Franciszek Surma

Franciszek Surma
Born (1916-07-01)1 July 1916
Głębocz German Empire
(present-day Poland)
Died November 8, 1941(1941-11-08)
UK
Allegiance

 Poland

 United Kingdom
Service/branch

 Polish Air Force

 Royal Air Force
Years of service 1932-1941
Rank Flying Officer
Unit Polish 121st Fighter Escadrille
No. 151 Squadron RAF
No. 607 Squadron RAF
No. 257 Squadron RAF
No. 242 Squadron RAF
No. 308 (Polish) Squadron
Battles/wars Polish Defensive War, World War II
Awards Virtuti Militari; Cross of Valour

Franciszek Surma was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 5 confirmed kills.[1]

Biography

Surma was born in Głębocz (present-day it is part of Gołkowice, Silesia), he was son of Franciszek and Tekla born Wodecka. In 1932 he entered the Cadets Corps in Różan, four years later he was admitted to the Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin. On 15 June 1939 Surma was posted to the Polish 121st Fighter Escadrille in Cracow.

After the September Campaign he crossed the border with Romania, then he was evacuated to France via Liban and finally he reached Britain. After a training in 56 OTU Surma was assigned to the No. 151 Squadron RAF with which he took part in the Battle of Britain. On 11 September 1940 He was transferred to the No. 607 Squadron RAF, on 26 September he shot down a Bf 109. On 21 October he was ordered to the No. 257 Squadron RAF, one week later he damaged a He 111 but was hit himself managing to bale out by parachute. Since 12 December he served in the No. 242 Squadron RAF and finally on 3 March 1941 he arrived in the No. 308 (Polish) Squadron. On 11 May 1941 over Great Malvern, his Spitfire was hit and begun to burn. Surma had to save himself by jumping with a parachute once again.[2] From 22 July to 12 October he downed four Bf 109. On 8 November escorting bombers near Dunkirk Surma engaged Messerschmidt Bf 109's, during the fight he broke away from his squadron and never returned. His body was never found. He was probably hit by flak.

On 25 May 2002 the school of Gołkowice was named after Franciszek Surma.

Aerial victory credits

Awards

Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), three times

References

  1. ↑ ""Lista Bajana"". polishairforce.pl.
  2. ↑ "Niebieska eskadra - groby, cmentarze, pomniki, miejsca pamięci polskich lotników". niebieskaeskadra.pl.

Further reading

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