Stanislaw, Skalski

[Franek Grabowski]

Guys, all your questions concerning Skalski's score shall be answered by the book.

Keith, if I could find any accounts portraying Skalski as a man, I would include them. It was already too late, when I started my research, and by now all the people who could tell anything about him personally are gone.

[knusel]

Good morning Franek & Co,

yes, ironically Skalski died just when Slizewski and Cony published their Skalski biography in AVIONS. :-(

What is your general opinion about the Lista Bajana ?
http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories/lista.bajana.pdf

Cheers,

Michael

[Franek Grabowski]

The research just came too late, thanks to communists. Skalski had to be interviewed in 1960s or 1970s, as well as the other airmen, but this was not possible.

The Bajan List is an official score, and there is no other such list.

[knusel]

Good morning Franek,

do you have the impression that pilots who served with the Soviet Union had a better postwar life ?
http://www.aces.safarikovi.org/victo...oland-lwp.html

Michael

[Franek Grabowski]

Well, it depends on what do you mean by better life. Most of those on the list were Soviets, and returned to the SU, in plenty of cases much to their disappointment. Some, not those from the list, deserted, and escaped to the west. In general they were in a better position, as with few exceptions, they were not persecuted.

[knusel]

Hello Franek,

in the former German Democratic Republic where I come from we were ordered to like the Russians, whom we were not allowed to call 'Russians' but 'Soviet citizen'. Was is the same in former Poland ?

Michael

[Franek Grabowski]

I cannot say if there were official orders or if it went inofficially but there was a strong propaganda action taken, and new language introduced. Soviet Union was replaced by a literary translation, Union of Councils, etc. Numerous events on friendship and gratitude were held, and there are still some people who would like to continue the 'tradition'.
It seems it would not help much, as counterintelligence files are full of notes on 'negative approach'. A lot of effort was put to brainwash the people.
In regard of war period, plenty of Soviets did not like the idea of becoming temporary Poles, and opposed it. The term Soviet seems appropriate indeed, as there were representatives of many nations, I recall one Estonian commander being liked by his Polish subordinates, because 'he also hated Ruskies'.

[knusel]

Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski

... Most of those on the list were Soviets, and returned to the SU, in plenty of cases much to their disappointment. ...

Hello Franek,

what do you mean by 'most of those on the list were Soviets' ?

I wish you a good start into a pleasant July,

Michael

[Franek Grabowski]

Of the list only Chromy, Czownicki, Konieczny, Szuberski, and Szwarc were Polish citizens, the rest being Soviets. There were not much more Polish citizens in the 'Polish People's Air Force'.
Have a nice night & day!