Surma Franciszek

Franciszek Surma (1916–1941) – first lieutenant pilot of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain, World War II fighter ace, Knight of the War Order of Virtuti Militari, associated with the 2nd Aviation Regiment in Kraków. In 1936 he graduated from the Aviation Officer Cadet School in Dęblin, obtaining the rank of sergeant officer cadet pilot. During the September Campaign of 1939 he fought in the 121st Squadron of the 2nd Aviation Regiment in Kraków. After the Soviet invasion of Poland he made his way through Romania to France, and then to Great Britain, where he served in the Polish Air Force within the RAF structures. He was a pilot of Nos. 151, 607, 257 and 308 “Kraków” Fighter Squadrons. During the Battle of Britain he scored at least five aerial victories, attaining fighter ace status. He was decorated with, among others, the Silver Cross of the War Order of Virtuti Militari, the Cross of Valour (three times) and the Air Medal. On 8 November 1941 he went missing during a combat flight over the Dunkirk area. His fate and place of burial remain unknown.