski (19 November 1916 – 15 May 2000) was an aircraft pilot who served in the Polish Air Force and Royal Air Force with the ranks of captain and flight lieutenant respectively. He had fought in the World War II, including the Battle of Britain.

History
He was born on 19 November 1916 in Mircze, Russian Empire and graduated gymnasium in Włodzimierz, Poland (now Volodymyr-Volynskyi, Ukraine). In 1932 he joined the Underage Aviator Non-commissioned Officer School in Bydgoszcz. After graduation, he had become a mechanic and made a fighter aircraft pilot licence in Pilot School Squadron of non-commissioned officers in Sadków, Radom. After that, he was sent to Aviation Shooting and Bombardment School, Grudziądz to take an aviation course with fighter aircraft specialization. After finishing it, he was assigned to 112th Fighter Escadrille of Polish Air Force in Warsaw.

In 1937, he was reassigned to the Underage Aviator Non-commissioned Officer School in Bydgoszcz, where he was airliner aviation instructor. After the Invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany on 1 September 1939, which begun the World War 2, he was assigned to the Reserve Reconnaissance Squadron of the Officer Cadet Aviation School in Dęblin, in which, he piloted PZL.23 Karaś planes. On 17 September, he flew to Chernivtsi, Romania, and on 31 October, he had arrived in Marseille, France. He was then assigned to the airbase in Istres, France, and later he was reassigned to the headquarters of the training base of the Polish Air Forces, located at the Lyon–Bron Airport. On 4 March 1940, he was assigned to the training centre in Rennes.

After the Fall of France in 1940, he had escaped to Great Britain, United Kingdom, where he joined the Royal Air Force, and got assigned service number 793450, and later, P-1909. After being trained to pilot British fighter aircraft, on 21 August, he got assigned to the 303 Squadron. As a member of the squadron, he fought in the Battle of Britain. On 26 September 1940, while piloting Hawker Hurricane no. P3089, he had shot down the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter, and on 27 September, he had damaged the Heinkel He 111 bomber.

On 22 January 1941, he was assigned to newly formed No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 5 December 1942, after ending the turn of combat flights, he was assigned to the No. 58 Operational Training Unit, where he was an instructor. On 13 February 1943, he become a member of the Polish Fighting Team, in which, had made 39 combat flights in Africa. Since 21 July 1943, he was a member of No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron, and later he was assigned to the No. 131 Wing. On 28 April 1944, he was assigned to the No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 1 May 1945, he returned to the Blackpool airbase, and on 9 November, he was reassigned back to the No. 131 Wing. In July 1946, he had attended the air traffic controller course, and become the controller at the RAF Swinderby airbase. In 1948, he got demilitarized, and become the trader. He died on 15 May 2000, in Nottingham, England, United Kingdom.

Polish Air Forces

 * Pilot captain

Royal Air Forces

 * Officer cadet (until June 1942)
 * Pilot officer (June 1942 – 1 June 1943)
 * Flying officer (1 June 1943 – 1 June 1944)
 * Flight lieutenant (since 1 June 1943)

Air combat achievements
Jan Kowalski is classified as 248th at the Bajan's list of flying aces of Poland during World War II. The list include his one confirmed shot down plane, and one damaged.

Confirmed shot down planes

 * 1/8 Dornier Do 215 on 18 September 1940, while piloting Hawker Hurricane no. P3089. The shot down was listed as performed by the whole squadron.
 * 1 Messerschmitt Bf 109 on 26 September 1940, while piloting Hawker Hurricane no. P3089.

Confirmed damaged planes

 * 1 Heinkel He 111 on 27 September 1940, while piloting Hawker Hurricane no. P3089.

Awards

 * Virtuti Militari, no. 11062 (1 June 1945)
 * 3 Crosses of Valour (1 February 1941, 19 February 1942, 20 December 1943)
 * 3 Aviation Medals
 * Field Pilot Badge
 * Distinguished Flying Cross (10 April 1946)