Jerzy Jankiewicz

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Jerzy Jankiewicz, a polish man born in Kiev on the 15th of july 1913. Jerzy began the process of joining the Polish Airforce in 1932, he graduated as an observer from his school in Deblin. His first duty was to the training squadron of 1st aviation regiment. He was then put into the 13th Squadron of the same regiment as an observer. In 1935 Jerzy graduated from the Pilot Training club in Deblin, Poland. Afterwards he took up an advanced aviation school in Grudziadz. After his graduation on the 17th of July 1936 he officially became a fighter pilot.

Active Duty in the Polish Airforce

On September 1936 he was put in duty at the 113th fighter squadron, after climbing the ranks, Jerzy went on the join the 114th Fighter Squadron in 1937, 2 years before the beginning of the end.

Active Duty in the Polish Airforce in England

The first deliveries of Hawker Hurricanes were due to arrive at the port of Constanta, Romania. Jerzy Jankiewicz was in Romania at the time of the German invasion of Poland, unable to return, he made his way to France via Yugoslavia and Greece, arriving there on 23rd of October 1939, Just a few months before Fall Rot. After reporting to the Polish Military depot at Lyon, Jerzy was sent to Le Bourget near Paris. It was planned to assign him to the Lockheed L-14 Electra aircraft of the Polish airline LOT that had escaped from Poland before the German Invasion of its home-base. The successes of the German military in operation Fall Rot put a stop to this, he made his way to England in ~June 1939, Just a few days after the 42 day long invasion had begun. He was taken in by the RAF through the center at Blackpool. On 1st August 1940 he went onto 6 OTU Sutton Bridge to convert to Hurricanes. After the transfer of the Polish Airforce to England, Jerzy was later but into 601 Squadron at Debden on 18th August 1940. The Battle of Britain had begun and active operations were in place to counter the Luftwaffe's actions against Britain and the commonwealth's territory.

Combat Actions within the Polish Airforce in England (601)

His first probable kill emerged on the 4th of September after he claimed that a Me110 was probably destroyed in an interception over Worthing. His Hawker Hurricane, was heavily damaged and he made a forced-landing west of London in Goring being slightly wounded in the process. After recovery he was back in the air and on 25th of September he claimed a Bf109 destroyed. On the 15th of May Jerzy was given the role of B flight commander of 303 Squadron. a few weeks later the A flight commander of 303 Squadron Waclaw Lapkowski was KIA and so Jerzy was put up to the role of A Flight Commander of 303 Squadron. On the 15th of May Jerzy shared in the destruction of a Junkers 52 and became 'B' Flight Commander, On the 22nd of June he destroyed a Bf109 and shared a probable Me109 on 6th of July 1941. Jankiewicz took command of 303 squadron on 9th July, was awarded a second Bar and the Virtuti Military 5th Class and the Distinguished Flying Cross on the 30th of October 1941.

Confirmed kills:

1. Ju 52 - May 15, 19412
2. Bf 109 - June 22, 1942
3. Bf 109 - September 25, 1940

Likely Kills:

1. Bf-109 - July 6, 1941
2. Bf 110 - September 4, 1940

Damaged enemy planes:

1. Bf-109 - August 17, 1940
2. Bf-110 - October 17, 1941

Death

On 22nd May 1942 Jerzy Jankiewicz joined 222 Squadron at North Weald as a Flight Commander. Three days after joining he failed to return from a Dogfight west of Dunkirk, it is believed that he was shot down into the sea in his Spitfire VB, Along side with another pilot of 222 Squadron, P/O G.F Morgan

References

Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O J JankiewiczAircrew Remembered Aviation Personal Histories and DatabasesBattle of Britain London Monument - P/O J Jankiewicz

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