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| Tadeusz Sawicz - Last surviving WWII polish pilot dies https://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=43112 |
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| Author: | Stearman75972 [ Sat Oct 29, 2011 9:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Tadeusz Sawicz - Last surviving WWII polish pilot dies |
Last surviving WWII polish pilot dies OTTAWA -Tadeusz Sawicz, a decorated Second World War air-man who was believed to be the last surviving Polish pilot to fight in the Battle of Britain, has passed away at the age of 97 in Toronto. Born in Warsaw on Feb. 13, 1914, Sawicz began his military career in 1934 as a wing commander in the Royal Air Force. According to an obituary in London's Daily Telegraph, Mr. Sawicz was serving in Poland with the 114 Fighter Flight of No 1 Air Wing when the Nazis invaded his homeland on Sept. 1, 1939. "Despite flying an antiquated biplane fighter, he damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 [on the invasion's opening day]. He received the Polish Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) four times, a British DFC, American DFC and the Dutch equivalent Vlieger Cruis for his heroism. In 2006, by order of then-Polish president Lech Kaczynski, Sawicz was appointed brigadier-general. He immigrated to Canada in 1957 and worked in Montreal for Wheeler and Nordair Airlines. Posted in http://www.nationalpost.com/Last+surviv ... story.html |
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| Author: | greatgonzo [ Sun Oct 30, 2011 4:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tadeusz Sawicz - Last surviving WWII polish pilot dies |
I belive it would be all right to present some corrections: Tadeusz Sawicz joined Polish Air Force school in 1934, surely not as RAF Wing Commander. He finished the training and was sent to the operational squadron in 1936 in the rank of ppor (Pilot Officer or Second Lieutenant). He never flew biplanes in September '39 campaign - it was P-11C, a standard Polish fighter plane of the time. She was quite obsolete too, though. The 1.09.1939 kill was (and is) classified as a damage, although the German sources confirm the A/C was lost. Sawicz added two confirmed kills in September. He fought in France and then in Battle of Britain. In 1944, after a career in Polish Air Force (under RAF orders) including leading a fighter SQ, many decorations (with American DFC for excellent cover of 8AF B-17s, when he was OC of 315 SQ), and 1 confirmed kill Sawicz joined a group of volunteers detached to serve with Gabreski's 61FS. They have been friends since Gabby's operational flying learning days in Polish 315 SQ. Gabreski treated Sawicz as his mentor and teacher. When many of 61FS pilots finished their tours of duty early in 1944, OC found the way to fill the gaps in the line with experienced fighters inviting a group of Polish friends. After two months of flying with USAAF Sawicz returned to PAF to take lead of one of the Polish fighter wings becoming Wing Commander finally. He finished the war with a score 3-0-3 1/2. One of the most decorated (Virtuti Militari - the highest Polish military decoration among others), respected and famous Polish fighter pilots. His passing away turns the last page of the glorious book of history. He was the last of BoB survivors. Lets hope he flies in a better world now. |
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| Author: | Stearman75972 [ Sun Oct 30, 2011 4:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tadeusz Sawicz - Last surviving WWII polish pilot dies |
Thanks for the corrections. I checked and he does have a Wikipedia page for him. It has a lot more information listed about him. Link to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadeusz_Sawicz |
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