Stanislaw Piatkowski

Photo: B. Chandler

Simon Glancey has provided the following:

The following has been found in the National Probate Calendar via ancestry.co.uk:

PIATKOWSKI Stanislaw, of Pradnik Koszkiewski [sic], Poland, died 15 January 1948 at The Gallowhill Hospital, Morpeth, Northumberland. Administration (limited) London 19 May to Pawel Lewkowicz, Polish vice consul in London attorney to Zofia Piatkowski. Effects £167 7s. in England.

Pradnik Korzkiewski is about 8 miles or so NNW of Krakow.

A few months back I contacted the CWGC about his Service Number, which had been wrongly engraved as P731292 - it should have been P781292. They passed me on to the J.C.C.C. (Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre).

I e-mailed them back in July, and having checked their records they confirmed the number was incorrect. I've just received a message from them stating that the headstone has indeed been amended with the correct Service Number.

In addition, I have the following biography of Piatkowski, taken from the 'Polish Encylopedia of the Polish Air Force NCO`s Training School' compiled by the Mieczyclaw J. Hasinksi-Adam, page 963:

P-781292
Piatkowski, Stanislaw
F.Sgt. Engineer
Born 24th February 1920 in Myszkowice, Leski district, Lwow province. He completed his elementary education, and in 1936 entered the "SPILdM'' in Bydgoszcz, qualifying as an Aircraft Mechanic in 1939 at Krosno. He was posted from the School to the 2nd Air Force Regiment in Cracow, and enlisted into the 122 Fighter Squadron.

He participated in the September 1939 campaign as part of the "Cracow" Army sector, before being evacuated to Romania on 17th September.

After reaching France, he requested transfer to Great Britain. He underwent further training before being posted to the 304 Bomber Squadron.

He volunteered for aircrew service, and on 28th January 1944 began his training in the No.4. School of Technical Training. On 25th March he reported to the 300 Bomber Squadron. He was transferred on 15th May to the No.11. Base Conversion Unit to undergo training on "Halifax" aircraft. On 14th August he joined the 301 Special Duties Squadron in Italy. He returned to the Blackpool Base on 25th March 1945 to take a rest from operational Flying. His last posting took place on 3rd May to the 301 Transport Squadron.

He was decorated with the Krzyz Walecmych and two Bars, Medal Lotniczy and with British commemorative decorations. He was discharged from the Polish Air Force on 9th March 1947, and it is believed he died that same year in Scotland.

He was a Flight Engineer, and his regular pilot with 301 Squadron (formerly 1586 Special Duties Flight) was F/S Tadeusz Jerzy Mioduchowski.

Aneta Walkuska has written to say;

A few months ago I wrote to you asking about the info of my great- uncle Stanisław Piatkowski who was a Polish a pilot buried in Morpeth.

Thanks to You and Simon Glancey I have found out a lot about him.

I also found his photo of him, which I'm sending. I know it is possible to attach it to his biography on your website.My family and me will be very grateful for doing this. It means a lot for us.

The photo was found in family records by my cousin in the Bieszczady mountains where Stanislaw had been born. It was very destroyed and we have restored it lately.

I have also found out the story of this photo.

After Stanislaw's death (about a week after) his friend also a Polish pilot sent a letter informing about his death. I have a copy of this letter, very touching. It was sent to two of his brothers. One of the brothers was in Poland and the second brother was in Canada. The letter at first was sent to Canada because the Stanislaw's friend knew that the letter and the photo could disappear in Poland which was under Communists. Fortunately, both of them received the letter.

My grandma knew about it and once said it to my father. Last summer holidays I came to the Bieszczady mouintains. I found my relative who has old family records. I live in the other part of Poland, it's like the other end of the country so we see each other very rarely. A few weeks ago he sent the photo and the letter to me.

Moreover, the brother in Canada was a soldier as well and he had fought in Monte Cassino battle in Italy. It is sad that they both knew that it was impossible for them to return to Poland after the war. You probably know that those who came back were punished and sent to prison for many years. Many were tortured and sentenced to death.

Stanislaw had also other sisters and a brother. Two sisters emigrated abroad at the beginning of the war. One to France and the other to the USA. The brother was caught by Germans and sent to Auschwitz. He died there. In Poland three other siblings stayed: three sisters and a brother.

As you see Stanislaw grew up in a big family. All of them are dead now. But all of them were very strong especially mentally, very persistent in gaining their aims and curious about the world. After all, they were the people of the mountains. Besides, they were brought in a religiously mixed family. The father was Catholic and the mother Orthodox. All the sons were baptized in the Catholic church and the daughters in the Eastern Orthodox church. They were taught to be tolerant and open towards other people, religions and faiths.

Best regards,
Aneta

Personnel of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain 1940-1947