2nd Lt. pilot
Tadeusz Kowalecki (1915–1971) – second lieutenant pilot of the Polish Army, officer of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain, pilot of No. 151 Squadron RAF, instructor and staff officer, Battle of Britain veteran. He graduated from Lwów Polytechnic in 1932, followed by the Aviation Officer Cadet School in Dęblin. From 1938 he served in the 2nd Aviation Regiment, and in 1939 in the 121st Fighter Squadron. After the September Campaign he made his way through Romania to France, and then to Great Britain in 1940. During the Battle of Britain he flew with No. 151 Squadron RAF on Hurricane aircraft. He then served as an instructor at piloting schools and on the staff of No. 84 Group RAF. In April 1945 he was taken prisoner by the Germans during a flight over the Netherlands, and was liberated on 6 May 1945. After the war he was discharged from service in 1946 with the rank of Squadron Leader and emigrated to Canada. He died on 19 April 1971 in Stratford, Ontario, and was buried at Avondale Cemetery.
