Bolesław Drobiński

Bolesław Drobiński
DSO DFC**
Born (1918-10-23)23 October 1918
Ostroh, Russian Empire
Died July 26, 1995(1995-07-26)
England
Allegiance

 Poland

 United Kingdom
Service/branch

 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)

Bolesław Drobiński DFC was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 7 confirmed kills and one shared.

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 in England.

On 11 September 1940 Drobiński was assigned to the No. 65 Squadron RAF and took part to the Battle of Britain. On 2 March 1941 he was posted to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. On 15 May 1941 he damaged on the ground a Ju 52. 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 1943 he married a South African woman, they had two sons and a daughter.[2]

Aerial victory credits

Awards

Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), three times
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)

References

Further reading

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