Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A remarkable Second War and Post War Mustang Pilots A.F.C. and Polish Gallantry group of seven awarded to Squadron Leader L. K. Grzybowski, who as a fighter pilot with 131 Polish Fighter Squadron claimed 2 German aircraft before being captured by Russian Forces in September 1939. A Prisoner of War for almost 3 years, he served with the Polish Army in Russia and the Middle East, and in late 1944 joined 306 Polish Squadron, flying 69 sorties before the end of the War

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1953’; 1939-45 Star: Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Poland, Republic, Order of Virtuti Militari, Fifth Class breast badge, bronze and enamel with original silvering; Cross of Valour, with Additional Award Bar, mounted as worn; together with a later post-War example of the Polish Pilots wings, contact marks, generally very fine and better (8) £2,400-£2,800

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1953.

K.C.V.S.A. London Gazette 1 January 1952.

Leszek Kazimierz Grzybowski was born on 19 December 1915 in Dabrowa Gornicza. Joining the Polish Air Force in 1935, on 16 October 1938, he was posted to 131 Polish Fighter Squadron. In action during the start of the War, he claimed a share in a He.111 on 3 September 1939, a share in a Ju.86, 6 days later (appears to have been disallowed) and a Me.110 on 11 September. However Grzybowski was captured by the Russian Army on 17 September 1939, remaining a prisoner in the Soviet Union until 19 April 1942. Grzybowski’s records of service then shows he was attached to the Polish Army in Russia and the Middle East, before ending up in a transit camp in Cairo on 22 October 1942. It seems he stayed in Egypt for some months before arriving at the Polish Air Force depot in Blackpool. From here, Grzybowski began Royal Air Force training, completing his final training on Spitfires. On 28 August 1944, F/O Grzybowski joined 306 Polish fighter Squadron, a squadron he would serve with until 7 January 1947. Between 11 September 1944 and 25 April 1945, flying Mustang III’s, F/O Grzybowski took part in 68 operational sorties, as well as numerous other flights. After supporting flights during Operation Market Garden, 306 Squadron moved to Andrews Field (UK) in October 1944 and would serve on many long range bomber escorts. These would include many heavily defended targets in Germany, including Bremen, Cologne, Hanover, Osnabruck, Hamburg, and Munich.

For his service during the War, research from the Sikorski Museum notes the following Polish Awards for F/O Grzybowski:
‘Awarded the Order of Virtuti Militari, V Class by the Supreme C-in-C’s decree of 25 July 1945 for actions during the Polish 1939 Campaign when serving in 131 Fighter Flight. He was awarded his first Cross of Valour by C-in-C PAF Order 12/45 of 25 April 1945 and the second Cross of Valour by his Order number 24/45 of 17 August 1945.’

Post-War, Grzybowski was recommended for a permanent Commission in the Royal Air Force, and served in a number of rolls, much of the time as an Flight Instructor, and was awarded the King’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in January 1952. A year later, he was awarded the Air Force Cross. Squadron Leader Grzybowski retired from service on 19 December 1970 but continued to flying until 1976.

Sold with the recipient’s four original Flying Log Books covering the period 1943 to 1975; a large numbers of letters, documents and newspaper cuttings from 1943 onwards (many wartime); a portrait photograph of the recipient; three large group photographs; and various other photographs and research from the Sikorski Museum, including service records, awards, flights, victory claims &c.