Henryk Szczęsny (27 March 1909 – 25 July 1996) was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 9 confirmed kills and one shared.
Henryk Szczęsny | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 27 March 1909 Ruszkowo, Russian Empire (present-day Poland) |
| Died | 25 July 1996 (aged 87) London |
| Allegiance |  Poland United Kingdom |
| Service |  Polish Air Force Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1933–1965 |
| Rank | kapitan |
| Service number | 76781 |
| Unit | No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron |
| Commands | No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron |
| Battles / wars | Polish Defensive War, World War II |
| Awards | Virtuti Militari; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Medal (UK) |
Biography
editSzczęsny was born in Ruszkowo near Ciechanów in Poland. He was the son of Stanisław and Marianna. In January 1931 he entered to Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin. He was promoted first lieutenant (podporucznik) on 15 August 1933.[1] During the Invasion of Poland he flew old PZL P.7. On 3 September 1939 he was credited with a "probable" victory over a Ju 87.[2] On 14 September, flying a PZL P.11 he shot down a He 111. He injured his leg in the next day.
On 17 September, he crossed the border with Romania, in Bucharest he healed his wound. On 12 November 1939 he arrived in Marseille. He came to England in February 1940. On 6 August he was assigned to a fighter squadron. One week later he shot down a Do 17. On 19 December he was posted to No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. Between 20 August 1941 and 28 February 1942 he was made Commanding Officer of his squadron.
On 4 April 1943 his plane was damaged in combat with two enemy planes, he had to parachute and was captured by the Germans. He was sent to Stalag Luft III. After his release from internment in 1945 he returned to England. He served in the RAF until 1965.
Henryk Szczęsny died on 25 July 1996 in London. He was buried at the Gunnersbury Cemetery.
His son, Bradley Curtis (born Zdzisław Szczêsny; July 9, 1938 – August 19, 1980), was the flight engineer of Saudia Flight 163 that claimed the lives of 301 people including Curtis.[3]
Aerial victory credits
edit- Ju 87 – 3 September 1939 probably destroyed and 1 damaged
- He 111 – 14 September 1939
- He 111 – 15 September 1939
- Do 17 – 13 August 1940
- Bf 110 – 11 September 1940
- 1/3 x Do 215 – 5 October 1940
- Bf 109 – 1 December 1940
- Bf 109 - 2 December 1940 damaged
- Bf 109 – 5 December 1940
- 1/2 x Bf 109 – 10 July 1941
- 1/2 x Ju 88 – 14 July 1941
- 2 x Fw 190 – 4 April 1943
Awards
edit
Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
_4r_BAR.PNG){kind=small}
Cross of Valour (Poland), four times
Distinguished Flying Medal
References
edit- ^ "VII promocja Szkoły Podchorążych Lotnictwa". Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ "Polskie Siły Powietrzne w II wojnie światowej (polishairforce.pl)"
- ^ "Bradley Curtis". Find A Grave. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
Further reading
edit- 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. 553. ISBN 9788361421597
- Jerzy Pawlak: Absolwenci Szkoły Orląt: 1925-1939. Warszawa: Retro-Art, 2009, p. 130. ISBN 8387992224
- Piotr Sikora: Asy polskiego lotnictwa. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Alma-Press. 2014, p. 207–212. ISBN 9788370205607
- Józef Zieliński: Asy polskiego lotnictwa. Warszawa: Agencja lotnicza ALTAIR, 1994, p. 24. ISBN 83862172.
- Józef Zieliński: Lotnicy polscy w Bitwie o Wielką Brytanię. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza MH, 2005, p. 199–200. ISBN 8390662043
- ASC par. Gołymin nr aktu ur. 31/1909 Ruszkowo, E. Lewandowski, Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Zygmunta Krasińskiego w Ciechanowie, Ciechanów 2005
- Wojciech Zmyślony. "Henryk Szczęsny" (in Polish). p. 1. Retrieved 2 October 2012.