Drobiński, Bolesław Henryk (Oral history)

Polish Air Force cadet escaped from Poland to Britain, 9/1939-1/1940; officer served as pilot with No. 65 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940-1941 including during Battle of Britain; served with 303 and 317 Sqdns in GB, 1941-1945

REEL 1 Background in Poland, 1918-1938: family; education. Period as Polish Air Force cadet in Poland, 1938-1939: background to becoming cadet, 1938; reasons for intensification of training at Demblin, 1938; transfer to Lwów on outbreak of Second World War, 1/9/1939. Recollections of escape from Poland to GB, 9/1939-1/1940: plans to escape to west via Romania, 9/1939; crossing into Rumania, 9/1939; internment in Slatina, Rumania from 10/1939; plans to escape from Rumania; method of escaping from internment camp. REEL 2 Continues: reasons for contacting Polish consulate in Bucharest; journey from Bucharest to northern Italy via Belgrade; crossing Italian-French border at Modana, 10/1939; arrival at Le Bourget Airport near Paris; orders to go to GB to train as bomber pilot. Period of training with RAF in GB, 1940: arrival in GB, 1/1940; impatience of Polish pilots at RAF Eastchurch to get into action; conversion courses at RAF Old Sarum and RAF Hawarden, summer 1940. Recollections of operations as pilot with No. 65 Sqdn, RAF during Battle of Britain, 8/1940-9/1940: posting to unit at RAF Hornchurch, 12/8/1940; his initial unfamiliarity with Supermarine Spitfire; attempt to intercept German bombers attacking RAF Hornchurch during practice flight, 24/8/1940. REEL 3 Continues: move to RAF Turnhouse, 28/8/1940; pursuit of Junkers Ju 88. Aspects of operations with 65 Sqdn, RAF over France, 1940-1941: role of squadron straffing German airfields from RAF Tangmere; reasons why Polish pilots barred from flying over France; atmosphere in squadron. Recollections of operations with 303 Sqdn in GB, 1941: role of squadron during Battle of Britain; his initial reluctance to transfer to squadron, 1/3/1941; targets attacked during operation to St Omer including attack on ship, 15/5/1941; destruction of five Me 109s during bomber escort missions over France, 18/6/1941-25/6/1941. REEL 4 Continues: dogfight with Me 109, 22/6/1941; contrast in attitude of Polish and British pilots to Germans; prior recollection of French attitude in France, autumn 1939; flying Supermarine Spitfire; squadron morale; rescue of shot down pilot from sea; periods away from squadron as instructor, 1942, as flight commander with 317 Sqdn in 1943 and as ADC to General Władysław Kukiel in London, 1944; rejoining squadron at RAF Coltishall, 3/10/1944; his opinion of Londoners under attack from V weapons; allocation of squadron to attack V2 sites in Netherland; bomber escort duties flying North American Mustangs, 4/1945; raid on Berchtesgarden, 25/4/1945. REEL 5 Continues: flying North American Mustang. Attitude of Poles on VE Day, 1945 and reasons for not returning to Poland, 1945. Problems in obtaining British citizenship, 1948.