bentley priory - Spink

September 6, 2012 - LONDON
Flight Lieutenant M.S. Andruszko
D.F.C. Approved 20.2.1945 P.1199 Flight Lieutenant Michal Stanislaw Andruszko, No. 318 (Polish)
Squadron.
The Recommendation, dated 26.11.1944, states: ‘Flight Lieutenant Andruszko commenced his operational
tour on 6.5.1944, and completed it in October, 1944, after doing 99 sorties in 151.25 operational hours.
During this period, he proved to be a most efficient Tac/R pilot who always displayed great determination
and set an excellent example to all who flew with him. On 19.7.1944, during a Tac/R mission IESI area,
he observed some horse-drawn transport moving along a road. Diving low in the face of intense and accurate
anti-aircraft fire, he attacked and, although hit, he successfully continued his reconnaissance from low
altitude. Eventually, he had to make a forced landing just inside our lines and received head and arm injuries
which necessitated his removal to hospital. On 18.8.1944, soon after discharge, Flt. Lieut. Andruszko
undertook a detailed and difficult Tac/R in the Fano area. In order to obtain accurate observation, he came
down to 4,000 feet in the face of anti-aircraft fire which holed his petrol system. Even so, he completed his
mission and returned to base with valuable information. Ten days later, on 28.8.1944, he undertook an
artillery recce in the area south of Pesaro. Encountering constant anti-aircraft fire at all heights, his task
became extremely difficult but, displaying keenness and determination he repeatedly climbed to 8,000 feet
and dived down to within a few hundred feet of the ground to observe the strikes of our artillery. In this
way, the three targets given him were soon occupied. Later, he discovered two more targets in the same area
and, directing fire with skill and precision, all five targets were destroyed in spite of difficult conditions.
During 30 sorties undertaken in the face of light and heavy anti-aircraft fire, Flt. Lieut. Andruszko displayed
great courage and devotion to duty and obtained a great deal of information of real importance. For such
consistently good work, I strongly recommend that he be granted the non-immediate award of the
Distinguished Flying Cross.’
Flight Lieutenant Michal Stanislaw Andruszko, D.F.C., born Wolkowysk, Poland, 1917; after leaving
school he undertook compulsory Military Service in the Polish Army, from June 1936; whilst at Cadet
Officers’ School he volunteered for transfer to the Polish Air Force and was posted for a three year course
as an Officer Cadet to the Aviation Training Centre at Deblin, December 1936; towards the end of his three
years he also completed a Fighter Pilot Course, June-July 1939; commissioned Second Lieutenant III/5th
Air Force Regiment, Eskadra 151, 1.8.1939; on the invasion of Poland, 1.9.1939, Eskadra 151 was sent to
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