Kustrzyński, Zbigniew.

Kustrzyński, Zbigniew, born 18-09-1911, in Moscow to the family of Jan and Kazimiera Kustrzyński. Zbigniew completed his studies at the State Textile School in Łódź (1930) and worked as the head of the dyeing department at the Łódź textile factory. In 1934, Zbigniew joined the army, where he underwent pilot training and flew in the colors of the 1st Air Base. He participated in the September campaign as a tactical officer of the Fighter Group of the 1st Aviation Regiment, “Warszawa” (Poland). It was formed in 1943 under the People’s Polish Army on the Eastern Front. It flew aircraft like the Yak-1b, Yak-7, and Yak-9 during World War II, participating in the Battle of Kolberg and the Battle of Berlin.

He reached England via Romania and France. Initially, he served in the RAFVR in January 1940. The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) was established in July 1936 to supplement the U.K.Royal Air Force and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force with civilian-recruited personnel.

There Zbigniew underwent his first training at the 15 Elementary Flying Training School in Carlisle, of the Royal Air Force (RAF) was located at Kingstown airfield near Carlisle (Cumbria, England) during World War II.  and then at the 6 Operational Training Unit in Sutton Bridge. on 01-09-1940, transferred to 111 Squadron RAF under command of Squadron Leader John Marlow (“Tommy”) Thompson, in Debden and on 14-09-1940, to 607 Squadron RAF under command of Squadron Leader James Anderson Vick in Tangmere. On 12-11-1940, he joined Squadron 303 (“Kościuszko”) in Leconfield. No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF, under command of Squadron Leader Ronald Gustave Kellett, was a famous World War II fighter squadron made mostly of Polish pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain.

Death and burial ground of Kustrzyński, Zbigniew.

While flying the Supermarine Spitfire Vb AB824, he shot down 2 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft. Sam was shot down in 1942 during battles over France and fell into German hands. In February 1945, during the evacuation of the POW camp in Żagań, he escaped from the camp. Two weeks after the escape, he encountered the Red Army, where he was enlisted. After the war, he emigrated to Canada, where he passed away 09-09-1996 in Montreal, age 84.

His wife was Zofia, born Wiewiórska – a nurse. and they are buried together in the Roman Catholic section of the Old Cemetery in Łódź. Corner of Ogrodowa and Srebrzyńska streets, Łódź, Poland.

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