Janus, Stefan Władysław.

Janus, Stefan Wladyslaw, born on 22-03-1910 in Wola Duchacka, near Kraków. He had three brothers and all became airmen. In 1929 he graduated from high school. In 1931 Janus joined the Polish Artillery Cadet Officers Reserve School at Włodzimierz Wołyński, and on graduation went to the Polish Artillery College in Toruń. He was commissioned in 1934. At the same time he completed a flying training course at the Air Force Officers Training Centre in Dęblin. In the same year he achieved the rank of second lieutenant.

Janus was posted to 22nd Light Bomber Squadron of the 2nd Air Regiment in Kraków. After completing an advanced flying course at Grudziądz, he joined the 122nd Fighter Squadron in Kraków. Later he was appointed a flying instructor in Dęblin.

In September 1939, together with a group of cadet officers, Janus crossed the Hungarian border. He continued through Yugoslavia and Greece to France and from there was posted to a training unit in North Africa.​ After arriving in Britain, on 22-09-940 Janus was posted to the newly formed 308 (Polish) City of Kraków Squadron. From 22-06-1941 he commanded ‘A’ Flight. On 17-11-1941 he took command of 315 (Polish) City of Dęblin Squadron. succeeding Kaptain Władysław SzczęśniewskiIn . In December 1941 he shot down his fifth enemy plane. Usually, five downed enemy machines give you the title of an ace of hunting. In May 1942 Janus was appointed Commander of the 1st Polish Wing at Northolt.

On 26-01-1943 Janus collided with another pilot over France and was captured. He remained in the POW camp Stalag Luft III in Zagan until the end of the war. In mid-August he made an attempt to escape. One of the prisoners turned into a stolen German uniform and tried to lead a group of colleagues out of the camp as an ‘escort’. An alarm was triggered at the second checkpoint. Just before another group left the camp in the same way, the guard became suspicious. After returning to Britain he was an operations officer at RAF 11 Group Head Quarters at Uxbridge. In 1953 Janus joined the RAF, reached the rank of lieutenant colonel, where he stayed until his retirement in 1965.

Death and burial ground of Janus, Stefan Władysław.

Janus, Stefan Władysław.died on 11-11-1978 of heart problems in East Farleigh near Maidstone, Kent. His ashes were taken to Poland and are buried at Rakowicki Cemetery in Kraków. Janus is credited with destroying six enemy aircraft and damaging one.

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