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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 747

An impressive O.B.E. group of seven attributed to Squadron Leader S. J. Zurek, Polish Air Force and Royal Air Force, who served with distinction during the Second World War, taking a particular liking to attacking enemy submarines and who was commander of No. 304 (Land of Silesia) Polish Bomber Squadron during 1945

The attributed Polish Awards: Poland, Republic, Order of Virtuti Militari, bronze and enamel, an unnumbered attributed Badge; Cross of Valour 1920, bronze;

The British Awards: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast Badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals, in their card box of issue to 'Sqn Ldr S J Zurek OBE, 49 Sweetcroft Lane, Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB10 9LA', with the issuance slip, tape stating 'P1102 Sqn Ldr' and another for the 4 awards, good very fine (7)

Stanislaw Jozef Zurek was born on 3 May 1911 at Krakow, Poland and in the summer of 1934 undertook an aviation course at Luck. From September 1934-35 he attended the Air Force Officer Cadet School at Deblin before returning to his job in the Earth Sciences while remaining as a Reserve Pilot.

On the outbreak of war he made his way, via Romania, to France and joined the Polish Air Force at Lyon-Bron. At the fall of France he came to England and was assigned to the Polish Depot at RAF Blackpool. Commissioned into the Royal Air Force he went on to 6 Air Observers Navigation School then joined 18 Officer Training Unit and served with No. 304 Squadron from 10 August 1942. A little under a month later on 2 September 1943, he was flying as co-pilot to Marian Kucharski when they attacked a large surfaced U-boat with depth charges and anti-submarine bombs, strafing the decks of the submarine and observing the crew fall or dive into the water. It was in fact the Italian submarine Reginaldo Giuliani and she was severely damaged. Intelligence later confirmed the boat had been forced to limp into Santander for repairs that ended her operational career. The Log of the submarine gives further details of their daring attack going in:

12:44
From an altitude of about 30 meters the airplane drops four depth charges which fall one on deck, aft of the tower and then rolls into the sea, the other three within a few meters of the hull forward to the left. The bombs explode under the hull and the boat, hit full on, undergoes a very violent shock first, and then a tremble. I’m pushed upward and then fall on deck. The boat is hit full on by columns of water which completely cover it; it is still and heavily listing portside. The sea is covered in fuel which is copiously leaking out of the main tanks and the other tanks which still have any left. From the explosion, helmsman 3rd Class Andra Assali and gunner Francesco Perali are thrown into the sea.

12:50
The airplane comes back for another attack and opens fire with machine guns and launches another depth charge which falls 40 meters off the stern. Gunner Pietro Capilli, who at the time was holding the portside gun, suffers a broken arm. Double hull N. 3 portside has been completely removed. Even double hulls 2 and 4 portside must have also been seriously damaged.

13:40
The airplane, after having strafed the submarine, goes away. The inside of the submarine is devastated by explosions and there is no light. The boat is slowly recovering from listing, but at the same time is sinking. From double hull N. 2 seaside some fuel is leaking from holes caused by the machine gun fire. Gunner Mario Gentilini - shrapnel in the right thigh - and sailor Odilio Malatesta - loss of a finger and large wound on his right arm - are also wounded. Helsman Andrea Assali and gunner Francesco Perali are lost at sea.

Zurek continued on operations until 12 April 1943, when he transferred to 6 (Coastal) OTU as Instructor and Officer in Command of the Polish Flight. He was clearly not done on operations, for he was posted back to No. 345 in December 1944 to command 'B' Flight. Higher command followed when he was appointed to overall command from 3 January-1 September 1945. Zurek was clearly not one to be left 'flying' his desk, for he sighted a submarine on the night of 12-13 January. Piloting a trusty Wellington, he flew at just 200ft to deliver depth charges in what was officially counted as an inconclusive action. At war's end, Zurek moved to Polish Air Force Headquarters and was the Polish Liason Officer to Coastal Command by 1947. Having settled in Hillingdon, he died on 11 July 1979 at Runcorn, Cheshire; some online sources suggest further entitlement to one or two Polish awards (and erroneously state a DFC) but this group appears as when it was originally acquired from the family in the UK some 20 years ago.

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Sold for
£1,300

Starting price
£320

Sale 19003 Notices
A numbered Virtuti Militari, together with an OBE and Cross of Valour (neither inscribed or numbered) are known to be held by a family member.