Bolesław Drobiński
Bolesław Drobiński DFC (23 October 1918 – 26 July 1995) was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 7 confirmed kills and one shared.
Bolesław Drobiński DFC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 23 October 1918 Ostroh, Poland |
| Died | 26 July 1995 (aged 76) England |
| Allegiance |  Poland United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  Polish Air Force Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1937-1948 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | No. 65 Squadron RAF No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Polish Defensive War, World War II |
| Awards | Virtuti Militari; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Cross (UK) |
Biography
Drobiński made his first flight on a glider in 1934. On 2 January 1938 he entered the Polish Air Force Academy in Deblin. After the Invasion of Poland he was evacuated to France via Romania and Italy, then he came to England.
On 11 September 1940 Drobiński was assigned to the No. 65 Squadron RAF and took part in the Battle of Britain. On 2 March 1941 he was posted to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 15 May 1941 he damaged a Ju 52 which was on the ground. On 21 June 1941 Drobiński heavily damaged the plane flown by German ace Adolf Galland[1] and forced him to a crash-landing. From 18 March 1942 to 9 August 1942 he was an instructor in No. 58 Operational Training Unit at RAF Grangemouth. On 18 October 1943 he was ordered to No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 3 April 1944 he began to work in the Ministry of Defence. On 26 September 1944 he took command of No.303 Polish Fighter Squadron.
Drobiński was demobilized in 1948. He worked in the oil industry in America. In 1950's he settled in a village in Surrey. In 1960 he obtained British citizenship. In 1969 he acted as a technical advisor for the Battle of Britain. In 1943 he married a South African woman, they had two sons and a daughter.[2]
Aerial victory credits
- 18 June 1941 – 2 Bf 109
- 21 June 1941 – Bf 109
- 22 June 1941 – Bf 109
- 25 June 1941 – Bf 109
- 3 July 1941 – Bf 109
- 6 July 1941 – 1/3 Bf 109 (probably destroyed)
- 7 July 1941 – 1/2
- 24 July 1941 – Bf 109 (probably destroyed)
- 24 October 1941 – Bf 109 (probably destroyed)
- 13 March 1942 – Bf 109
Awards
Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
_3r_BAR.PNG.webp){kind=small}
Cross of Valour (Poland), three times
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 12 November 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Further reading
- "Bolesław Drobiński" (in Polish). p. 1. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- Konrad Rydłowski. "Bolesław Drobiński" (in Polish). p. 1. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- "Bolesław Drobiński" (in Polish). p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- "zestrzelenia Gallanda". p. 1. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2012.