Janusz Meissner was a Polish Air Force pilot, journalist and author.

Life

In late 1919 Meissner completed pilot training at Kraków

Kraków

Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...

's Lower Pilot School (Niższa Szkoła Pilotów), and in March 1920, at Poznań

Poznan

Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

's Higher Pilot School (Wyższa Szkoła Pilotów). From July 1920 he served in the Polish-Soviet War

Polish-Soviet War

The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...

, in the newly-formed Toruńska Eskadra Wywiadowcza (Toruń Reconnaissance Squadron) in the rank of pilot sergeant. For his combat flight of July 16, 1920, he was decorated with the Cross of Valor, and in August 1920 he was promoted to lieutenant.

After the Polish-Soviet War he participated in the preparations for the Third Silesian Uprising and in actual combat operations beginning May 2/3, 1921, commanding a special-forces

Special forces

Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...

 detachment of the Wawelberg Group

Wawelberg Group

The Wawelberg Group , also known as the Konrad Wawelberg Destruction Group , was a Polish special-forces unit. The group began the Third Silesian Uprising on May 2/3, 1921 by blowing up seven rail bridges linking Upper Silesia with the rest of Germany....

. For his contribution to the success of the Uprising, he was decorated with the Virtuti Militari

Virtuti Militari

The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...

(Poland's highest military decoration), 5th class, on June 27, 1922, and with the Cross of Independence

Cross of Independence

Cross of Independence was one of the highest Polish military decorations between World Wars I and II. It was awarded to individuals who had "fought heroically for the independence of Poland," and was released in three versions.- History :...

 with Swords.

In 1929-1946 he served in the Polish Air Force. To 1939 he was pilot chief at the Wyższa Szkoła Oficerska Sił Powietrznych. From 1944 he was an officer in the RAF

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...

. In 1946 he returned to Poland to live in Zakopane

Zakopane

Zakopane , is a town in southern Poland. It lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to 1998 it was in of Nowy Sącz Province, but since 1999 it has been in Lesser Poland Province. It had a population of about 28,000 as of 2004. Zakopane is a...

. In 1956 he moved to Kraków

Kraków

Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...

, where he died.

He left two sons: Andrzej and Jerzy.

He was the author of popular books on the Polish Air Force and Navy.