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Aleksander Klemens Gabszewicz
Last Polish Wartime Rank:
  Podpulkownik (Lt Colonel)
Last RAF Wartime rank:
  Group Captain
Nickname: Gabsio; Hrabia Oles (Count Oles)
Service ID number: P-0.163
Combat Debut: September 1st, 1939
Born:
  December 6th, 1911
  Szawle near Kowno, Poland
    (today Lithuania);
Aircraft Flown:
  PZL P.11c
  MS.406C1
  Spitfire LF.IXC
  –WX-F (MJ783)
 Unit(s):
Poland
IV/1 Squadron of Pursuit Brigade (IV/1 Dywizjon Brygady Poscigowej);
France
so-called Training Fighter Flight in Lyon, commanded by Captain Mieczyslaw Wiorkiewicz;
England
607 RAF Fighter Sqn "County of Durham"; 303 Polish Fighter Sqn; 316 Polish Fighter Sqn (commander of Sqn); commander of 58 OTU; commander of 2nd Polish Fighter Wing; commander of 1st Polish Fighter Wing; commander of 18th Sector of Defence of Great Britain (to the end); later he was commander of 131st Polish Fighter Wing.

Decorations:
Polish:
Golden Cross Virtuti Militari Nr 00029 (awarded March 12th, 1944 - as first of polish airmen); Silver Cross Virtuti Militari Nr 09425 (June 24th, 1942); 4 times Valorous Cross (Krzyz Walecznych); Air Medal (Medal Lotniczy);
French: Croix de Guerre
British: Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Service Order (twice - as the only one polish airmen);

Victories verified: 9 1/2
– 1/2 He 111 - September 1st, 1939
– Do 215 - May 24th, 1940
– 1/2 He 111 - April 1st, 1941
– 1/2 Bf 109 - July 24th, 1941
– Fw 190 - April 10th, 1942
– Fw 190 - April 25th, 1942
– Fw 190 - April 27th, 1942
– Fw 190 - April 4th, 1943
– Fw 190 - July 4th, 1943
– Bf 109 - July 6th, 1943
– Fw 190 - August 19th, 1943
Victories probably: 1 1/3
Total Sorties: 384 operational and combat flights
Comments: During Polish Defence War (September 1939) he shot down one of the first German planes in Second World War. He was a tactical officer in IV/1 Squadron of Pursuit Brigade (IV/1 Dywizjon Brygady Poscigowej). Shot down first German plane in Warsaw area (it was German bomber He 111 - parts of that plane are now exhibited in Museum of Polish Army in Warsaw). In France he flew in fighter formation defending Lyon, so-called Training Fighter Flight in Lyon, commanded by Captain Mieczyslaw Wiorkiewicz. In Great Britain he fought during Battle of Britain in 607 RAF Fighter Sqn "County of Durham" and in 303 Polish Fighter Sqn. Later commanded 316 Polish Fighter Sqn (between November 16th, 1941 and June 4th, 1942). He was also commander of 58 OTU (Operational Training Unit) between July 1942 and January 1943. Later he was commander of 2nd Polish Fighter Wing (January 28th, 1943 - June 20th, 1943) and was commander of 1st Polish Fighter Wing (between June 21st, 1943 - December 12th, 1943). After that commanded of 18th Sector of Defence of Great Britain (February 20th, 1944 - July 1944). After disbanding 18th Sector he was commander of 131st Polish Fighter Wing between July 12th, 1944 and May 31st, 1945.

After the war he settled in Great Britain. Died October 10th, 1983 in Hanley Swan, Worcester County. His ashes were spilled over airfield in Deblin and in Warsaw area in 1992.

Entry prepared by Peter 'Mikolaj' Mikolajski.
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