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Wacław Łapkowski

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Polish major and fighter ace (1913–1941)
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Wacław Łapkowski
Born(1913-11-06)6 November 1913
Daugavpils, Russian Empire
Died2 July 1941(1941-07-02) (aged 27)
English Channel
Allegiance Poland
 France
 United Kingdom
Service / branch Polish Air Force
France Armée de l'Air
 Royal Air Force
Years of service1934-1941
RankMajor
Service numberP-1506
UnitPolish 112th Fighter Escadrille
No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron
CommandsPolish 112th Fighter Escadrille
No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron
Battles / warsPolish Defensive War
World War II †
AwardsVirtuti Militari
Cross of Valour

Wacław Łapkowski (6 November 1913 in Dyneburg – 2 July 1941 over the English Channel) was a major in the Polish Air Force and fighter ace during World War II, with 6 confirmed kills and one shared.

Biography

Łapkowski graduated from Polish Air Force Academy in Dęblin in 1934. On 15 August 1934 he was named second lieutenant (podporucznik) and assigned to the Polish 112th Fighter Escadrille. During the Invasion of Poland, on 6 September 1939 he took command of his unit after Stefan Okrzeja died. On 9 September he shot down a He 111. After the September Campaign he was evacuated to France where he was posted to the Opulski section in Romorantin. After the Battle of France, Łapkowski arrived in the UK. On 3 August 1940, he was ordered to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron and took part in the Battle of Britain. On 5 September he downed a Ju 88 but his plane was damaged, Łapkowski wounded, jumped with a parachute. On 5 May 1941, he became commander of his squadron. On 2 July 1941, No. 303, engaged some 60 Bf 109s over Lille. Łapkowski was killed over the English Channel. His body washed up onshore.

Łapkowski was buried in Lombardsijde, Belgium.

Aerial victory credits

  • 1/3 He 111 - 6 September 1939
  • He 111 - 9 September 1939
  • Ju 88 - 5 September 1940
  • Bf 109 - 4 June 1941 (damaged)
  • Bf 109 - 18 June 1941
  • 2 x Bf 109 - 22 June 1941
  • Bf 109 - 24 June 1941

Awards

Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland), four times

References

  1. ""Lista Bajana"". www.polishairforce.pl.

Further reading

  • King, Richard (2012). Wydawnictwo RM (ed.). Dywizjon 303 walka i codzienność (in Polish). Warsaw. p. 38. ISBN 978-83-7243-979-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Knoblock, G. A. (2008). "With great sacrifice and bravery": The career of Polish ace Waclaw Lapkowski, 1939-41. Merriam Press.
  • Olgierd Cumft; Hubert Kazimierz Kujawa (1989). Wydawnictwo MON (ed.). Księga lotników polskich poległych, zmarłych i zaginionych 1939-1946 (in Polish). Warsaw. p. 369. ISBN 83-11-07329-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • "biografia - Wacław Łapkowski" (in Polish). p. 1. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  • Tadeusz Jerzy Krzystek, Anna Krzystek: Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii w latach 1940-1947 łącznie z Pomocniczą Lotniczą Służbą Kobiet (PLSK-WAAF). Sandomierz: Stratus, 2012, s. 352. ISBN 9788361421597
  • Jerzy Pawlak: Absolwenci Szkoły Orląt: 1925-1939. Warszawa: Retro-Art, 2009, s. 143. ISBN 8387992224
  • Piotr Sikora: Asy polskiego lotnictwa. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Alma-Press. 2014, s. 304-308. ISBN 9788370205607
  • Gretzyngier, Robert; Matusiak, Wojtek; Zieliński, Józef (2012). Asy lotnictwa polskiego (in Polish). Warszawa: Dom Wydawniczy "Bellona". ISBN 978-83-11-12394-6. OCLC 828978115.
  • Józef Zieliński: Lotnicy polscy w Bitwie o Wielką Brytanię. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza MH, 2005, s. 111-112. ISBN 8390662043
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