Braun Włodzimierz

Włodzimierz Braun (1906–1967) was a captain pilot of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain and a Knight of the Virtuti Militari Order. He was born on 20 September 1906 in Tenczynek. In 1925 he began his studies at the Officers’ Aviation School in Grudziądz, which he completed in 1927 as an observer. He was then assigned to the 23rd Aviation Squadron of the 2nd Aviation Regiment. In 1928 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to serve in the 2nd Aviation Regiment, and subsequently in the 22nd Line Squadron. In 1930 he underwent pilot training and obtained military pilot qualifications. In December of that year he was promoted to lieutenant. From 1935 he held staff and administrative positions in the 2nd Aviation Regiment, including regimental adjutant and mobilisation officer. In the September Campaign of 1939 he did not take direct part in combat operations. After Poland’s defeat he made his way to Great Britain, where he joined the Polish Air Force within the Royal Air Force, receiving service number P-0540. He served in No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron “Silesia, Prince Józef Poniatowski” and in the Polish Transport Detachment Takoradi–Cairo. After the war he was demobilised in the rank of captain of the Polish Army and Flight Lieutenant RAF, and remained in exile in Great Britain. He died on 21 June 1967 in London.