The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J Zaluski

Jerzy Sergiusz Zaluski was born on 16th August 1916 in Riazan, Russia. He enlisted in the Polish Air Force and after completing his training joined the 4th Air Regiment at Copernicus.

After advanced training he was assigned to the 6th Air Regiment based in Lviv. In the September 1939 campaign he flew reconnaissance sorties in support of the Lodz Army.

Above images courtesy of Jaroslaw Gwardys via Joel Diggle.

His subsequent movements are currently undocumented but he probably made his way via Romania and France to England, he enlisted in the RAF in February 1940 at Eastchurch.

From 1st June 1940 Zaluski was at 3 School of Technical Training at Blackpool, awaiting a posting. He went to No. 1 School of Army Co-Operation at Old Sarum on 23rd August to 1st September for the 5th Polish Pilots Course, for testing and grading.

He went to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge to convert to Hurricanes. On 9th September he crashed on the airfield there when a tyre burst on landing on Hurricane L1596.

He joined 302 Squadron at Leconfield on 21st September 1940.

He was killed on 7th October when he overturned attempting a forced-landing at Colliers End in Hurricane V7417.

Zaluski is buried in Northwood Cemetery and is also commemorated on the Polish War Memorial at Northolt.

He was awarded the Bronze Cross of Merit with Swords (gazetted 31st October 1947).