Teofil Pożyczka (1912 – c. 1974) was a Polish pilot during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He served as technical officer in the Centralne Warsztaty Lotnicze (Central Aerial Works) in the

Polish September Campaign The invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign, Polish Campaign, and Polish Defensive War of 1939 (1 September – 6 October 1939), was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany, the Slovak Republic, and the Soviet ...

of 1939.

Biography

Pożyczka was a graduate of the second promotion of the Szkoła Podchorążych Lotnictwa (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 is a city in east-central Poland, located approximately south of the capital, Warsaw. It is situated on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship. Radom is the fifteenth-largest city in Poland and the second-largest in its province w ...

, he was unmarried before the war, but had a fiancée. He finished primary education in 1924, and

Lyceum The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies among countries; usually it is a type of secondary school. Basic science and some introduction to ...

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 Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

— engineering group. His last war ranks were a

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

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.

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

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...

hospital in

Suffolk Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...

, and was also buried there.

Awards

Virtuti Militari The War Order of Virtuti Militari (Latin: ''"For Military Virtue"'', ) is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war. It was established in 1792 by the last King of Poland Stanislaus II of Poland, ...

Krzyż Walecznych The Cross of Valour () is a Polish military decoration. It was introduced by the Council of National Defense (Poland), Council of National Defense on 11 August 1920. It is awarded to an individual who "has demonstrated deeds of valour and courage ...

x4 *

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a Military awards and decorations, military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful ...

(DSO) *

Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers, and since 1993 to other ranks, of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other British Armed Forces, services, and formerly to officers of other ...

(DFC)

Shortened course of service

* 1 September 1939: CWL Dęblin — Officer of technical oversight ppor. (lieutenant). * 29 October 1939: Salon France * 27 January 1940:

Eastchurch Eastchurch is a village and civil parish on the Isle of Sheppey, in the English county of Kent, two miles east of Minster, Swale, Minster. The village website claims the area has "a history steeped in stories of piracy and smugglers". Aviation ...

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

— 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

References

1912 births 1974 deaths Polish military aviators Polish World War II bomber pilots {{Poland-mil-bio-stub