Łaszkiewicz Stefan

Stefan Łaszkiewicz (1905–2002) – first lieutenant pilot of the Polish Army, officer of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain. He was born on 16 November 1905 in Stadniki to the family of Władysław and Maria Łaszkiewicz. He studied in Ostróg, then at Cadet Corps No. 1 in Lwów, where he passed his school-leaving examination in 1925. He initially planned a career in the Navy, but ultimately chose aviation and graduated from the Aviation Officer School in Dęblin (1928). He served in the 2nd Aviation Regiment in Kraków and the 121st Fighter Squadron, flying aircraft including the SPAD 61, Avia BH-33 and PZL P.7. Together with other pilots he formed an aerobatic team. In parallel he studied at the Jagiellonian University. Over time he moved to staff work, and in 1936 graduated from the Higher War School in Warsaw as a staff-qualified officer. After the outbreak of World War II he served in the Polish Air Force in Great Britain, including No. 315 “Dęblin” Polish Fighter Squadron, where he held ground and controller duties in the interception system. He also served in the structures of the 2nd Fighter Wing RAF and collaborated in training with American forces. After the war he was demobilised in 1948 with the rank of staff-qualified major (Squadron Leader RAF). He emigrated to Canada, where he adopted the surname Mallory and settled in Ontario. He died in 2002 in Ottawa.