Zygmunt Witymir Bienkowski
Encyclopedia
Zygmunt Witymir Bieńkowski (May 2, 1913 Kołbiel, nr. Warszawa - August 15, 1979) was a Polish
pilot
and a gifted writer
of many articles and poems. His 303 squadron
diary is deposited in the Polish Museum and Sikorski Institute in London
. He is buried at Gunnersbury Cemetery
in West London.
Zygmunt Witymir Bieńkowski was the son of Leopold Bieńkowski (1883-1942) and Zofia Braun (1891-1943). His father was a Polish Member of Parliament from 1922 to 1928. Both his parents died in the Soviet Gulag
camps.
Trained as a pilot at Polish Air Force Academy
in Dęblin
, he saw action in Poland in 1939. He then escaped to France and 27 June 1940 came to England. During the Battle of Britain
, he served with 55 OTU in Aston Down. In May 1941 he joined No. 245 Squadron. In July 1941 he was transferred to No. 303 Squadron based at Northolt
. on 6 November 1941 Bieńkowski claimed a Bf 109 shot down. On 12 April 1942 heis aircraft was shot up by a Focke-Wulf FW 190, force landing with collapsed landing gear near the English coast.
He served from 1 December 1942 until 4 July 1943 as Squadron Leader
of No. 303 Squadron. During July 1943 No.303 Squadron were resting at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, where the newly arrived US Army Air Corps 94th Fighter Squadron
had just been assigned. He befriended some of the American pilots who gave him the affectionate nickname "Bing Crosby
", a play on his family name.
From January 1945 to 24 February 1945 he commanded 302
. On 24 February his Spitfire Mk. XVI (TB341, "WX-B") was shot down by flak over Germany near Wesel
and he was taken prisoner.
Released by American forces, by the end of the war he was a Wing Commander
. During the war he made 74 sorties, claiming one Bf 109 destroyed and a FW 190 damaged.
He died on 15 August 1979 in London aged 66. He was buried in Gunnersbury Cemetery.
His brother Jan Bieńkowski, was also a pilot and shot down over Cherbourg in 1944.
Virtuti Militari
, Silver Cross
Krzyż Walecznych
(Cross of Valour), 3 times
Vliegerkruis
(Airman's Cross) (Netherlands)
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and a gifted writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of many articles and poems. His 303 squadron
No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron
No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron was one of 16 Polish squadrons in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It was the highest scoring RAF squadron of the Battle of Britain....
diary is deposited in the Polish Museum and Sikorski Institute 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...
. He is buried at Gunnersbury Cemetery
Gunnersbury Cemetery
Gunnersbury Cemetery, also known as Kensington Cemetery, is a cemetery opened in 1929, located in the London's Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, 143 Gunnersbury Avenue Acton...
in West London.
Zygmunt Witymir Bieńkowski was the son of Leopold Bieńkowski (1883-1942) and Zofia Braun (1891-1943). His father was a Polish Member of Parliament from 1922 to 1928. Both his parents died in the Soviet Gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
camps.
Trained as a pilot at 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....
, he saw action in Poland in 1939. He then escaped to France and 27 June 1940 came to England. 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 served with 55 OTU in Aston Down. In May 1941 he joined No. 245 Squadron. In July 1941 he was transferred to No. 303 Squadron based at Northolt
Northolt
Northolt is a town in the London Borough of Ealing, England. The town has London Underground and Network Rail stations and is on the A40 road...
. on 6 November 1941 Bieńkowski claimed a Bf 109 shot down. On 12 April 1942 heis aircraft was shot up by a Focke-Wulf FW 190, force landing with collapsed landing gear near the English coast.
He served from 1 December 1942 until 4 July 1943 as Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
of No. 303 Squadron. During July 1943 No.303 Squadron were resting at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, where the newly arrived US Army Air Corps 94th Fighter Squadron
94th Fighter Squadron
The 94th Fighter Squadron ' is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 1st Operations Group and stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia....
had just been assigned. He befriended some of the American pilots who gave him the affectionate nickname "Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
", a play on his family name.
From January 1945 to 24 February 1945 he commanded 302
No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron
No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron RAF 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 1940...
. On 24 February his Spitfire Mk. XVI (TB341, "WX-B") was shot down by flak over Germany near Wesel
Wesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
and he was taken prisoner.
Released by American forces, by the end of the war he was a Wing Commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
. During the war he made 74 sorties, claiming one Bf 109 destroyed and a FW 190 damaged.
He died on 15 August 1979 in London aged 66. He was buried in Gunnersbury Cemetery.
His brother Jan Bieńkowski, was also a pilot and shot down over Cherbourg in 1944.
Military awards
Virtuti MilitariVirtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
, Silver Cross
Krzyż Walecznych
Krzyz Walecznych
The Cross of Valor is a Polish military decoration. It was first introduced by the Council for Defense of the State on 11 August 1920. It is awarded to an individual who "has demonstrated deeds of valor and courage on the field of battle." It may be awarded to the same person up to four times...
(Cross of Valour), 3 times
Vliegerkruis
Airman's Cross
The Airman's Cross is an important military decoration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands created in 1941. The cross is meant for those Dutch military, who displayed during one of more flights in an aircraft, initiative, courage and perseverance against the enemy or during hostile actions...
(Airman's Cross) (Netherlands)