Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Flying Officer K. Z. Rucinski, Free Polish Air Force, attached Royal Air Force, who was taken P.O.W. after his Wellington of No. 300 (Polish) Squadron was shot down by a night fighter in August 1942
Poland, Cross of Merit, 3rd Class, bronze; Poland, Swemu Obroncy Medal, silvered-metal; Poland, Medal for Victory and Freedom 1945; Great Britain, 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, good very fine and better (6)
£400-500

Kazimierz Zakrzewski Rucinski qualified as an Air Observer on attachment to the Royal Air Force in January 1942, having attended a course at No. 9 A.O.S. at Penrhos in late 1941. Subsequently posted to No. 18 O.T.U. at Hemswell to gain experience in Wellingtons, he joined No. 300 (Polish) Squadron in July 1942. First going operational on a “Gardening” mission on the night of 14-15 July, he completed bombing sorties to Dusseldorf, and Duisberg twice, before the end of the same month. As it transpired, he returned to Duisberg on two more occasions in August, but he was taken P.O.W. after his aircraft was shot down by a night fighter during a strike against Osnabruck on the night of 17th-18th - his pilot died of wounds, but the remainder of the crew survived.

Sold with the recipient’s original R.A.F. Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book, covering the period August 1941 up until his final sortie a year later.