Jan Daszewski

Jan Kazimierz Daszewski (5 April 1916 – 4 April 1942) was a fighter pilot in the Polish Air Force in World War II.

Jan Daszewski
Born(1916-04-05)5 April 1916
Kiev, Russian Empire
Died4 April 1942(1942-04-04) (aged 25)
English Channel
Allegiance Poland
 France
 United Kingdom
Service/branch
Years of service1938-1942
RankFlight commander
Unit
Awards

Jan Daszewski was born on 5 April 1916 in Kiev. He trained at the "School of Eaglets" in Dęblin. In 1938 he was posted to 112 Fighter Escadrille and participated in the September 1939 campaign in Poland, claiming a Ju 87 destroyed.[1] Via Romania he escaped to France and in May 1940 he was posted to ECD I/55 flying the Bloch MB 152, where he claimed a He 111 destroyed.

On 2 August 1940 he was posted to No. 303 Squadron RAF.[1]

His achievements are described in Arkady Fiedler's book Dywizjon 303 (Squadron 303). With Jan Zumbach, Mirosław Ferić and Witold Łokuciewski, Daszewski was one of the famous "four musketeers" of Polish pilots fighting in the Battle of Britain. On 7 September he was wounded in combat, suffering a severe thigh injury, returning to 303 Squadron on 27 December 1940.

On 22 November 1941 he became a flight commander in 303 Squadron. He was shot down and posted missing over the English Channel in April 1942.[2]

His wartime tally was 3 destroyed, 2 'probables' and 1 destroyed on the ground.[3]

He was awarded the Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari, Cross of Valour and three bars.

References
  1. Glenn Knoblock (1 May 2004). With Great Sacrifice and Bravery: The Career of Polish Ace Waclaw Lapkowski, 1939-41: Illustrated with Official RAF Combat Reports. Merriam Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-57638-330-8.
  2. Jerzy B. Cynk (1 September 1998). The Polish Air Force at war: the official history. Schiffer Pub. ISBN 978-0-7643-0559-7.
  3. Those Other Eagles, Shores, page 140
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