Allegiance Poland
United Kingdom Rank Major | Years of service 1937-1948 | |
Born 23 October 1918
Ostroh, Russian Empire ( 1918-10-23 ) Service/branch Polish Air Force
Royal Air Force Battles/wars Polish Defensive War, World War II Awards Virtuti Militari; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Cross (UK) Died 26 July 1995, England, United Kingdom Battles and wars Invasion of Poland, World War II Units No. 65 Squadron RAF, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron, No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron | ||
Bolesław Drobiński DFC was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 7 confirmed kills and one shared.
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Biography
Drobiński made his first flight on a glider in 1934. On 2 January 1938 he entered the Polish Air Force Academy in Deblin. After the Invasion of Poland he was evacuated to France via Romania and Italy, then he came in England.
On 11 September 1940 Drobiński was assigned to the No. 65 Squadron RAF and took part to the Battle of Britain. On 2 March 1941 he was posted to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 15 May 1941 he damaged on the ground a Ju 52. On 21 June 1941 Drobiński heavily damaged the plane flown by German ace Adolf Galland and forced him to a crash-landing. From 18 March 1942 to 9 August 1942 he was an instructor in No. 58 Operational Training Unit at RAF Grangemouth. On 18 October 1943 he was ordered to No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 3 April 1944 he began to work in the Ministry of Defence. On 26 September 1944 he took command of No.303 Polish Fighter Squadron.
Drobiński was demobilized in 1948. He worked in the oil industry in America. In 1950's he settled in a village in Surrey. In 1960 he obtained British citizenship. In 1943 he married a South African woman, they had two sons and a daughter.
Aerial victory credits
Awards
Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), three times
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)