Peter Franciszek

Franciszek Peter (1896–1968) – major pilot-engineer of the Polish Army, World War I veteran, Knight of the Silver Cross of the War Order of Virtuti Militari, associated with the 2nd Aviation Regiment in Kraków. After completing secondary school he began engineering studies at the École Supérieure d’Aéronautique in Paris, which were interrupted by the outbreak of World War I. From 1914 he served in the Austro-Hungarian army, completing observer training and serving on the Italian and Russian fronts. In 1918 he completed a piloting course and as a fighter pilot scored aerial victories in Austro-Hungarian aviation. In 1919 he joined the Polish Army, where he served in the 6th and 7th Aviation Squadrons, taking part in the Polish-Ukrainian War. He was also involved in training young pilots, utilising the experience gained in front-line aviation. In the 1920s he held command and organisational positions in the aviation structures, including in the 2nd Aviation Regiment in Kraków, where in 1921 he was its commandant. He subsequently worked in the aviation industry and research institutions, including the Plage and Laśkiewicz Mechanical Works and the Aviation Technical Research Institute. In 1928 he was promoted to major. In 1933 he retired. He died in 1968 in Warsaw.