Boleslaw Orlinski
Encyclopedia
Bolesław Orliński was a Polish
aviator, military, sports and test pilot.
He was born on the family estate in Niwerka, Podole
. During World War I he was commissioned in the Russian Army, and fought in an infantry Regiment on the German front, becoming a NCO
. In 1918 he joined the newly formed Polish 1st Corps of Gen. Józef Dowbór-Muśnicki
. When the corps was disarmed by the Germans in May 1918 he went to the Ukraine
and briefly served in the army of the Ukrainian People's Republic
. He returned to Poland after independence and joined the Polish Army. He served in the cavalry during the Polish-Soviet war
, and then volunteered for the air force.
He completed pilot training in Bydgoszcz and Grudziądz
and in 1923 became an instructor in Grudziądz.
From 27 August to 25 September 1926, with mechanic Leon Kubiak, Orliński flew from Warsaw
to Tokyo
(10,300 km/6,400 miles) and back in a Breguet 19
A2. On the way back the plane was damaged by wind in Byrka and its left lower wing was broken and propeller was cracked. The Polish aviators shortened the opposite wing and repaired the propeller with glue and wire, and thus repaired flew the 6680 km to Warsaw. For the feat Orliński was awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun
6th class, French Legion of Honor and was promoted to Captain.
In 1928 he quit the service and became a test pilot with the Polish PZL
aviation works in Warsaw
. He test-flew all PZL fighter prototypes, from the PZL P.1
designed by Zygmunt Puławskiin 1928, through the PZL P.6
, PZL P.7
, PZL P.8, PZL P.11
, PZL P.24
to PZL P.50 Jastrząb in 1939. He also tested the sports planes PZL.19
, PZL.26
, passenger planes PZL.4, PZL.44 Wicher
, and liaison plane PZL Ł.2.
Apart from his test pilot work, he took part in numerous aviation contests and presentations of Polish aircraft abroad. Flying the PZL.5
he participated in the Challenge 1930
international touring planes contest, but failed to finish due to engine failure on 26 July. In December 1930 he presented the fighter PZL P.6 at the Paris Air Show
. Flying the P.6, Orliński won National Air Races
in Cleveland from 29 August - 7 September 1931. Flying the PZL.19
he took part in the Challenge 1932
contest, but had to withdraw due to illness. On 28 June 1934 he set a world speed record for radial engined fighters of 414 km/h, flying the PZL P.24
. During this time he survived several crashes and emergency parachute jumps.
After the outbreak of the World War II
and German invasion on Poland, he volunteered for the Polish Army. On 8 September 1939 he was sent to Romania inprepartion to receive British-built fighters. Via Yugoslavia, Italy and France he got to Great Britain, where the remnants of the Polish Air Force was serving. Because of his age he could not be a fighter pilot and became an instructor. In 1943 he joined No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron
, flying the de Havilland Mosquito
fighter-bomber. From 1 August 1944 to 31 January 1945 Wing Commander Orliński was the commander of No. 305 Squadron. He flew 49 operational sorties, mostly at night . From 1 February 1945 until the end of the war in Europe he was rested from combat.
After the war he decided not to return to Poland and settled in Toronto
, Canada. During his career he flew 92 aircraft types and spent some 7,000 hours in air. He died in Canada at the age of 93 and was buried in Poland.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
aviator, military, sports and test pilot.
He was born on the family estate in Niwerka, Podole
Podole
Podole may refer to:*Podolia, a region in Ukraine*Podole, Aleksandrów County in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Podole, Lipno County in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship...
. During World War I he was commissioned in the Russian Army, and fought in an infantry Regiment on the German front, becoming a NCO
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
. In 1918 he joined the newly formed Polish 1st Corps of Gen. Józef Dowbór-Muśnicki
Józef Dowbor-Musnicki
Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki was a Polish military officer and commander, serving with the Imperial Russian and then Polish armies...
. When the corps was disarmed by the Germans in May 1918 he went to the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and briefly served in the army of the Ukrainian People's Republic
Ukrainian People's Republic
The Ukrainian People's Republic or Ukrainian National Republic was a republic that was declared in part of the territory of modern Ukraine after the Russian Revolution, eventually headed by Symon Petliura.-Revolutionary Wave:...
. He returned to Poland after independence and joined the Polish Army. He served in the cavalry during the Polish-Soviet war
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
, and then volunteered for the air force.
He completed pilot training in Bydgoszcz and Grudziądz
Grudziadz
Grudziądz is a city in northern Poland on the Vistula River, with 96 042 inhabitants . Situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship , the city was previously in the Toruń Voivodeship .- History :-Early history:...
and in 1923 became an instructor in Grudziądz.
From 27 August to 25 September 1926, with mechanic Leon Kubiak, Orliński flew from Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
(10,300 km/6,400 miles) and back in a Breguet 19
Breguet 19
The Breguet 19 was a light bomber and reconnaissance plane, also used for long-distance flights, designed by the French Breguet company and produced from 1924.-Development:...
A2. On the way back the plane was damaged by wind in Byrka and its left lower wing was broken and propeller was cracked. The Polish aviators shortened the opposite wing and repaired the propeller with glue and wire, and thus repaired flew the 6680 km to Warsaw. For the feat Orliński was awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
6th class, French Legion of Honor and was promoted to Captain.
In 1928 he quit the service and became a test pilot with the Polish PZL
PZL
PZL was the main Polish aerospace manufacturer of the interwar period, based in Warsaw, functioning in 1928-1939...
aviation works in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. He test-flew all PZL fighter prototypes, from the PZL P.1
PZL P.1
-Bibliography:* Cynk, Jerzy B. History of the Polish Air Force 1918-1968. Reading, Berkshire, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1972. ISBN 0-85045-039-X.* Cynk, Jerzy B. Polish Aircraft, 1893-1939. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-370-00085-4....
designed by Zygmunt Puławskiin 1928, through the PZL P.6
PZL P.6
-Bibliography:* Cynk, Jerzy B. History of the Polish Air Force 1918-1968. Reading, Berkshire, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1972. ISBN 0-85045-039-X.* Cynk, Jerzy B. Polish Aircraft, 1893-1939. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-370-00085-4....
, PZL P.7
PZL P.7
-References:NotesBibliography* Cynk, Jerzy B. History of the Polish Air Force 1918-1968. Reading, Berkshire, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1972.* Cynk, Jerzy B. Polish Aircraft, 1893-1939. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-370-00085-4....
, PZL P.8, PZL P.11
PZL P.11
The PZL P.11 was a Polish fighter aircraft, designed in the early 1930s by PZL in Warsaw. It was briefly considered to be the most advanced fighter aircraft design in the world...
, PZL P.24
PZL P.24
|-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Axworthy, Mark. Third Axis, Fourth Ally. London: Arms and Armour, 1995. ISBN 1-85409-267-7.* Bernád, Dénes. Rumanian Air Force: The Prime Decade 1938-1947. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc, 1999. ISBN 0-89747-402-3.* Cynk, Jerzy B. Polish...
to PZL P.50 Jastrząb in 1939. He also tested the sports planes PZL.19
PZL.19
|-References: Glass, Andrzej. Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939 , pp. 242-244.. Warsaw: WKiŁ, 1977.-See also:...
, PZL.26
PZL.26
|-References:*Andrzej Glass: Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939 , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -See also:...
, passenger planes PZL.4, PZL.44 Wicher
PZL.44 Wicher
-References:*Andrzej Glass. Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939 . Warsaw: WKiŁ, 1977 .-See also:...
, and liaison plane PZL Ł.2.
Apart from his test pilot work, he took part in numerous aviation contests and presentations of Polish aircraft abroad. Flying the PZL.5
PZL.5
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Cynk, Jerzy B. Polish Aircraft 1893-1939. London: Putnam, 1971. ISBN 0-370-00085-4.* Glass, Andrzej. Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939 . Warsaw: WKiŁ, 1977 .-External links:**...
he participated in the Challenge 1930
Challenge 1930
The International Touring Competition in 1930 was the second FAI international touring aircraft contest, that took place between July 18 and August 8, 1930 in Berlin, Germany. Four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe....
international touring planes contest, but failed to finish due to engine failure on 26 July. In December 1930 he presented the fighter PZL P.6 at the Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show is the world's oldest and largest air show. Established in 1909, it is currently held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France...
. Flying the P.6, Orliński won National Air Races
National Air Races
The National Air Races were a series of pylon and cross-country races that took place in the United States from 1920 to 1949. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew rapidly during this period; the National Air Races were both a proving ground and...
in Cleveland from 29 August - 7 September 1931. Flying the PZL.19
PZL.19
|-References: Glass, Andrzej. Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939 , pp. 242-244.. Warsaw: WKiŁ, 1977.-See also:...
he took part in the Challenge 1932
Challenge 1932
The Challenge 1932 was the third FAI International Tourist Plane Contest , that took place between 12 and August 28, 1932 in Berlin, Germany. The four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe.-Overview:...
contest, but had to withdraw due to illness. On 28 June 1934 he set a world speed record for radial engined fighters of 414 km/h, flying the PZL P.24
PZL P.24
|-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Axworthy, Mark. Third Axis, Fourth Ally. London: Arms and Armour, 1995. ISBN 1-85409-267-7.* Bernád, Dénes. Rumanian Air Force: The Prime Decade 1938-1947. Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc, 1999. ISBN 0-89747-402-3.* Cynk, Jerzy B. Polish...
. During this time he survived several crashes and emergency parachute jumps.
After the outbreak of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and German invasion on Poland, he volunteered for the Polish Army. On 8 September 1939 he was sent to Romania inprepartion to receive British-built fighters. Via Yugoslavia, Italy and France he got to Great Britain, where the remnants of the Polish Air Force was serving. Because of his age he could not be a fighter pilot and became an instructor. In 1943 he joined No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron
No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron
No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron "Ziemia Wielpolska" was a Polish World War II bomber unit.-History:The last of the Polish bomber squadrons, 305 Squadron was formed at RAF Bramcote, Warwickshire on 29 August 1940...
, flying the de Havilland Mosquito
De Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
fighter-bomber. From 1 August 1944 to 31 January 1945 Wing Commander Orliński was the commander of No. 305 Squadron. He flew 49 operational sorties, mostly at night . From 1 February 1945 until the end of the war in Europe he was rested from combat.
After the war he decided not to return to Poland and settled in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada. During his career he flew 92 aircraft types and spent some 7,000 hours in air. He died in Canada at the age of 93 and was buried in Poland.
Honours and awards
- Cross of Valour
- Gold Cross of Merit, twice
- Legion of Honour, Chevalier (France)
- Order of the Rising SunOrder of the Rising SunThe is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
, Jun class (Japan) - Order of the Crown of Romania, Officer
- Silver Cross of the Virtuti MilitariVirtuti MilitariThe Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
- Air Force Medal 1939-45 (Medal Lotniczy) - four times
- Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...