Another hero passes

From my local paper.

Tributes have been paid to a wartime flying ace who has died. Jan Jacewicz, of Kirby Cross was the second most highly decorated Polish flyer of the second world war.

The retired Squadron Leader was presented with nineteen medals, including the Polish equivalent of the Victoria Cross, the Vituti Militari and the British DFM.
The holder of Polish, French and English wings, he was decorated four times with both the Polish Cross of Valour and the Polish Air Force medal and was awarded the French Croix Des CombVolent.
He began his flying career in gliders at school age 16 and qualified as a Polish Air Force pilot even before he had learned to drive. A victim of Parkinsons disease, he was 83 when he died at home.

One of his daughters Alexandra Berryman, described her Father as modest and dignified. She said he was one of the unsung heroes of the Second World War.
In September 1939 he was interned in Romania but escaped, travelling by boat to Beirut, then France where he flew for the French Air Force in Morocco and Algiers.
After France capitulated he escaped to England via Gibralter on a British coal boat where he joined 305 Polish Bomber Sqn.
In 1942, having completed 34 operational flights, he became an instructor and in 1948 joined the RAF as a flying officer.

Following a career with the RAF, he joined Lloyds Bank at Frinton, retiring aged 60. He was well known in veterans flying circles and was a member of the Aircrew Association in Ipswich.

He was widowed for a second time in 1991 and leaves a son and two daughters, three stepsons, seven Grandchildren and five Great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at Weeley Crematorium on Friday 28th November.

God rest you Sir.