The Airmen's Stories - P/O W M C Samolinski

Wlodzimierz Michal Czech Samolinski was born on 14th October 1916 in Poznan, Poland and enlisted in the Polish Air Force. After training at the flying school at Deblin he was appointed as 2/Lt. to Fighter Squadron 122 on 15th October 1938.

After the German invasion he escaped and joined the Polish airmen congregating in Romania. He did not follow the route taken by many of his comrades, to France and service in the Armee de l'Air, but made his way directly to England, where he was commissioned in the RAF on 24th January 1940.

Above image courtesy of Kenley Revival.

He was processed into the RAF through the centre at Blackpool and sent for assessment to 18 OTU followed by conversion to Hurricanes at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge, he arrived there on 23rd June 1940.

He was posted to 253 Squadron at Turnhouse on 16th July.

He transferred to the Polish Air Force in England on 6th August.

He claimed Me110s destroyed on 30th August and 4th September. Samolinski failed to return from combat over the Channel on 26th September 1940. His Hurricane I V7470 is believed to have crashed into the sea.

Samolinski is commemorated on the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt. He was awarded the VM (5th Class)(gazetted 1st February 1941).