Teofil Pozyczka
Encyclopedia
Teofil Pożyczka was a Polish
pilot during World War II
. He served as technical officer in the Centralne Warsztaty Lotnicze
(Central Aerial Works) in the Polish September Campaign
of 1939.
(technical group), and was nominated Lieutenant in the corps of aviation officers: engineering group, 1 October 1937, lok. 13.
Born on 27 April 1912 in Radom
, he was unmarried before the war, but had a fiancée. He finished primary education in 1924, and Lyceum
in 1933 in the mathematical-natural direction. Additionally, he attended the City Industrial School named after Jan Kiliński
(Miejska Szkoła Przemysłowa im. Kilińskiego) in Radom in the mechanical direction (1927). He worked as a rifle assembly technician from 1 August 1927 to 1 September 1929 in the public weapon factory in Radom. In 1936 he finished the School of Officer Cadets in Warsaw
— engineering group. His last war ranks were a major
and a British W/Cdr. He was a pilot and technical officer, and flew in total around 900 hours, in majority on two and multi-motor aircraft.
From 1 April 1944 to 1 February 1945 he was Commander of the No. 300 "Land of Masovia" Bomber Squadron
, and from 6 May 1945 to 18 December 1946 he was Commander of the No. 301 Polish Bomber Squadron
— 1586 squadron For Special Tasks.
hospital in Suffolk
, and was also buried there.
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...
pilot during 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...
. He served as technical officer in the Centralne Warsztaty Lotnicze
Centralne Warsztaty Lotnicze
Centralne Warsztaty Lotnicze - Central Aviation Workshops was the Polish state-owned aircraft repair works and manufacturer in Warsaw, active between 1918 and 1928. The workshops were created in November 1918 and located in Warsaw at the fringe of airport in Mokotów at 2a Puławska Street....
(Central Aerial Works) in the Polish September Campaign
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
of 1939.
Biography
Pożyczka was a graduate of the second promotion of the Szkoła Podchorążych LotnictwaPolish Air Force Academy
The Polish Air Force Academy is located in Deblin, eastern Poland. The Air Force Academy is an accredited university for the undergraduate education of officers for the Polish Air Force...
(technical group), and was nominated Lieutenant in the corps of aviation officers: engineering group, 1 October 1937, lok. 13.
Born on 27 April 1912 in Radom
Radom
Radom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and...
, he was unmarried before the war, but had a fiancée. He finished primary education in 1924, and Lyceum
Lyceum
The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies between countries; usually it is a type of secondary school.-History:...
in 1933 in the mathematical-natural direction. Additionally, he attended the City Industrial School named after Jan Kiliński
Jan Kilinski
Jan Kiliński was one of the commanders of the Kościuszko Uprising. A shoemaker by trade, he commanded the Warsaw Uprising of 1794, an uprising against the Russian garrison in Warsaw. He became a member of Polish provisional government as well.Jan Kiliński was born in Trzemeszno, a minor town in...
(Miejska Szkoła Przemysłowa im. Kilińskiego) in Radom in the mechanical direction (1927). He worked as a rifle assembly technician from 1 August 1927 to 1 September 1929 in the public weapon factory in Radom. In 1936 he finished the School of Officer Cadets 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...
— engineering group. His last war ranks were a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and a British W/Cdr. He was a pilot and technical officer, and flew in total around 900 hours, in majority on two and multi-motor aircraft.
From 1 April 1944 to 1 February 1945 he was Commander of the No. 300 "Land of Masovia" Bomber Squadron
No. 300 Polish Bomber Squadron
No. 300 "Land of Masovia" Bomber Squadron was a Polish World War II bomber unit. It was fighting alongside the Royal Air Force and operated from airbases in the United Kingdom.- History :...
, and from 6 May 1945 to 18 December 1946 he was Commander of the No. 301 Polish Bomber Squadron
No. 301 Polish Bomber Squadron
No. 301 Polish Bomber Squadron "Land of Pomerania" was a Polish World War II bomber unit. It was fighting alongside the Royal Air Force and operated from airbases in the United Kingdom and Italy.-History:...
— 1586 squadron For Special Tasks.
After the war
After the war he remained in Great Britain, where he ran his own shop. He died as a result of disease at age 62 in the IpswichIpswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
hospital in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, and was also buried there.
Awards
- 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...
- Krzyż WalecznychKrzyz WalecznychThe Cross of Valor is a Polish military decoration. It was first introduced by the Council for Defense of the State on 11 August 1920. It is awarded to an individual who "has demonstrated deeds of valor and courage on the field of battle." It may be awarded to the same person up to four times...
x4 - Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO) - 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...
(DFC)
Shortened course of service
- 1 September 1939: CWL Dęblin — Officer of technical oversight ppor. (lieutenant).
- 29 October 1939: Salon France
- 27 January 1940: EastchurchEastchurchEastchurch is a village on the Isle of Sheppey, in the English county of Kent, two miles east of Minster.The village website claims "... it has a history steeped in stories of piracy and smugglers".- Aviation history :...
in Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
— awaiting allocation - 15 May 1940: training as pilot
- 11 June 1940: training as pilot
- 7 July 1940: No. 301 (P) Bomber Squadron Bramcote — participation in squadron's first combat tasks
- 20 June 1942: 18 OTU Bramcote — instructor por. (first lieutenant).
- 19 January 1944: No. 300 (P) Bomber Squadron Ingham and later Faldingworth — Commander of Squadron
- 2 February 1945: Main headquarters 1 group, Ops room - mjr.
- 2 May 1945: No. 301 Bomber Squadron, Commander of Squadron