Bolesław Własnowolski

Bolesław Własnowolski
Nickname(s) Vodka (RAF nickname)[1]
Born (1916-11-29)29 November 1916
Kraków, Austria-Hungary
Died 1 November 1940(1940-11-01) (aged 23)
Chichester, United Kingdom
Allegiance

 Poland

 United Kingdom
Service/branch

 Polish Air Force

 Royal Air Force
Rank Flight Officer (RAF)
Service number P.76736 (RAF) [2]
Unit
Battles/wars World War II

Bolesław Andrzej Własnowolski (29 November 1916 – 1 November 1940) was a Polish flying ace credited with four individual and one shared victories in World War II.[2]

Własnowolski was a pilot for the Polish Air Force in the September Campaign of 1939, flying with 122 Eskadra during the conflict, claiming a Dornier Do. 17 shared destroyed on 2 September.

Escaping to the West, he then served with the Royal Air Force, flying Hurricanes with No. 32, from 8 August to 13 September before a posting to No. 607 during the Battle of Britain. He claimed a Bf 109 on 15 August, and a Do. 17 shared ( of KG 76) and a Bf. 109 (of JG 26) on 18 August.[3] Another Do. 17 was claimed on 15 September, and two days later he joined No. 213 Squadrons.[1]

He was shot down and killed in combat with Bf 109s over Portsmouth on 1 November 1940, and buried in Chichester, England.

Memorial

Memorial to Bolesiaw Wiasnowolski V.M., K.W.

There is a poignant memorial to Własnowolski., by the side of the path to Kingley Vale from Stoughton, next to the field where his Hurricane crashed in November 1940.[4]


Footnotes

  1. 1 2 Gretzyngier 1998, pp. 21–22
  2. 1 2 Gretzyngier 1998, p. 86
  3. ↑ Aces High; Shores and Williams, page 643
  4. ↑ http://en.tracesofwar.com/article/18864/Memorial-Hawker-Hurricane-Fighter-Stoughton.htm

References

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