The Airmen's Stories - P/O W Szulkowski

Wladyslaw Szulkowski was born on 6th November 1909. He graduated from the Polish Air Force Academy at Deblin as a 1st Lieutenant on 15th August 1933. By 1939 he was an instructor at Deblin and flew in the scratch flight that defended the airfield in the September campaign.

His subsequent movements are currently undocumented though it is likely that he made his way via Romania and France to England, arriving in late 1939.

He was commissioned in the RAFVR at RAF Eastchurch in January 1940.

From 1st June he was at the Polish Wing at 3 School of Technical Training at Blackpool, awaiting a posting.

In early July he went to 15 EFTS Redhill for testing and grading. He arrived at 5 OTU Aston Down about 20th July and after converting to Spitfires joined 65 Squadron at Hornchurch on 5th August.

Szulkowski claimed a Me109 destroyed on the 22nd.

He was posted to 315 Squadron at Acklington at its formation on 21st January 1941. He was awarded the KW (gazetted 1st February 1941).

On a training flight on 27th March 1941 his Hurricane V7188 collided with Sgt. E Paterek in V7187, both aircraft crashed into the sea near the Bar Lightship in the River Mersey.

Paterek was never found and is presumed to have drowned.

Szulkowski's body was washed up north of Liverpool over three weeks later.

He is buried in West Derby Cemetery, Liverpool.

He is also commemorated on the Polish War Memorial at Northolt (below).