Polish pilots in Ilmavoimat during Winter War

[p. zsunaj]

I am engaged in research work regarding participation of Polish pilots in armed fighting against the aggression of totalitarian regimes in the years 1939/1940.

As it is commonly known - because of the collapse of the Anglo-French plan of reinforcements for Finland fighting off the assault of Soviet Russia in the years 1939-1940 by itself - the Polish voluntary fighter squadron (later according to French terminology GC I/145) was not used in the battles. However some Polish aviators decided to take service in Ilmavoimat (such as former captain of LOT Polish Airlines Feliks PECHO, relegated to the T-LentroR4), others declared their readiness to undertake such a service (for example, the former commander of the Polish Air Force, major general, pilot Ludomił RAYSKI, who came to Helsinki after the 7th of March 1940, but due to the signing of the cease-fire he probably haven’t received the operational assignment).

I kindly ask You to direct my searching for materials which can be helpful by establishing details regarding service of Polish aviators - volunteers in Ilmavoimat during Winter War. Particularly, I am keen on getting contact with the archives containing documents of the Legation of Finland in Paris (including the military section) from the first quarter of 1940 and personal portfolios of foreign aviators - volunteers who have been taken to the service in Ilmavoimat in 1940 or have acceded to the service, like a general Ludomił RAYSKI.

I will really appreciate if You could help me.

[Mangrove]

Particularly, I am keen on getting contact with the archives containing documents of the Legation of Finland in Paris (including the military section) from the first quarter of 1940 and personal portfolios of foreign aviators - volunteers who have been taken to the service in Ilmavoimat in 1940 or have acceded to the service, like a general Ludomił RAYSKI.

The Archives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland (The Archives of the Embassy of Finland at Paris)
The National Archives (The Archives of the Finnish High Command, Finnish Air Force and Finnish Military Attaché at Paris)

[p. zsunaj]

Thank You very much for important massage.

Sorry to disturb You again but I will appreciate if You could provide me also some other information and opinions about Polish aviators - volunteers (specially pilots) who have been taken to the service in Finnish Air Force in 1940 or have acceded to the service (general Rayski, Pecho, former air mechanics of LOT Polish Airlines).
I am sorry to say, that (very difficult) Finnish language limited my possibilities.

Kindly ask You as well to help me with link to digitizer version of article “Lentävät pakolaiset, LOT:n Super Electrat Malmilla syyskuussa 1940” by Jukka Raunio (Suomen Ilmailuhistoriallinen Lehti 1998/2) which I cannot find unfortunately.

I am really grateful for your assistance.
Kind Regards,

[Juha Tompuri]

Hi p. zsunaj, and welcome to the Forum!


Ahti Saarinen at his book Parolasta Pyhäniemeen (From Parola to Pyhäniemi) mentions the following Winter War era Polish volunteers serving in Finnish Air Force:

Pilot
Lieutenant Pecho Felix: came from Paris, served at LeR 4, commercial airline pilot, had fought in 1920 and 6 days in 1939.

Warrant Officer
Ulass V.released from duty 31st Mar-40

Engineers
Betkowski Jan, left 22nd Apr-40
Wodzinski, left 22nd Apr-40

Mechanics
Franczykowski M. left 22nd Apr-40
Kuciak W. left 22nd-40
Niedobylski J. served at LeR 2, left 22nd-40
Otto Edmund served at LeR 2 left 22nd Apr-40
Roczwiez B. left 22nd Apr-40
Slesicki J. served at LeR 2 left 22nd Apr-40
Szwejcer J. left 22th Apr-40
Wasowski K. left 22nd Apr-40

In addition to them, a group of LOT mechanics also came to Finland.
They moved from squadron to another:from LLv 22 from Pyhäniemi they were moved to State Aircraft Factory, after that they served at Aviation Depot and at LLv 28.
The LOT mechanics were mentioned to not have been very active.

Regards, Juha

[p. zsunaj]

Thank You so much,
I'll try to sort the list:

Frączykowski Michał born 1909 left 22nd Apr-40
Kuciak Wiktor 1913 left 22nd Apr-40
Niedobylski Jerzy 1911 served at LeR 2, left 22nd Apr-40
Otto Edmund Oswald 1914 served at LeR 2, left 22nd Apr-40
Pecho Feliks 1900 came from Paris, served at LeR 4, commercial airline pilot (LOT Polish Airlines), had fought in 1920 and 6 days in 1939
Szwejcer Edward 1910 left 22th Apr-40
Ulass Wacław 1893 from duty 31st Mar-40
Wąsowski Kazimierz Aleksander 1913 left 22nd Apr-40
Wodziński Tadeusz 1905 left 22nd Apr-40
or alternatively (unlikely) Wodziński Mieczysław Sebastian 1912

Persons unrecognized
Betkowski Jan (probably Bętkowski)? left 22nd Apr-40
Roczwiez B. (name distorted) left 22nd Apr-40
Ślesicki J. served at LeR 2, left 22nd Apr-40

Probably haven’t received the operational assignment:
Rayski Ludomił Antoni 1892 pilot & general, former commander of the Polish Air Force, came from Paris, crossing the French border 7th March-40 in Feignies, received French return visa at Helsinki 20th March-40, crossing the French border 29th March-40 in Feignies.

Kind Regards,


PS. Information about Feliks Pecho, which fought 6 days in 1939 is very, very interesting…
Attach a prewar photos of I-st class captain of LOT Polish Airlines Feliks Pecho.

[Juha Tompuri]

Thanks for correcting the names.

BTW, here a memory from the past.
There are the autographs of
Bętkowski ( perhaps Biet...? -JT) 5.III. 40
T. (so Tadeusz? -JT) Wodziński 5. III. 40
F. Pecho 5. III 40
at:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... t#p1442444

Regards, Juha

[Mangrove]

Sorry to disturb You again but I will appreciate if You could provide me also some other information and opinions about Polish aviators - volunteers (specially pilots) who have been taken to the service in Finnish Air Force in 1940 or have acceded to the service (general Rayski, Pecho, former air mechanics of LOT Polish Airlines).

There should be fairly extensive collection of Winter War volunteer index cards at the Finnish National Archive under folders T-6572/2, T-6572/3 and T-6572/5. These contain the name of the individual, address, occupation, description of previous experience, skills etc. I suggest you get them copied if you are interested on some of the individuals.

[p. zsunaj]

Thank You for your messages,

Pilot Lieutenant Pecho Felix: came from Paris, served at LeR 4, commercial airline pilot, had fought in 1920 and 6 days in 1939

In September 1939, he flew unarmed airplane of LOT Polish Airlines in the area penetrated by the German Bf 109 and Bf 110.
On 6th September 1939 flight to Bucharest as a captain of DC-2 (Bristol Pegasus engines, probably SP-ASL, factory number 1378),
where aircraft was arrested by Romanians.

Best Regards,

[p. zsunaj]

[quote="Juha Tompuri"]
There are the autographs of
Bętkowski ( perhaps Biet...? -JT)

JUHA, you're right indeed – Bietkowski, RESPECT.
I’m looking for more information about an internship polish engineers / mechanics in finnish State Aircraft Factory (VL). Which ones? Where? Tampere? When? Why? I’ll be obliged for Your help.
Regards

[p. zsunaj]

Hi,

The polish pilot Wacław Ulass in his memoirs, wrote that he entered to the service at the air base in Parola. Is it known which training unit of FAF stationed in Parola in late February / early March 1940? What types of aircrafts were used there in late February / early March 1940?
Regards

[Mangrove]

Is it known which training unit of FAF stationed in Parola in late February / early March 1940? What types of aircrafts were used there in late February / early March 1940?

1./T-LentoR 2 ("1st Squadron of the 2nd Replenishment Flying Regiment"). The Regiment had the following number of different aeroplane types on 15 March 1940:

- 7 Bristol Bulldog
- 3 Gloster Gamecock
- 3 VL Tuisku
- 2 Svenska Aero Jaktfalken
- 2 Gloster Gauntlet
- 2 VL Kotka
- 2 Polikarpov I-15
- 1 De Havilland Moth
- 1 VL Pyry
----------
23 aeroplanes, of which 19 were operational and 4 under repairs.

[p. zsunaj]

Thank You for the interesting information,

1 I'm also interesting in airplanes and airfield / air base of T-LentoR 4 in late February / early March 1940.

Harri Anttonen (?) in article Volunteer foreign pilots in Winter War 1939-1940 http://www.geocities.ws/finnmilpge/fmp_forpilots.html
wrote that another Polish pilot Lt. Feliks Pecho entered the service in this unit.
(I found Your link, but still I have a problem with professional decoding the type of aircraft).

2. In the diary of Wacław Ulass this Polish pilot wrote, that in Paris Finnish foreign office was offered him the service of the ferry pilot, flying an American aircraft assembled in Eiken (???) in Norway to the Finland.
Brewster aircraft being assembling at the Saab factory in Trollhättan. But I don’t know about plans for assembling any FAF aircraft in Norway.
I’m sorry for my english.

Regards

[Mangrove]

1 I'm also interesting in airplanes and airfield / air base of T-LentoR 4 in late February / early March 1940.

T-LentoR 4 operated from only from Luonetjärvi during the Winter War. The map below is from a Finnish Air Force pre-war index containing information of each aerodrome, in this case of Parola.

[p. zsunaj]

Thanks for message and map of Parola airfield.

In the diary of Wacław Ulass this Polish pilot wrote, that in Paris Finnish foreign office was offered him the service of the ferry pilot, flying an American aircraft assembled in Eiken (???) in Norway to the Finland.

1. Any suggestions?

2. Airplanes of T-LentoR 4:
AN as Avro Anson
KA as VL Kotka
VI as VL Viima
JU as Junkers F.34 / K.43 (?)
DH as de Haviland D.H. 89A (?)
RA as ???
I don’t know type aircraft called - of Finnish code - RA…
Can I count on Your knowledge?

Regards

[Mangrove]

DH as de Haviland D.H. 89A (?)
RA as ???

DH(-3) = de Havilland D.H.86
RA = de Havilland D.H.89