Kowalczyk Eugeniusz

Eugeniusz Kowalczyk (1903–1949) – major pilot of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain, officer of No. 300 Bomber Squadron, instructor and training squadron commander, World War II participant. He completed a commercial school in Radom, after which in 1925 he entered the Aviation Officer School in Grudziądz. He graduated with 54th placing (1st class) in the rank of sergeant officer cadet observer and was assigned to the 21st Line Squadron of the 2nd Aviation Regiment. In 1930 he underwent pilot training, and from 1931 to 1933 served as sports officer of the 2nd Aviation Regiment. In 1935 he was transferred to the Military-Aviation Pre-Training Centre in Sadków, where he commanded the training piloting squadron. In 1938 he was promoted to captain. In March 1939 he served at the Reserve Aviation Officer Cadet School in Sadków as a training squadron commander. After the outbreak of World War II he was evacuated eastward and fell into Soviet captivity. He was held in labour camps in Siberia, after which he joined Anders’ Army. He followed the evacuation route through Totskoye, Kuybyshev, Koltubanka and Kermine, then through Persia and Palestine reached Great Britain. In 1942 he assumed command of the “Liaison Squadron attached to Gen. Anders’ Army in the USSR”. He joined the Polish Air Force in the RAF (service number P-2042) and flew combat missions with No. 300 Bomber Squadron. After the war he was demobilised and repatriated to Poland. He died on 7 November 1949 in Gliwice. He was buried in the family grave at the Roman Catholic cemetery on Limanowskiego Street in Radom.