Stefan Bastyr facts for kids
Stefan Bastyr was a brave Polish pilot and one of the first people to fly military planes for Poland. He was born on August 17, 1890, and sadly passed away on August 6, 1920. He is famous for making the very first military flight in the history of the Polish Air Force. This important flight happened on November 5, 1918, just before Poland officially became an independent country again. It took place during the early days of the Polish-Ukrainian War.
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Early Flying Days
Before joining the Polish forces, Stefan Bastyr was a pilot for Austria-Hungary during World War I. From February 1916, he worked as an observer in a reconnaissance squadron called Flik 10. They flew missions on the eastern front. Later, from December 1917, he served in Flik 12D on the Austro-Italian front.
Becoming a Pilot
In 1918, Stefan Bastyr trained to become a pilot himself. By June 1918, he was assigned to Flik 37P. During World War I, he flew about 100 missions. He even achieved at least one air victory on June 4, 1916, meaning he helped shoot down an enemy aircraft.
Hero in the Polish Air Force
After World War I, Stefan Bastyr joined the newly forming Polish Air Force. He played a key role in the Battle of Lwów (1918).
First Polish Military Flight
On November 5, 1918, Stefan Bastyr made history. He flew the first military mission for Poland. He flew against Ukrainian troops at Persenkowka station. His observer on this important flight was Janusz de Beaurain. They flew an Oeffag C.II plane, though some records suggest it might have been a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I. This flight was a big step for Poland's new air force.
A Tragic End
Stefan Bastyr died in an airplane crash in Lviv on August 6, 1920. He was flying a Fokker D.VII plane at the time. The crash happened during the Battle of Lwów (1920). He is buried at the Łyczaków cemetery in Lwów, which is now known as Lviv.
