The Airmen's Stories - P/O A Zukowski

Aleksiej (Alexander) Zukowski was born on 28th March 1911 in Vilnius, Poland. He was a member of the Vilnius Aeroclub and completed gliding and powered flying training there. He enlisted in the Polish Air Force and enterd the Aviation Officers School in Deblin.

On graduating he was assigned to 151 Squadron of the 5th Air Regiment.

He later was posted to the flying school at Bydgoszcz as an instructor. After the September 1939 campaign he passed through Romania to France.

He joined the Armee de l'Air and was assigned to Fighter Squadron I/145, composed of Poles flying the obsolete Caudron C714. He flew from Lyon-Bron and Dreux. He claimed a Do17 destroyed on 10th June. With the French collapse imminent, he was evacuated by ship from La Rochelle to England.

Above image courtesy of the Sikorski Institiute

Zukowski arrived in England on 12th July 1940 and was sent to the Polish Wing at 3 School of Technical Training at Blackpool to await a posting. He was commissioned and joined 302 Squadron at Leconfield on 20th August.

He was attached to 5 OTU Aston Down on 2nd September. After converting to Hurricanes, he rejoined 302 on the 26th.

He was killed on 18th October when he crashed at Harp Farm, Boxley, near Detling after losing his bearings in deteriorating weather and running out of fuel in Hurricane V6571.

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

After his death he was awarded the KW (gazetted 23rd December 1940).