InfoPersons, originating from Poland
Stanisław Skalski
Born: November 27, 1915 in Kodyma, Podolia province, Russian EmpireDied: November 12, 2004 in Warsaw
After completing Pilot Training School in 1938 Skalski was ordered to the 142nd Fighter Squadron in Toruń. On 1 September 1939 he attacked a German Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance aircraft, which was eventually shot down by Marian Pisarek. By 16 September Skalski reached "ace" status, claiming a total of six German planes and making him the first Allied air ace of World War II.
Soon after he fled the country with other Polish pilots to Romania. Via Beirut they went to France and finally he joined the Royal
Wing Commander Skalski
with Air Marshal Coningham (left)
and General Sosnokowski (right)
Air Force in the Battle of Britain.
On 5 September Skalski was shot down. He had to lay in a hospital during six weeks with severe burns.
During the Battle of Britain, he was credited with four planes shot down and one shared.
Skalski became commander of 601 (County of London) Squadron, the first Pole to command an RAF Squadron.
He took part in allied actions over North Africa and Sicily.
In June 1944 he was in action over Rouen during the invasion in France.
with Air Marshal Coningham (left)
and General Sosnokowski (right)
After the war he returned to Poland in 1947 and joined the Air Force of the Polish Army. In 1948 however he was arrested under the false charge of espionage. Sentenced to death, he spent three years awaiting the execution, after which his sentence was changed to life imprisonment in the Wronki Prison. After the end of Stalinism in Poland, in 1956 he was released and rehabilitated. He served at various posts in the Headquarters of the Polish Air Forces and retired in 1972.
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Polonica stamps:
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