Alex Pietrzak

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Called up for service with Polish Air Force   31-08-1939
Posted to 1 Air Force Regiment from           01-09-1939 to
[Took part in Polish campaign]                   17-09-1939

After Poland fell he proceeded to France &
Reported to PAF Station Lyons 12-11-1939

When France capitulated he went to the UK
& arrived at RAF Depot Gloucester 07-07-1940

Posted to RAF [Polish] Depot Blackpool
Accepted for service with Polish Air Force
under British command [PAF/RAF] 05-03-1941

With:
No. 302 [Polish] Squadron [Fighters]
            from 02-02-1943 to 08-01-1944
No. 316 [Polish] Squadron [Fighters]
            from 16-06-1944 to 09-02-1945
No. 309 [Polish] Squadron [Army Co-Op]
            from 10-02-1945 to 02-08-1945

Appointments :
Aircraftman/Pilot                                          05-03-1941
Pilot in Class LAC                                       19-07-1941
Awarded permanent war rank of
Sergeant                                                    15-07-1942
Flight Sergeant                                             15-07-1943
Warrant Officer                                           15-07-1944

Between 13-02-1943 & 09-01-1944 -
39 operational flights totaling 68.45 hours &
13 operational flights totaling 17.50 hours

Between 10-12-1945 & 24-04-1945 -
11 operational flights totaling 44.35 hours

Killed in a Flying Accident 2 August 1945

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Some photos from the album

Alex and his Mustang	Alex pointing out his score
Alex kickin back on the grass	Alex on Parade [even pilots have to do it]

Smoke Break - Alex is second from the right

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Alex married this lovely lady known as "Binky" [Seen here sporting a Poland patch even though she is English born and bred]. They had a son, Stefan, before Alex was killed. Binky later married another serviceman Trevor Youngs. Stefan became Stefan Pietrzak Youngs and soon his half-brother Kelvin would be born. Good thing too or I wouldn’t have this info. Thanks Kelvin!*

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Victories Include :

11 August 1943
27 September 1943
5 July 1944
7 July 1944
12 July 1944
4 August 1944
5 August 1944
14 October 1944
18 October 1944
23 March 1945

1/2 FW190
1 FW190
1 V-1
1 V-1
2 V-1s
1 V-1
2 V-1
1 Me109
1.5 Me109s
1 Me262

Damaged
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
Destroyed
Damaged

[Escort to Roune]
[Ramrod 261]
[Diver patrol]
[Diver patrol]
[Diver patrol]
[N. of Roune]
[N. of Roune]
[Escort to Duisburg]
[Ranger to Denmark]
[Ramrod 1514 to Bad Oeynhausen]

One V-1 about to go down. The very dangerous job of "Tipping"

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2 August 1945, Rayne Essex - Mustang III s/n FX876

Shortly after take-off the pilot reported that he was having difficulty with rudder control but he continued with the sortie, rather than landing. During a dive bombing attack, the aircraft turned onto its back but then leveled out inverted, before pulling up violently and throwing the pilot out. The A/C then crashed and was destroyed by fire. Although a precise cause of the loss was not discovered, it seems likely that the problems with the rudder was a major factor.

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--- Polish Aces ---

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* Kelvin sent me detailed photos of Alex's logbook
[most every page - very cool to read through], squadron records,
photos and a bunch of other stuff. This was the source for the information seen here

Also, Kelvin has set up his own site dedicated to the memory of those lost in battle called

Aleksander "Alex" Pietrzak

PAF & RAF WO -

Some photos from the album