Franciszek Gruszka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Franciszek Gruszka
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Franciszek Gruszka and his ground crew
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| Birth name | Franciszek Gruszka |
| Born | 21 January 1910 Biłka Królewska near Lwów |
| Died | 18 August 1940 (aged 30) Between Preston Village & Stodmarsh, East Sussex |
| Allegiance |  Poland United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Polish Air Force Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1931-1940 |
| Rank | Porucznik (Lieutenant) Flying Officer (Lieutenant) |
| Unit | 111/6 Squadron (Polish Air Force) No. 65 "East India" Squadron |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |    |
| Relations | Józef Gruszka (Brother, lawyer & POW) Piotr Gruszka (Brother, philologist & Armia Krajowa soldier) |
Franciszek "Frank" Gruszka (born January 21, 1910 – died August 18, 1940) was a brave Polish soldier and a Flying Officer in the Royal Air Force. He fought during the famous Battle of Britain in World War II. Frank was one of the first Polish pilots to fly the amazing Supermarine Spitfire plane. He was also the last pilot from the Battle of Britain to be buried with special honors.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Franciszek Gruszka grew up in a wealthy farming family. His father made sure that three of his sons received a good education.
- Józef Gruszka became a lawyer. He spent World War II as a prisoner of war in a German camp.
- Piotr Gruszka studied languages. During the war, he fought with the Home Army, a Polish resistance group.
- Franciszek became a skilled fighter pilot.
Frank joined the Army in 1931. He graduated from the Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin on August 15, 1934. After that, he became a pilot instructor. He worked with the 111/6 squadron near Lwów, Poland.
Fighting in World War II
When World War II began, Frank quickly joined the fight. He was reported to have shot down a German Heinkel He 111 bomber. On September 17, he traveled through Romania, Yugoslavia, and Italy to reach France. He arrived in Paris on October 7, 1939.
In December 1939, Frank was one of the first Polish fighter pilots to arrive in Great Britain. There, he trained to fly the powerful Supermarine Spitfire. He became a Flying Officer and joined No. 65 "East India" Squadron. This squadron was based at RAF Hornchurch.
A Pilot's Story
Frank kept a diary of his experiences. In his notes, he described his first flight against German bombers. This likely happened on August 14, 1940.
He wrote: "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..."
This shows how dangerous and fast-paced air battles were.
The Last Flight
On August 18, 1940, Frank took off in his Spitfire plane (number R6713). His mission was to stop a group of German bombers. He was seen fighting German planes over Canterbury and Manston. He was chasing a German fighter that was trying to escape.
But Frank never returned to Hornchurch airfield. No one knew what happened to him. His friends thought he might have been captured. The Royal Air Force listed him as missing in action.
Discovery and Burial
For 35 years, Frank Gruszka's fate was a mystery. Then, in the spring of 1975, a group studying old airplanes found something amazing. They discovered the remains of a plane and its pilot in a swampy area. This was between Preston Village and Stodmarsh, in East Sussex.
Because the ground was swampy, the pilot's uniform, a Polish airman's badge, and some personal items were still in good condition. These items were later shown at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in London.
The pilot was identified as Franciszek Gruszka. A golden fountain pen helped confirm this. It had a special message engraved on it from his fellow pilots.
On July 17, 1975, F/O Franciszek Gruszka was buried with full British military honors. The ceremony took place at the Polish War Memorial near RAF Northolt, London. Important people attended, including Jeffrey Quill, a famous Spitfire test pilot. Dave Glaser, who had served with Gruszka in 65 Squadron, was also there.
Frank Gruszka was given several awards after his death for his bravery. These included the 1939–1945 Star with the Battle of Britain clasp, the Air Crew Europe Star, and the War Medal 1939–1945.
See also
- List of people who disappeared
Sources
- Sarkar, Dilip: Missing in Action Resting in Peace?, Bayhouse, Worcester 1998.
