Michał Maciejowski

Michał Maciejowski DFC** DFM
Born	23 June 1912 Ostrów Wielkopolski, German Empire
Died	August , 1988 Montreal, Canada
Allegiance	Poland  United Kingdom
Service/branch	Polish Air Force  Royal Air Force
Rank	podporucznik
Unit	No. 111 Squadron RAF No. 249 Squadron RAF No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron
Battles/wars	Polish Defensive War, World War II
Awards	Virtuti Militari; Polonia Restituta; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Medal (UK); Distinguished Flying Cross (UK)

Michał Maciejowski DFC** DFM (23 June 1912^[1] - August 1988) was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II.

Biography

Maciejowski was born in Ostrów Wielkopolski. He completed The Poznań Cadet School for the Air Force Reserve (Szkoła Podchorążych Rezerwy Lotnictwa). He was mobilized in August 1939. On 17 September, he crossed the border with Romania, then he came to France and finally arrived in the United Kingdom. On 2 September 1940 he was assigned to No. 111 Squadron RAF, two days after he shot down his first plane. He was transferred to No. 249 Squadron RAF.^[2][3] During the Battle of Britain, he claimed 4 confirmed kills, 1 probable and 1 damaged.

After training at 56 OTU in RAF Sutton Bridge, Maciejowski was posted to No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron.^[4] He also served in No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron.

On 9 August 1943, in a flight over occupied France, he colided with the Spitfire piloted by flying officer Lech Kondracki and was captured by the Germans.^[5]

He was credited with 9 (and 1 shared) kills, and 1 probable kills.

After the war ended he emigrated to Canada in 1947, changed his name to Michael Manson and started a family.

Michał Maciejowski died in Montreal in August 1988.

Awards

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

References

1. 29.10.1913 according to J. Cynk Polskie Siły Powietrzne w wojnie
2. polishairforce.pl
3. List of RAF aircrew in the Battle of Britain (L–N)
4. Maciejowski w thesoutheastecho.co.uk
5. polishairforce

Further reading

• Wacław Król: Zarys dzialań polskiego lotnictva w Wielkiej Brytanii 1940-1945, WKiL Warszawa 1990,ISBN 83-206-0852-X
• Jerzy B. Cynk, Polskie Siły Powietrzne 1939-1945, AJ-Press 2001, ISBN 83-7237-089-3
• Hubert Kazimierz Kujawa. "Gazeta Ostrowska o Maciejewskim" (in Polish). Retrieved 2012-06-13.
• "Maciejowski w thesoutheastecho.co.uk". p. 1. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
• "Maciejowski w avstop.com". p. 1. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
• "Maciejowski w acesofww2.com". p. 1. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
• "Maciejowski w warbirdsresourcegroup.org". p. 1. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
• "Pilots in Battle of Britain" (in Polish). p. 1. Retrieved 2012-06-13.
• "photo". p. 1. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
• "photo". p. 1. Retrieved 2012-06-15.