The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. W Mudry

Wlodzimierz Wladyslaw Mudry was born on 29th April 1917 at Grzymalo in Poland (now part of the Ternopil region of Ukraine).

He enlisted in the Polish Air Force and commenced flying training at the flying school in Krakow in September 1936. He went on in August 1937 to the Fighter School at Grudziadz, graduating in November 1937.

Above image courtesy of the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum via listakrzystka.pl

He then served with the 2nd Krakow Air Regiment from December 1937 to the campaign in September 1939. His subsequent movements are currently undocumented but he is likely to have escaped via Romania and France.

He arrived in England in early 1940.

He enlisted in the RAFVR in February at RAF Eastchurch. From 1st June 1940 Mudry was at the Polish Wing at 3 School of Technical Training at Blackpool, awaiting a posting.

On 12th August he went to No. 1 School of Army Co-operation, Old Sarum for the 4th Polish Pilots Course, for testing and grading.

Mudry arrived at 5 OTU Aston Down on 19th August and after converting to Hurricanes joined 79 Squadron at Pembrey on 11th September 1940.

Mudry flew his first operational sortie on 29th September.

He married Eileen Green in October 1940 in Pembroke.

He was detached to 87 Squadron at Bibury on 1st December 1940, rejoining 79 Squadron on 20th December.

He was posted to the newly-formed 316 Squadron, also at Pembrey, on 23rd February 1941. After a stint at SHQ Colerne Mudry next posting was to 286 Squadron on 4th March 1942, an anti-aircraft co-operation unit.

He did an instructors course at 10 FIS Woodley in July/August 1942 and was then sent to the Air Crew Disposal Wing, based at the Metropole Hotel, Brighton to await his next posting.

This was a return to 286 Squadron at Colerne where he stayed until March 1944. This was followed by a short posting to 285 Squadron at Woodvale, also on AA Co-Op duties.

He joined the staff at 16 Polish FTS Newton, Nottinghamshire on 24th June 1944.

He was sent on a course at No.1 Beam Approach School in May 1945 before returning the following month to Newton.

Mudry was released from the RAF in January 1946 but rejoined and was gazetted as a Master Pilot on 1st August 1948.

He was commissioned on 15th February 1951 and he retired on 29th April 1967 as a Flight Lieutenant.

Mudry died in 1990.

Additional research courtesy of Graham Wickens.