Michał Maciejowski
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2023) |
Michał Maciejowski DFC** DFM | |
---|---|
Born | citation needed] Gródek Jagielloński | 29 October 1913[
Died | citation needed] Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada[citation needed] | 26 April 2001[
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service | ![]() |
Rank | podporucznik |
Service number | P-1912 |
Unit | 6 Pułk Lotniczy
No. 111 Squadron RAF |
Battles / wars | World War II |
Awards | Virtuti Militari; Polonia Restituta; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Medal (UK); Distinguished Flying Cross (UK) |
Michał Mirosław Karol Maciejowski DFC** DFM Lt. pilot. F / L. P-1912[1] was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II.
Early life
[edit]Maciejowski (Michael Manson) was born on 29 October 1913, in Gródek Jagielloński. In Rzeszów, he completed the 6-year Jan Sobieski gymnasium. He completed a 2-year Trade School course in Lviv.
Military service
[edit]He was appointed to perform military service in the 40th Infantry Regiment. In 1935, he volunteered to become a pilot to the 6th Pułk Lotniczy in Lviv. From 1936 to 1939 he served in the 6th Aviation Regiment, where he trained as a corpsman. On 9 September, together with the staff of the Regiment, he moved to Łuck and Kleań, and on 12 September to Kuty. On 17 September, he crossed the border of Romania. He was interned there, but escaped and boarded a ship bound for Syria. At the beginning of 1940, he swam to Marseilles. He arrived in Great Britain in February. He trained at RAF Blackpool Center, assigned to the British 111 Fighter Squadron. On 4 September 1940, he shot down his first plane. During the Battle of Britain he shot down three German planes, and probably damaged one. He fought in the British 249 Fighter Squadron. After training in the 52nd OTU, he was assigned to the 317 Fighter Squadron. He also fought in the 316 Fighter Squadron. On 9 August 1943, around 6.30 p.m. during the Ramrod 191 mission he piloted the Spitfire IX designated SZ-E No. BS302. While flying over occupied France, he collided with Lieutenant Lech Kondracki (Spitfire IX marked SZ-R no. BS457). Kondracki died while Maciejowski saved himself by parachuting to the ground. He was captured and Imprisoned in Stalag Luft III. He was liberated and restored to service on 1 June 1945. After a refresher course at 16 FTS Newton, on 21 August, he was assigned to Squadron 309 in Coltishall. He remained in the squadron until its dissolution in January 1947.
He was demobilized from the army with the rank of aviation lieutenant. He changed his name to Michael Manson. He returned to the RAF in June 1951, initially as a test pilot and from 1963 he performed administrative work, before becoming a catering officer. In 1970, he ran the RAF Transit Hotel in Malta. He retired in 1972 as an aviation lieutenant. He lived in England until the death of his wife Christine. In 1987, he moved to Winnipeg, Canada, to live with his only daughter, Karen Schmidt. He died on 26 April 2001, in Winnipeg at age 87.
Awards
[edit]Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), three times
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Distinguished Flying Medal
References
[edit]- ^ 29.10.1913 according to J. Cynk Polskie Siły Powietrzne w wojnie
Further reading
[edit]- Chronicle of 317 Squadron https://ilot.lukasiewicz.gov.pl/dday/publikacje/kroniki/
- https://listakrzystka.pl/maciejowski-michal-karol-manson/
- Jerzy B. Cynk, Polskie Siły Powietrzne 1939-1945, AJ-Press 2001, ISBN 83-7237-089-3
- Wacław Król: Zarys działań polskiego lotnictwa w Wielkiej Brytanii 1940-1945, WKiL Warszawa 1990,ISBN 83-206-0852-X
- Tadeusz Jerzy Krzystek, Anna Krzystek: Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii w latach 1940-1947 łącznie z Pomocniczą Lotniczą Służbą Kobiet (PLSK-WAAF). Sandomierz: Stratus, 2012, s. 361. ISBN 9788361421597
- Józef Zieliński: Asy polskiego lotnictwa. Warszawa: Agencja lotnicza ALTAIR, 1994, s. 19. ISBN 83862172.
- Józef Zieliński: Lotnicy polscy w Bitwie o Wielką Brytanię. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza MH, 2005, s. 119–120. ISBN 8390662043
- "Maciejowski w thesoutheastecho.co.uk". p. 1. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "Maciejowski w avstop.com". p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "Maciejowski w acesofww2.com". p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "Maciejowski w warbirdsresourcegroup.org". p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "Pilots in Battle of Britain" (in Polish). p. 1. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- "photo". p. 1. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- "photo". p. 1. Retrieved 15 June 2012.