Tadeusz Sawicz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tadeusz Władysław Sawicz
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Sawicz in July, 1943
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| Born | 13 February 1914 Warsaw, Poland |
| Died | 19 October 2011 (aged 97) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Allegiance |  Poland,Allied Powers |
| Service/ |
Polish Air Force French Air Force Royal Air Force US Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1934–1947 |
| Rank | Wing Commander, Brigadier General (Hon) |
| Unit | 111th Fighter Escadrille 114th Fighter Escadrille Groupe de Chasse III/10 No. 303 Squadron No. 316 Squadron 56th Fighter Group |
| Commands held | No. 315 Squadron No. 131 Wing No. 133 Wing |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Tadeusz Władysław Sawicz (born February 13, 1914 – died October 19, 2011) was a brave Polish fighter pilot during World War II. He first served in the Polish Air Force. After Poland was invaded, he joined Polish and Allied (friendly countries) air units in France and the United Kingdom.
Sawicz led several important air groups. These included the No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron and the 131st (Polish) Fighter Wing. He played a key role in the Battle of Britain, a major air battle. He was known as the 82nd highest-scoring Polish fighter pilot of the war.
He received many awards for his bravery. These included Poland's highest military honor, the Virtuti Militari. He also earned the British Distinguished Flying Cross and the American Distinguished Flying Cross. In 2006, he was made an honorary brigadier-general in the Polish Air Force.
After the war, he moved to Canada. When he passed away, he was thought to be the last Polish pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain still alive.
Contents
Life Story of a Pilot
Early Life and Service in Poland and France
Tadeusz Sawicz was born in Warsaw, Poland, on February 13, 1914. In 1934, he joined the Polish Army as an officer. He began his pilot training in the air force that same year.
By August 1936, he became a podporucznik (a junior officer). He then joined the 111th Fighter Escadrille, a fighter plane unit. In 1937, he moved to the 114th Fighter Escadrille.
During the Polish September Campaign in September 1939, he was the deputy commander of the 114th Escadrille. This unit was part of the Pursuit Brigade. On the first day of the war, he helped damage a German Messerschmitt Bf 109 plane. He was flying a PZL P.11c at the time.
Over the next week, he reportedly shot down two German Dornier Do 17 bombers. He also damaged two more. On September 14, he flew a special mission. He delivered messages to important generals in a dangerous area.
After the Soviet invasion of Poland on September 17, the Polish government decided to leave the country. They ordered the remaining air force to leave too. Sawicz traveled through Romania, Yugoslavia, and Italy. He finally reached France.
In France, he joined the French Air Force. After training, he was assigned to a unit called Groupe de Chasse III/10 in June 1940.
Fighting in Great Britain
When France was defeated, Sawicz did not give up. Like many other Polish pilots, he flew his plane across the Mediterranean Sea. He traveled through Algeria and Morocco. Finally, he reached Great Britain on July 17.
After four months of training, he joined the new Polish Air Force in Great Britain. On October 20, he was assigned to No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron. This was during the Battle of Britain.
On February 22, 1941, he moved to No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron. On April 9, he shot down a German Heinkel He 111 bomber. This was the first confirmed victory for his new squadron. In July, he received his first Cross of Valour award and was promoted. From November 9, 1941, he led Escadrille A of the No. 316 Squadron.
In June 1942, he became a flight instructor. On September 25, 1942, he took command of No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron. While leading this squadron, he damaged a German Focke Wulf 190 plane on April 4.
On April 16, 1943, he became the deputy commander of the 1st Polish Fighter Wing. He was awarded Poland's highest military honor, the Virtuti Militari. From June 1943, he worked as a liaison officer. This meant he helped different groups communicate.
On April 3, 1944, he joined the headquarters of the 9th Air Force of the USAAF. He worked there as a liaison officer. He was then assigned to the 56th Fighter Group. There, he helped form a Polish section. For his work with this group, he received the US Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross.
On June 14, 1944, he was given command of the 3rd Polish Fighter Wing. On October 10, 1944, he became commander of the 131st (Polish) Fighter Wing. Soon after, he was injured in a plane crash. On July 16, 1945, he returned to duty. He commanded the Polish 3rd Wing again. Later, he also commanded the 133rd Fighter Wing.
During the war, he officially shot down 3 enemy planes. He also helped damage 3 and a half others. He is ranked as the 82nd highest-scoring Polish fighter pilot of the war.
Life After the War
Tadeusz Sawicz left the military in January 1947. He had reached the rank of major. He decided not to return to Poland. The new government there was not friendly to those who had served in the Polish Armed Forces in the West.
In 1957, he moved to Canada. He worked in the air industry, which builds and maintains airplanes. He lived in Montreal and Etobicoke.
In 2006, Polish President Lech Kaczyński made Sawicz an honorary brigadier-general. When he passed away on October 19, 2011, he was believed to be the last Polish pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain still alive.
Awards and Honors
Tadeusz Sawicz received many awards for his bravery and service:
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Virtuti Militari Silver Cross (Poland's highest military decoration) |
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Cross of Valour – awarded four times |
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Air Force Medal (for War 1939–1945) |
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Polish Armed Forces in the West Military Action Cross |
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Distinguished Flying Cross – United Kingdom |
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Distinguished Flying Cross – United States |
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Air Medal with oak leaf cluster – United States |
| Airman's Cross – Netherlands |
