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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 392

(x) A fine 1953 A.F.C. and wartime pilot's group of seven awarded to Squadron Leader L. K. Grzybowski, Royal Air Force, late Polish Air Force

A a Pilot in No. 131 Polish Fighter Squadron, he quickly saw action in September 1939 when he was credited with the destruction of two German aircraft, actions for which he was later awarded the Virtuti Militari, 5th Class

Subsequently taken P.O.W. by the Russians, he was released for service in the Polish Army in Russia and the Middle East, prior to reaching the U.K. and undertaking a protracted tour of 56 sorties of a 'Ramrod' nature in Mustangs of No. 306 Squadron in 1944-45, gallant work that won him the Cross of Valour and Bar

Air Force Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated '1953'; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Poland, Virtuti Militari, 5th Class, GR Tech type as issued in late 1944-45; Poland, Cross of Valour, with Bar, mounted as worn, together with his Polish Pilot's Badge, by J. R. Gaunt, embroidered R.A.F. uniform wings and Flying Log Books, generally very fine or better (9)

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1953.

King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air London Gazette 1 January 1952.

Leszek Kazimierz Grzybowski was born in Dabrowa Gornicza, Kielce, Poland on 20 December 1915 and entered the Polish Air Force College in August 1935.

Duly qualified as a pilot, he joined No. 131 Polish (Fighter) Squadron at Poznan in October 1938 and was likewise employed at the outbreak of hostilities. As cited, he was quickly credited with the destruction of two German aircraft, namely a share in a He111 on 3 September and a Me110 on 9 September. He may also have contributed to the destruction of a Ju86. More certain, however, is the fact he was taken P.O.W. by the advancing Russian Army in the same month and remained behind wire until April 1942, when he was released for service in the Polish Army in Russia and the Middle East.

Having then reached the U.K. in February 1943, he undertook a succession of training courses and joined No. 306 (Polish) Squadron in August 1944. Here, then the commencement of a protracted operational tour in which he flew 56 sorties in the unit's Mustangs over Austria, Belgium, Germany and Holland, the majority being of a 'Ramrod' nature and including numerous outings to the Ruhr and one to Arnhem in support of 'Market Garden' in September 1944. But he also flew several 'anti-diver' (V-weapon) sorties off the English coast in March 1945, And his final sortie, flown on 25 April 1945, was a trip to the Nazi playground of Berchtesgaden, home to Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest'.

According to records held by the Sikorski Museum, he was awarded the Polish Cross of Valour in April 1945, a Bar in August 1945, and the Virtuti Militari, 5th Class on 25 July 1945, 'for actions in the Polish campaign in 1939, when serving in 131 Fighter Squadron'. He also appears to have been entitled to the Polish Air Medal and 2 Bars.

Post-war

Grzybowski retained his commission in the R.A.F. after the war and remained on the strength of 306 Squadron until January 1947, when he was posted to the Polish Re-settlement Corps in Framlingham, Suffolk. Several months later he joined a communications unit at R.A.F. Tangmere, about which time he was married to Joan Fleming at Carshalton Beeches, Surrey.

Two further stints with the Re-settlement Corps having followed, he joined an instructor's course at South Cerney in early 1949, thereby shaping the future of his R.A.F. career and adding to his laurels the A.F.C. and King's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air for services in the Central Flying School 'Refresher Squadron' at R.A.F. South Cerney.

He continued to fly after his retirement from the R.A.F. in December 1970 and died in Tadcaster, Yorkshire in August 1992.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation and photographs, comprising:

i)
The recipient's R.A.F. Pilot's Flying Log Books (4), covering the periods September 1943 to December 1950, January 1951 to December 1957, January 1958 to November 1970, and June 1971 to January1976, the first with ink endorsement regarding missing Polish Air Force log book and some 500 hours.

ii)

A small selection of career photographs, including a studio portrait in uniform and a card-mounted group photograph of 'B Flight, No. 4 Squadron' in June 1943, with multiple signatures to reverse.

iii)
A large selection of wartime and later correspondence, mainly in Polish, and including Red Cross communications from a Polish P.O.W., exchanges with fellow pilots in the U.K., and a reference from a former C.O. at R.A.F. Coltishall, dated 20 May 1947.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£2,500 to £3,000

Starting price
£2300