The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J Kwiecinski

Josef Kwiecinski was born on 4th May 1917. He must have served in the Polish Air Force but the details are currently unknown.

He arrived in England in February 1940 and enlisted in the RAFVR on 20th February 1940 at RAF Eastchurch.

Above: Kwiecinski (left) and Sgt. S Duszynski.

Above image courtesy of Jaroslaw Gwardys via Joel Diggle.

He then moved to the Polish Wing at 3 School of Technical Training at Blackpool on 1st June 1940 to await a posting.

Kwiecinski went to No. 1 School of Army Co-Operation, Old Sarum on the 1st Polish Pilots Course, for testing and grading. This ran from 5th to 13th July.

On 14th July Kwiecinski arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge, as an LAC, and converted to Hurricanes.

He was posted to 145 Squadron at Westhampnett on 4th August 1940, with the rank of Flight Sergeant.

On 11th August Kwiecinski probably destroyed a Me110 south of Swanage.

Kwiecinski failed to return from a combat south of the Isle of Wight the next day, in Hurricane P3391, and was reported ‘Missing’.

He shared in the destruction of a Me110 in the action but this was never claimed because all three of the pilots in Kweicinski’s section were shot down and killed, Kwiecinski, F/Lt. W Pankratz and P/O JH Harrison.

He is commemorated on the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt.