The Airmen's Stories - P/O J Macinski

Janusz Macinski was born on 12th June 1916 and was serving in the Polish Air Force before the war. Details of his service are currently unknown though there is an account of him being in action on 1st September 1939 with 112 Squadron, his PZL P11 had to force-land east of Warsaw at Sulejowek after combat with German fighters.

After Poland fell, many airmen regrouped in Romania before going on to serve in the French forces but Macincski made his way directly to England and was commissioned in the RAF on 27th January 1940.

He was sent for assessment and training to 15 EFTS at Carlisle and went from there on 1st August 1940 to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge to convert to Hurricanes.

On the 20th Macinski landed on the aerodrome in Battle L5714 with the undercarriage retracted. On the 23rd he crashed in Hurricane N2354 at Walpole St Peter, Norfolk, due to a glycol leak. He was unhurt in both incidents.

He was posted to 111 Squadron at Debden on 31st August. Macinski was shot down in Hurricane Z2309 during combat with Me109s off Folkestone on 4th September and baled out.

Macinski, aged 24, was reported Missing. There are reports claiming that he was machine-gunned by the Me109s in the air or in the water but these have not been substantiated.

He is commemorated on the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt and was awarded the KW on 31st October 1947).