Franciszek Gruszka
Encyclopedia
Franciszek "Frank" Gruszka (21 January 1910 - 18 August 1940), Polish soldier (porucznik), Flying Officer
(F/O) of the Royal Air Force
during the Battle of Britain
. He was one of the first Polish airmen flying the Spitfire
and the last pilot of the Battle buried with honors.
He was the second oldest son of a wealthy farmer's family: His father was able to let three of his sons gain higher education: Józef Gruszka (he spent World War II
as a Prisoner of war
in a German camp) was a lawyer, Piotr Gruszka a philologist
(during the War the AK
soldier), and Franciszek the fighter pilot
.
Serving in the Army from 1931, he graduated from the Polish Air Force Academy
in Dęblin
(8th honorary promotion of 15 August 1934) and was commissioned as a pilot instructor in 111/6 squadron
based near Lwów.
After the outbreak of World War II
he reportedly shot down a He-111 bomber. On 17 September he passed through Romania
, Yugoslavia
, and Italy
to continue fighting in France
, arriving in Paris
on 7 October 1939. In December 1939 he was one of the first Polish fighter pilots to arrive in Great Britain. He underwent training on the Supermarine Spitfire
and was commissioned as Flying Officer (F/O) and posted to No. 65 "East India" Squadron
based at RAF Hornchurch
.
In his memoirs (in possession of the family in Poland) he described his first flight against German bomber formation (presumably on 14 August 1940): "Battle of August. I am starting to fight. Many Germans above and just twelve of us (only two Poles are me and Władzio Szulkowski). We attack bombers, German fighters attack us from behind. One of them is closer and closer. I make a sudden turn, get his tail, and send a series (burst of shots). He is going down to the clouds, inertial. I can not go after him, because in the same moment two other 'Jerries' attack me. Have no chance, I hide in clouds..."
On 18 August 1940 he took off in Spitfire R6713 to intercept a German bomber formation. He was seen dog-fighting over Canterbury
and Manston
and chasing a fleeing German fighter. He never returned to Hornchurch
airfield. There were no reports regarding his fate, and his comrades assumed that he was—at best—a prisoner. No news was forthcoming however, and he was classified by the RAF as MIA
.
In the spring of 1975 a World War II aviation archeology group found the remnants of an airplane and its pilot in marshes between Preston Village
and Stodmarsh
, East Sussex
. Because of the swampy nature of the ground, the uniform, Polish airman's emblem, and some personal possessions remained in good condition, even buried after 35 years (these were displayed in the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum
in London). Identification of the body was possible due to a golden fountain pen with an engraved dedication from his fellow pilots.
F/O Franciszek Gruszka was buried with full British military honors at the Polish War Memorial
on the outskirts of RAF Northolt
, London (grave no. H202) on 17 July 1975.
He was awarded posthumously with 1939–45 Star with Battle of Britain
clasp, Air Crew Europe Star
, and War Medal 1939–1945
.
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
(F/O) of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. He was one of the first Polish airmen flying the Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and the last pilot of the Battle buried with honors.
He was the second oldest son of a wealthy farmer's family: His father was able to let three of his sons gain higher education: Józef Gruszka (he spent World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a Prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in a German camp) was a lawyer, Piotr Gruszka a philologist
Classical philology
Classical philology is the study of ancient Greek and classical Latin. Classical philology has been defined as "the careful study of the literary and philosophical texts of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds." Greek and Latin literature and civilization have traditionally been considered...
(during the War the AK
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
soldier), and Franciszek the fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
.
Serving in the Army from 1931, he graduated from the Polish Air Force Academy
Polish Air Force Academy
The Polish Air Force Academy is located in Deblin, eastern Poland. The Air Force Academy is an accredited university for the undergraduate education of officers for the Polish Air Force...
in Dęblin
Deblin
Dęblin is a town, population 19,500 , at the confluence of Vistula and Wieprz rivers, in Lublin Voivodeship, Poland. Dęblin is the part of the agglomeration with adjacent towns of Ryki and Puławy, which altogether has over 100 000 inhabitants....
(8th honorary promotion of 15 August 1934) and was commissioned as a pilot instructor in 111/6 squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
based near Lwów.
After the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he reportedly shot down a He-111 bomber. On 17 September he passed through Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to continue fighting in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, arriving in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 7 October 1939. In December 1939 he was one of the first Polish fighter pilots to arrive in Great Britain. He underwent training on the Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and was commissioned as Flying Officer (F/O) and posted to No. 65 "East India" Squadron
No. 65 Squadron RAF
No. 65 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.-World War I:The squadron was first formed at Wyton on 1 August 1916 as a squadron of the Royal Flying Corps with a core provided from the training ground at Norwich. By the end of World War I, it had claimed over 200 victories...
based at RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch
RAF Hornchurch was an airfield in the south of Hornchurch in what is now the London Borough of Havering. Known as Sutton's Farm during the First World War, it occupied of the farm of the same name and was situated east north-east of Charing Cross...
.
In his memoirs (in possession of the family in Poland) he described his first flight against German bomber formation (presumably on 14 August 1940): "Battle of August. I am starting to fight. Many Germans above and just twelve of us (only two Poles are me and Władzio Szulkowski). We attack bombers, German fighters attack us from behind. One of them is closer and closer. I make a sudden turn, get his tail, and send a series (burst of shots). He is going down to the clouds, inertial. I can not go after him, because in the same moment two other 'Jerries' attack me. Have no chance, I hide in clouds..."
On 18 August 1940 he took off in Spitfire R6713 to intercept a German bomber formation. He was seen dog-fighting over Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and Manston
Manston, Kent
Manston is a village and civil parish in the Thanet district of Kent, England. The village is situated one mile north-west of Ramsgate. The parish includes four hamlets and Kent International Airport.-Etymology:...
and chasing a fleeing German fighter. He never returned to Hornchurch
Hornchurch
Hornchurch is a large suburban town in England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. Hornchurch is in North-East London .It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan. It comprises a number of shopping...
airfield. There were no reports regarding his fate, and his comrades assumed that he was—at best—a prisoner. No news was forthcoming however, and he was classified by the RAF as MIA
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
.
In the spring of 1975 a World War II aviation archeology group found the remnants of an airplane and its pilot in marshes between Preston Village
Preston Village, Brighton
Preston Village is a suburban area of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex to the north of the centre. Originally a village in its own right, it was eventually absorbed into Brighton with the development of the farmland owned by the local Stanford family, officially becoming a parish of the town in 1928...
and Stodmarsh
Stodmarsh
Stodmarsh is a small village 5 miles to the east of Canterbury in east Kent, England, overlooking the valley of the River Stour.Stodmarsh is now part of the parish of Wickhambreaux...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. Because of the swampy nature of the ground, the uniform, Polish airman's emblem, and some personal possessions remained in good condition, even buried after 35 years (these were displayed in the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum
Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum
The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, commonly known as Sikorski Institute, is a London-based non-governmental organization of the Polish minority in United Kingdom...
in London). Identification of the body was possible due to a golden fountain pen with an engraved dedication from his fellow pilots.
F/O Franciszek Gruszka was buried with full British military honors at the Polish War Memorial
Polish War Memorial
The Polish War Memorial is a memorial erected to remember the contribution of airmen from Poland who helped the Allied cause during World War II....
on the outskirts of RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
, London (grave no. H202) on 17 July 1975.
He was awarded posthumously with 1939–45 Star with Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
clasp, Air Crew Europe Star
Air Crew Europe Star
The Air Crew Europe Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. Specifically, the medal was awarded to Commonwealth aircrew who participated in operational flights over Europe, from UK bases....
, and War Medal 1939–1945
War Medal 1939–1945
The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea...
.
External links
- Battle of Britain Memorial, London website - participants
- Article in Polish
- List of Pilots of the Battle of Britain
- Men of the Battle of Britain
- 65 "East India" Squadron
Sources
- Sarkar, Dilip: Missing in Action Resting in Peace?, Bayhouse, Worcester 1998.