The Airmen's Stories - P/O T Czerwinski

Tadeusz Czerwinski was born on 17th February 1910 and joined the Polish Air Force in 1936, he was serving as an instructor when war broke out. When Poland fell in September 1939 he made his way to France and joined the Armee de L'Air.

(Image above courtesy of the Sikorski Institute)

In June 1940 Czerwinski was serving with Groupe de Chasse 1/145, flying Caudron C714s. On the 3rd he claimed a He111 destroyed, on the 8th two Me110s and on the 10th a Do17.

After the French collapse, he escaped to England. Czerwinski converted to Hurricanes and joined 302 Squadron at Leconfield on 23rd July 1940.

On 15th September he claimed a Do17 destroyed. He was awarded the KW and Bar (gazetted 1st February 1941).

Czerwinski was posted to 55 OTU Usworth on 3rd May 1941 as an instructor. He moved to 58 OTU Grangemouth on 19th November. Czerwinski then took command of 306 (Polish) Squadron at Church Stanton on 14th April 1942. He shot down a Fw190 south-east of Calais on 26th April.

The squadron attacked St Omer airfield and Longuenesse on 22nd August 1942 and encountered heavy ground fire. Czerwinski was last seen in an uncontrolled climb in Spitfire UZ-C EN826. His body was subsequently recovered and he is buried in Souvenir-Longuenesse Cemetery in St. Omer.

He is also commemorated on the Polish War Memorial at Northolt.

He was awarded a second Bar to the KW (gazetted 20th September 1942) after his death.