MIECZYSLAW PRONASZKO

 

He was born on 22^nd October 1902 in Warsaw and in 1918, he joined the 2^nd Light Cavalry Regiment.  He fought in the Polish-Bolshevik war.  In July 1924 he was sent to the Officer Cadet School in Warsaw then moved to the 83^rd Infantry Regiment until 1926 when he opted to join the Air Force and went to the flying school in Grudziadz, graduating two years later as an observer with the rank of Pilot Officer and posted to the 1^st Air Wing in Warsaw and later the 6^th Air Wing in Lvov.  By November 1938 he was in command of No 64 Bomber Flight.

He was still there on the outbreak of war and flew mostly anti-personnel missions against the invading German army.  He escaped to Romania and made his way to France and subsequently England.

At first he was posted to 300 Squadron as commander of B Flight.  He moved on to 304 Squadron on 10^th August 1942 and remained an operational pilot.  On Christmas Eve 1942, returning to RAF Dale from an anti-submarine patrol, fog made it impossible for him to land he could not make radio contact with RAF Chivenor to divert there.  After 11 hours 56 minutes flying time, the aircraft, HF898, ran out of fuel and the crew all baled out safely near Cannock in Staffordshire.

On 29^th January 1943 he took command of the squadron and remained there until 18^th November of that year when he moved on to the Polish Air Force Inspectorate.  His next move was to the American 9^th Air Force (December 1944 until April 1945).  He then moved to the Polish Air Force Headquarters.

During his service he was awarded the Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari 5^th Class, the Cross of Valour (four times) and the British Distinguished Flying Cross.

On 2^nd April 1947 he was demobilised and emigrated to Montreal, Canada where he died on 12^th September 1968; he is buried in the Veterans Cemetery at Pointe-Claire.