Jerzy Bajan
Encyclopedia
Jerzy Bajan was a prominent Polish sports and military aviator, winner of the Challenge 1934
contest.
(Lviv, at that time part of the Habsburg monarchy. After Poland had regained independence in 1918, at the age of 17 he volunteered for the Polish Army. He was one of young Lwów defenders ("Lwów Eaglets
"). Next he served in cavalry, and later in infantry, during the Polish-Soviet war
of 1920. In 1922 he applied for the Polish Air Force.
Despite problems with health, he completed Officer Flying School in Grudziądz
and a higher pilotage course in Bydgoszcz and became a fighter pilot. In 1927 he served in 114th Fighter Escadre in Lida
, from 1928 moved to Cracov and renamed the 122nd Fighter Escadre of the 2nd Fighter Regiment. In the beginning of 1930s he was promoted to Captain.
. Along with Karol Pniak and Corporal Macek he formed the first aerobatic team in Poland, so-called "Bajan's trio". The flew on air shows on PWS-A fighters, the wings of which were tied together by ropes.
Bajan also took part in aviation contests. In July-August 1930 he took part in International Touring Aircraft Contest, the Challenge 1930
, flying the RWD-4
, with his escadre's chief mechanic Gustaw Pokrzywka as a crewman. He completed it on far 32nd place, but completing the contest was a success itself (for 60 starting crews). In 1931 Bajan won an aerobatic contest during an air meeting in Zagreb
. Between 22-31 July 1932 he took part in the 3rd International Air Meeting in Zurich
(or "Alpen rally"), flying a prototype fighter PZL P.11
, and he came second (the first place of the Yugoslavian pilot was debated, because of using additions for fuel).
In 12-28 August 1932 Bajan took part in another Challenge 1932
contest, flying the PZL.19
, again with Pokrzywka, and completed on 11th place (for 43 starting crews). In May 1933 they took part in a rally to Vienna
, for the 1st Alpen Flight Contest, covering in two stages 4063 km Warsaw-Kharkov-Leningrad
-Lwów-Vienna route and winning the 1st place in a rally. During the contest itself, their PZL.19 was thrown by a wind to the trees while taking off from Baltant near Treibach, and then burnt; Bajan and Pokrzywka bailed out successfully.
In the last International Touring Aircraft Contest, the Challenge 1934
, set up between 28 August and 19 September 1934 in Warsaw, Bajan came as a winner, flying RWD-9
with Gustaw Pokrzywka as a crewman. Therefore, he became one of most popular aviators in Poland.
. In 1936-1938 he studied at Higher War School in Warsaw, which he graduated. On 15 June 1939, in a rank of Colonel, he became a chief of Flying Cadet
School in Flying Officer Training Centre in Dęblin
.
Training Command (a chief of the Polish training aviation in Great Britain). In 1942 he took part in several combat flights in No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron
. From 1 June 1943, after the death of Stefan Pawlikowski, he became a Polish liaison officer in RAF Fighter Command - a chief of the Polish fighter aviation. Promoted to Colonel, he occupied this position until post-war, when it was liquidated.
After the war he stayed in London
instead of returning to a communist-ruled country. Bajan actively worked in the Polish Aviators Association in Great Britain, serving as its president for a time. He led the historical commission, that researched a list of Polish air victories during World War II, so-called "Bajan's list". He also was a co-founder of the Polish Gliding Club at Lasham
. He received disability benefits. Bajan died on 27 June 1967 in London.
Challenge 1934
The Challenge 1934 was the fourth and last FAI International Tourist Plane Contest , that took place between August 28 and September 16, 1934 in Warsaw, Poland. The four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe...
contest.
Early military career
He was born in LwówLviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
(Lviv, at that time part of the Habsburg monarchy. After Poland had regained independence in 1918, at the age of 17 he volunteered for the Polish Army. He was one of young Lwów defenders ("Lwów Eaglets
Lwów Eaglets
Lwów Eaglets is a term of affection applied to the Polish teenagers who defended the city of Lviv in Eastern Galicia, during the Polish-Ukrainian War .-Background:...
"). Next he served in cavalry, and later in infantry, during 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...
of 1920. In 1922 he applied for the Polish Air Force.
Despite problems with health, he completed Officer Flying School in Grudziądz
Grudziadz
Grudziądz is a city in northern Poland on the Vistula River, with 96 042 inhabitants . Situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship , the city was previously in the Toruń Voivodeship .- History :-Early history:...
and a higher pilotage course in Bydgoszcz and became a fighter pilot. In 1927 he served in 114th Fighter Escadre in Lida
Lida
Lida is a city in western Belarus in Hrodna Voblast, situated 160 km west of Minsk. It is the fourteenth largest city in Belarus.- Etymology :...
, from 1928 moved to Cracov and renamed the 122nd Fighter Escadre of the 2nd Fighter Regiment. In the beginning of 1930s he was promoted to Captain.
Sport activities
During service in a fighter unit, his passion became aerobaticsAerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
. Along with Karol Pniak and Corporal Macek he formed the first aerobatic team in Poland, so-called "Bajan's trio". The flew on air shows on PWS-A fighters, the wings of which were tied together by ropes.
Bajan also took part in aviation contests. In July-August 1930 he took part in International Touring Aircraft Contest, the Challenge 1930
Challenge 1930
The International Touring Competition in 1930 was the second FAI international touring aircraft contest, that took place between July 18 and August 8, 1930 in Berlin, Germany. Four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe....
, flying the RWD-4
RWD-4
|-See also:-References:* Glass, Andrzej: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" , WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 -External links:*...
, with his escadre's chief mechanic Gustaw Pokrzywka as a crewman. He completed it on far 32nd place, but completing the contest was a success itself (for 60 starting crews). In 1931 Bajan won an aerobatic contest during an air meeting in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
. Between 22-31 July 1932 he took part in the 3rd International Air Meeting in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
(or "Alpen rally"), flying a prototype fighter PZL P.11
PZL P.11
The PZL P.11 was a Polish fighter aircraft, designed in the early 1930s by PZL in Warsaw. It was briefly considered to be the most advanced fighter aircraft design in the world...
, and he came second (the first place of the Yugoslavian pilot was debated, because of using additions for fuel).
In 12-28 August 1932 Bajan took part in another Challenge 1932
Challenge 1932
The Challenge 1932 was the third FAI International Tourist Plane Contest , that took place between 12 and August 28, 1932 in Berlin, Germany. The four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe.-Overview:...
contest, flying the PZL.19
PZL.19
|-References: Glass, Andrzej. Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939 , pp. 242-244.. Warsaw: WKiŁ, 1977.-See also:...
, again with Pokrzywka, and completed on 11th place (for 43 starting crews). In May 1933 they took part in a rally to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, for the 1st Alpen Flight Contest, covering in two stages 4063 km Warsaw-Kharkov-Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
-Lwów-Vienna route and winning the 1st place in a rally. During the contest itself, their PZL.19 was thrown by a wind to the trees while taking off from Baltant near Treibach, and then burnt; Bajan and Pokrzywka bailed out successfully.
In the last International Touring Aircraft Contest, the Challenge 1934
Challenge 1934
The Challenge 1934 was the fourth and last FAI International Tourist Plane Contest , that took place between August 28 and September 16, 1934 in Warsaw, Poland. The four Challenges, from 1929 to 1934, were major aviation events in pre-war Europe...
, set up between 28 August and 19 September 1934 in Warsaw, Bajan came as a winner, flying RWD-9
RWD-9
The RWD 9 was a Polish sports plane of 1934, constructed by the RWD team.-Development:The aircraft was a further development of the RWD 6 - the winner of the IIIrd Challenge de Tourisme International Challenge 1932 international tourist aircraft contest...
with Gustaw Pokrzywka as a crewman. Therefore, he became one of most popular aviators in Poland.
Later military career
In the second part of the 1930s, Bajan was promoted to Major. After a practice in Great Britain, he became a Chief of Training in a Higher Flying School in GrudziądzGrudziadz
Grudziądz is a city in northern Poland on the Vistula River, with 96 042 inhabitants . Situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship , the city was previously in the Toruń Voivodeship .- History :-Early history:...
. In 1936-1938 he studied at Higher War School in Warsaw, which he graduated. On 15 June 1939, in a rank of Colonel, he became a chief of Flying Cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
School in Flying Officer Training Centre 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....
.
World War II and post-war
After outbreak of World War II, Bajan was injured in the left hand during a Luftwaffe bombing raid on Dęblin on 2 September 1939, and his hand became disabled. Along with other Polish pilots, he escaped to France in 1940, then to Great Britain. He occupied staff positions in the Polish Air Force in exile, but he also occasionally flew aircraft, having attached a hook to his hand. He served initially in a Polish Air Force Inspectorate. From 7 April to 17 October 1941 he was the first Polish liaison officer in Royal Air ForceRoyal 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...
Training Command (a chief of the Polish training aviation in Great Britain). In 1942 he took part in several combat flights in No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron
No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron
No. 316 "City of Warsaw" Polish Fighter Squadron was a Polish fighter squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom in 1941...
. From 1 June 1943, after the death of Stefan Pawlikowski, he became a Polish liaison officer in RAF Fighter Command - a chief of the Polish fighter aviation. Promoted to Colonel, he occupied this position until post-war, when it was liquidated.
After the war he stayed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
instead of returning to a communist-ruled country. Bajan actively worked in the Polish Aviators Association in Great Britain, serving as its president for a time. He led the historical commission, that researched a list of Polish air victories during World War II, so-called "Bajan's list". He also was a co-founder of the Polish Gliding Club at Lasham
Lasham
Lasham is a small village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is northwest of Alton, just off the A339 road. The nearest railway station is Alton, southeast of the village....
. He received disability benefits. Bajan died on 27 June 1967 in London.