Zbigniew Osuchowski PAF

[JACK COOK]

Looking for info on this Polish AF pilot who flew with the US 9th AF and is shown receiving the Air Medal from M/G Lewis Brereton in France in 1944.

[Leendert]

Jack,

Somehow footnote.com let me see the picture and the caption reads that Lt Osuchowski is in the Polish Air Force attached to the RAF. So not a 9th AF pilot...
Another site seems to indicate that he died on 14 October 1944, but I've found no details about that so far.
Osuchowski is mentioned in following story: http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/frantis/frantis.htm

Regards,

Leendert

[pilot05]

Hello,

Kpt. Obs. Zbigniew Osuchowski P-0266 died 14.10.1944 while a mission to Duisburg due Flak. The Lancaster I NF959 BH-A exploded in the air in vicinity of Kirchellen/GER. The other crew members were St.sierz.pil. Stanislaw Sarachman, st.sierz. r/op Józef Perun, sierz. mech.pokl. Czeslaw Marona, ppor. bomb. Henryk Swiniarski, kpr. strz. Stanislaw Swiecicki-Stecki. The only one who survived was W/O plut. strz. Waclaw Brulinski (POW).

Kpt: Osuchowski was born 22.1.1909 in Warszawa. While beginning of WWII he was commander of I Pluton in the Eskadra Cwiczebna Obserwatorów SPL (observator training unit) in Deblin, September 20th he was ordered to plk. Kuleszy-Hanki's Grupa Operacyjna. On Sept 22nd he escaped with his platoon with RWD-8 and PWS-26 to Romania. From there he went to France and 1940 to Great Britain. After schooling to navigator in 5 AOS, in Sept 1942 he was sent to 18 OTU for fight-schooling. In Febr 1943 ordered to 301 BD and at its cancellation in Apr 1943 to 300 BD. His awards were Virtuti Militari 5th class (8496), 2x Krzyz Walecznych and POOb.
He is buried in Reichswlad Forest (GER) British War Cementery, grave 14/20/F.

Regards
Martin

[Franek Grabowski]

Osuchowski was a navigator, and not a pilot. On his collar are three stars, so he is already a kapitan (Captain or Flight Lieutenant). In 1939 he led a liaison platoon, where Czechoslovak airmen inPolish service were attached, including Josef Frantisek. Since February 1943 flying missions with 301 and then 300 Sqn. Lost with the crew when Lancaster NF959 BH-A blew up over Kirchellen on 14 October 1944.
Some Poles were attached to USAAF, but it is little known about them, apart of those flying with Gabby.

[JACK COOK]

He had to have been assigned to the 9th in some form has he wears a 9th AF patch on his uniform sleeve and Brereton is of course the CO of the 9th AF. He Looks like a very brave man!

[Ex Shack]

It is clear that the "supporting cast" are wearing American uniform but Osuchowski seems to be wearing an RAF officer's no 1 uniform with the POLAND shoulder flash and a F/Lt's 2 rings on his sleeve. As Franek points out he also wears Polish Rank on his collar. His cap badge also seems to be Polish and so does his Aircrew badge above his left breast pocket. There are many book sources that suggest this mixed uniform was not entirely unusual among exiled Polish personnel even to the wearing of RAF Aircrew insignia in some cases. It still leaves you with the need to find evidence of his spending time with the USAAC either flying or in a Staff position, either of which could have been acknowledged by an American Decoration
Regards
Dick

[Fairlop]

In 1939 he led a liaison platoon, where Czechoslovak airmen inPolish service were attached, including Josef Frantisek.

There was trio of Czechoslovak airmen - J. Balejka, M. Pavlovic and J. Frantisek under his command. He was evacuated in Balejka´s machine to Romania on 22 September 1939.

Regards,
Michal

[Franek Grabowski]

He has a pretty standard PAF uniform of the period, but the 9th AF patch is a real gem. He must have been attached to a USAAF unit for his operational rest. There were some complaints about Poles, who instead of their intended desk-job, volunteered to fly operational missions. Capt. Rollin D. Childress was decorated at the same time, so this may be a clue to exact place and date.

[JACK COOK]

Capt Rollin D. Childress 558th Bomb Squadron 387th Bomb Group awarded the Silver Star for lead eighteen B-26s in a attack upon a fuel dump in the Foret de Grimbosq, south of Caen June 7, 1944. Perhaps Capt Osuchowski was flying with then. I believe Childress is still living.

[Leendert]

Jack,

Sorry to inform you that Lt Col Rollin Childress has died in 2007:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/p...90328/-1/rss36

Regards,

Leendert