Kozłowski Franciszek

Franciszek Kozłowski (1917–1943) – second lieutenant pilot of the Polish Army, officer of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain, pilot of No. 501 Squadron RAF and No. 316 “Warsaw” Polish Fighter Squadron. In 1936 he passed his school-leaving examination at the State Teacher Training Seminary in Jędrzejów. From 1 September 1936 he served at the Infantry Officer Cadet School in Różan, and from 3 January 1937 at the Aviation Officer Cadet School in Dęblin. On 15 June 1939 he was assigned to the 122nd Squadron in the 2nd Aviation Regiment in Kraków. During the 1939 Polish Campaign his unit operated within the “Kraków” Army. On 1 September 1939 he flew three combat sorties, and on 2 and 3 September took part in air combats resulting in the downing of enemy aircraft. After the Soviet invasion on 17 September 1939 he evacuated to Romania, and then through the Middle East and France reached Great Britain. He joined the Polish Air Force in the RAF. He underwent training at No. 5 Operational Training Unit at Aston Down on Hurricane aircraft. On 5 August 1940 he was assigned to No. 501 Fighter Squadron RAF. During the Battle of Britain he was shot down on 18 August 1940 and underwent a lengthy convalescence. After returning to duty on 25 February 1941 he was assigned to No. 316 “Warsaw” Polish Fighter Squadron. He went missing on 13 March 1943 during an escort combat flight over France. He was buried at the war cemetery in Hautot-sur-Mer near Dieppe.