Janusz Jerzy Walawski

Born 1917 Elbrus, Russia. In 1926 his family moved to Poland. He obtained a high school diploma a year before the outbreak of World War II. He joined the army, after a unitary training for all cadets in one of the infantry divisions he was admitted to the Aviation Cadet School in Dęblin. In Dęblin he underwent basic flight training. After the start of the war he was evacuated with a group of cadets to the east, becoming a liaison pilot in the 21st Infantry Division.

When the unit surrendered he tried to fly to Romania, but his aircraft was shot down by the Russians and he was taken prisoner. He escaped and tried to walk to Romania, but could not gain entry. But he did not give up, he travelled through Lithuania before setting off again he acquired a passport and visa. In Latvia he flew from Riga, to Sweden and volunteered for the Finnish Airforce the Fins fighting the Soviet Union in The Winter War. This was denied, after the Winter War he travelled to France ending up at an Aviation Training Centre based in Lyon.

After France's capitulation he sailed to Great Britain, started training with the RAF 5/5/1941. He spent fourteen days at 1 PFTS RAF Hucknall, after which, on 24/5/1941 he transferred to 8 SFTS RAF Montrose. 17/8/1941, he started radio operator training and 23/12/1941 transferred to 58 OTU RAF Grangemouth for fighter training, finishing in early March 1942. After leave he was posted to 317 Fighter Squadron. During a flight over St. Omer 28/5/1942 he attacked an Fw190.
In June 1943 around Brest he attacked two Fw190 damaging both. His first kill 6/9/1942 shooting down a Bf109 to the northwest of Amiens.

2/1/1944 he transferred to 316 Sqn. 15/4/1944, he left on leave and moved to OTU 61 as an instructor RAF Rednal. 8/8/1944, he returned to 316 Sqn. 18/10/1944 flight over Aalborg, Denmark, he shot down two BF109. Shot down another Bf109 over Dortmund 12/12/1944 (Possibly Major Walter Spies in Bf109 G-10 ' Yellow 12 '). 5/5/1945 took command of 317 Sqn.
Returning from a weekend visit to London he collided with a US Army lorry driven by Pfc Paul S Edwards at Barton Mills at 18:45 and died a few hours later at Bury and West Suffolk Hospital. At the inquest PC Steed stated the collision was in the centre of the road, with the length of the combined skids marks of 47ft. S/Sergt G E Albright said it was raining and the road was very slippery, on going around the corner a civilian car was in the centre of the road and already sliding sideways. He said the lorry braked and pulled to the right and also skidded, the collision was unavoidable. Coroner George Carter recorded a verdict of death by misadventure, stating the road conditions had a great deal to do with the accident. He expressed sympathy with the Polish Air Force for the loss of such a gallant officer - an expression he knew the American authorities would join.

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