Polish Fighter Pilot Zdzisław Krasnodębski

Today we honor the birthday of Zdzisław Krasnodębski, the first Polish commander of the legendary 303 Squadron, who was born 120 years ago on July 10, 1904 in Wola Osowińska near Łuków in the Lublin area. In 1920, at age 16, he joined the Polish Army and fought during the Polish-Bolshevik War of 1919–1920. He subsequently graduated from the Polish Air Force Academy at Dęblin, completing his flying training in 1929, and embarked on his career as a fighter pilot.

Krasnodębski was an obvious choice for commanding 303 Squadron, since he had previously commanded Polish pilots during the defense of both Poland and France in the German invasions. Krasnodębski shaped 303 Squadron into an organized fighting unit, which became the highest-scoring Allied fighter squadron in the Battle of Britain.

He scored one shared combat victory on September 3, 1940 before being shot down a few days later, on September 6, with severe burns. Due to his injuries, he was retired from flight service, and served as an instructor and station commander until the end of World War II.

303 Squadron ace Witold Urbanowicz, who assumed command after Krasnodębski was wounded, later said about Krasnodębski: “He didn’t score many victories in the air, his victory was on the ground — in the training and upbringing of the young officers in his command.”

After the war, Krasnodębski moved to Canada, where he lived until his death in 1980. He was awarded the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari, and the Cross of Valour.