303 Squadron Fighter Pilot Michał Brzezowski

February 26, 1920: 303 Squadron pilot Michał Brzezowski was born in the town of Dawidgrodek.

Brzezowski graduated from flight school in 1939 as a fighter pilot in the Polish Air Force. When Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, Brzezowski fought with his squadron based at Wilno in northeast Poland. On September 18 he crossed the Romanian border by air, and eventually reached France with most of the Polish Air Force.

He underwent conversion training on French aircraft, and was posted to a Polish fighter section of French Groupe de Chasse II/6. In early June 1940, he was shot down in air combat, but on June 15 he shared an enemy kill.

Following the fall of France, Brzezowski was evacuated to Britain, arriving on July 7, 1940. After another short conversion training, he was posted to the newly formed Polish 303 Squadron.

On September 11, 1940, Brzezowski downed two He 111 bombers during the Battle of Britain. However, only four days later, aged 20, he was shot down and killed over the Thames Estuary in Hurricane I no. P3577. He was posthumously awarded the Cross of Valour.