Mieczysław Adamek

Updated on Nov 07, 2023

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Years of service 1936-1944		Rank Flying officer
Born 18 September 1918 Tashkent ( 1918-09-18 ) Allegiance Poland France United Kingdom Service/branch Polish Air Force France Armée de l'Air Royal Air Force Battles/wars Polish Defensive War, World War II Awards Virtuti Militari; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Cross (UK) Died 18 May 1944, United Kingdom Battles and wars Invasion of Poland, World War II Units Polish 113th Fighter Escadrille, No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron, No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron

Mieczysław Adamek DFC was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 5 confirmed kills and two shared.

Biography

After the end of World War I and the rebirth of the Polish State Adamek came back in Poland with his family. In 1936 he entered the Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer's School for minors in Bydgoszcz. In 1939 after his graduation he was assigned to the Polish 113th Fighter Escadrille. The first day of World War II he scored a shared victory on a He 111. On the 18 September he was evacuated to France via Romania. After training on Bloch MB.150 Adamek took part in the Battle of France in the Wyrwicki section. On 22 June 1940 he flew across the Mediterranean to Algiers, and then via Casablanca and Gibraltar reached Britain in July. After training in different British schools Adamek was posted to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 23 June 1941 he shot down a Bf 109. In April 1942 he was transferred to No. 58 Operational Training Unit in Grangemouth where he served as instructor. In November 1943 he was ordered to the No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 18 May 1944 in-flight re-operations over France, a few miles from the English coast, Adamek plane was hit by the British air defense and fell. Pilot found dead later in the sea. The body fished out and laid in a cemetery in Northwood.