2nd Lt. pilot
Tadeusz Leon Kumięga (1916–1995) – second lieutenant pilot of the Polish Army, officer of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, pilot of No. 17 Squadron RAF and No. 317 “Wilno” Polish Fighter Squadron. In 1938 he graduated from the Aviation Officer Cadet School in Dęblin. He was associated with the 2nd Aviation Regiment. In January 1940 he was admitted to the RAFVR at RAF Eastchurch. He then underwent training at the Polish Wing of the 3rd School of Technical Training in Blackpool and at No. 15 EFTS in Carlisle, followed by No. 6 OTU at Sutton Bridge, where he trained on Hawker Hurricane aircraft. On 1 September 1940 he was assigned to No. 17 Squadron RAF at Tangmere. On 29 October 1940 he took part in an air combat in which he participated in the downing of a Messerschmitt Bf 109. On 22 February 1941 he transferred to No. 317 “Wilno” Polish Fighter Squadron, where on 18 December 1941 he scored another combat victory over a Bf 109. For his combat service he was decorated with the Cross of Valour and its Bar. In subsequent years he held liaison and staff positions in the RAF, including at RAF Matlask and at Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB) as acting Squadron Leader. After the war he remained in RAF service, where he held administrative positions and flew on duty. In 1966 he retired with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and settled in Great Britain. He died on 28 October 1995 and was buried at Queensgate Cemetery in Beverley, Yorkshire.
