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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 749

Seven: Warrant Officer H. Golebiowski, Polish Air Force & Royal Air Force, an experienced pilot who flew with No. 301, 304 and 138 Squadrons during the course of the Second World War, including a number of 'Special Ops'

Poland, Order of Virtuti Militari, 5th Class, silvered, gilt and enamel, officially numbered '6930'; Cross of Valour, with Second, Third and Fourth Award Bars; Air Force Active Service Medal, with Second, Third and Fourth Award Bars; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals, locally mounted half court-style as worn, very fine (7)

Henryk Golebiowski was born on 23 July 1917 at Warsaw, Poland. Educated for a year at the Polish Secondary School in Glasgow and then at the Craftsmens School, Warsaw (Plumbing Department), Golebiowski worked for the Avia Precision Machine Company, 1934-37. He subsequently entered the Polish Air Force Reserve as a Pilot from 4 November 1937-29 September 1939. Having served in France and Romania, September 1939-June 1940, he made it to England and underwent further training. He went on to fly as a pilot with No. 304 (Land of Silesia) Polish Bomber Squadron from 7 December 1941-8 February 1943, before returning to No. 6 OTU (Polish) as a Pilot Instructor until August 1943.

With the high turnover and losses experienced throughout Bomber Command, Golebiowski was soon back on an operational footing, joining No. 138 Squadron, 1586 Flight on 24 August. From October 1941 several Polish volunteer crews, were attached to No. 138 Squadron on special duty operations.C Flight was established on 1 April 1943, consisting of Polish airmen and ground crew. It had seven crews and on 4 November 1943, C Flight, No. 138 Squadron RAF became No.1586 (Polish Special Duties) Flight RAF at RAF Derna Libya. It was still named locally by their ex 301 crews and Polish authorities as No. 301 Squadron Land of Pomerania. On 22 December 1943, the Polish flight was transferred to Campo Cassale near Brindisi, Italy, from where it flew over occupied Europe on special duties. Golebiowski remained with them until 10 June 1944 and his service in Italy is noted upon his service record. Besides this, his presence on 9 operational sorties with the flight are certainly known, including Operations 'Ohio 3' (18-19 December 1943), 'Tupman 2' (5-6 January 1944) and 'Weller 14' (12-14 April). On all the noted ops, he flew as co-pilot with Flying Officer Jan Dziedzic. Following the end of the war, he subsequently flew with No. 301 Squadron during the early part of 1946. Like so many fellow airmen, he emigrated to Canada and settled in Quebec. Sold together with the following archive:

(i)
The related miniature awards, also mounted half court-style as worn in the same manner as the full-size awards, together with a later Order of Polonia Restituta breast Badge.

(ii)
Polish Pilot's Badge, by Sosnowski, Warsaw, silver metal and gilt.

(iii)
Polish Armed Forces Badge, by Mennica, Panstwowa.

(iv)
A quantity of copied research, including service papers, group photograph and a portrait photograph of the recipient wearing his Virtuti Militari, Cross of Valour with 3 Bars and Pilot's Badge.

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Sold for
£2,700

Starting price
£480

Sale 19003 Notices
The Poland, Order of Virtuti Militari, 5th Class, is numbered '9630' and not '6930'