Podporucznik (Pilot Officer) Michal Drzazga and his crew in England, in front of a Mosquito

The remarkable story has been revealed of a courageous Polish RAF pilot who avoided the advancing Nazi army and murderous German submarines on his journey over thousands of miles to sign up and fight from England. 

The Atkinson in Southport has released details and photos of Podporucznik (Pilot Officer) Michal Drzazga, who managed to escape Poland after it was invaded by Germany and Russia in 1939 at the start of World War Two.  

The venue, on Lord Street in Southport, is currently hosting its ‘Courage and Devotion’ exhibition, which pays tribute to the brave Polish airmen and aircrews who fought from RAF Woodvale near Southport and other airfields in Britain in the fight against Hitler during the six-year conflict. 

Podporucznik (Pilot Officer) Michal Drzazga’s story is one that was replicated by many of his compatriots during this time. The information is taken from his diaries now in the possession of his son, Andrew Donaldson.

The first entry is dated the 1st of September 1939 and records Poland at the outbreak of World War Two. By the 19th of September he was in Romania. He spent a couple of months in Bucharest before continuing to Bulgaria. He eventually boarded a ship on the 17th of December which was bound for Beirut.

Polish Airman Second Lieutenant Drzazga  Polish Army (en France) ID card

Polish Airman Second Lieutenant Drzazga Polish Army (en France) ID card

After spending a short time in Beirut he joined a French ship called the Explorataur Grandidier which headed to Marseilles. His diary records that on the 6th of May 1940 he was in Paris and had a Polish Army (en France) ID card.

However, on the 10th of May, the Germans invaded the Lowlands. He moved on to Lyon by the 23rd of May, and then to Toulouse and eventually made it to Bayonne by the 24th of June.

He departed Bayonne at 6.15pm on the 24th of June and arrived in Liverpool on board the Arandora Star at 8am on the 27th of June 1940.

Michal’s luck was certainly with him as during his journey to Liverpool. France became occupied during the trip and the ship that brought him to this country then sailed on, unescorted, and in the early hours of the morning of the 2nd July she was torpedoed about 75 miles off the coast of Ireland.

Polish Airman Second Lieutenant Drzazga

Polish Airman Second Lieutenant Drzazga

Once in the UK, Michal became one of the Polish Airmen fighting alongside members of the RAF. He was based in Blackpool and was billeted soon after arriving in England at 7 Howard Street, North Shore.

In November 1943 he joined the Polish night-fighter squadron 307 where he flew the Mosquito fighter-bomber throughout the rest of the war.

During the war he was promoted several times and reached the rank of Squadron Leader by 1944.

Being awarded medals in 1946

Being awarded medals in 1946

He was awarded four British medals and two Polish medals – the Polish medals were the Krzyz Walecznych and the Medal Lotniczy – which translate loosely as the Cross of Combattants and the Medal of the Airforce.

The bravery of the Polish RAF crews who served alongside the British in World War Two is currently being highlighted in the Courage And Devotion exhibition at The Atkinson in Southport. The display particularly focuses on all those who served at the RAF Woodvale airfield near Southport. 

RAF Woodvale was originally conceived as a fighter base for the protection of Liverpool and the surrounding areas, which had been so heavily bombed during The Blitz in 1940. 

Michal Drzazga in 1940 in Blackpool

Michal Drzazga in 1940 in Blackpool

It opened in 1941 with 308 Krakowski Squadron. Conditions were harsh in the early days, even for battle-hardened airmen, some of whom described facilities as being worse than Tobruk.

A total of 145 Polish fighter pilots served in the RAF during the Battle of Britain, making up the largest non-British contribution.

By the end of the war, around 19,400 Poles were serving in the Polish Air Force in Great Britain and in the RAF.

Medals won by Podporucznik Michal Drzazga

Medals won by Podporucznik Michal Drzazga

During World War Two The Atkinson held numerous events to help fund the Polish servicemen including music concerts and exhibitions of work by Polish artists.

Along with the stories of the airmen and objects to help illustrate the story The Atkinson has commissioned an incredible replica scale model of a Spitfire Vb AB273 from paper artist sculpture Suhail Shaikh.

The Courage and Devotion exhibition is at The Atkinson on Lord Street in Southport until 12th March, 2022. Admission is free. 

Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com

21 Comments
  1. Touche. Outstanding arguments. Keep up the amazing effort.

  2. tlover tonet 3 months ago

    I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I was looking for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye

  3. SLewisunege 1 month ago

    Comprar Cialis Generico Contrareembolso 24 Horas
    It is remarkable, it is rather valuable answer
    Cialis 5 mg prezzo cialis prezzo tadalafil 5 mg prezzo

  4. Thanks for the purpose of supplying many of these wonderful info.
    [url=http://www.alphasv.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=29060]est-il possible d’obtenir du triamcinolone sans ordonnance à Genève[/url]

  5. TimsothyHeeby 1 month ago

    The idea that the success of a specific technology, Revolutionizing Creativity with GPT-4: Sora from OpenAI and the Future of Digital Content like Sora, or any other advanced technological achievement could increase the likelihood that we are living in a simulation is a speculative and philosophical argument. It draws on the Simulation Hypothesis, which suggests that all of reality, including the Earth and the universe, might be an artificial simulation, such as a computer simulation run by an advanced civilization or intelligence. This hypothesis has been popularized by figures like Elon Musk and is grounded in philosophical discussions that date back to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Descartes’ Evil Demon, but with a modern, technological twist.

  6. Stephenruh 1 month ago

    cat casino официальный сайт
    https://7sps.ru/

  7. ctr manipulation 4 weeks ago

    There is obviously a lot to identify about this. I think you made certain nice points in features also.

  8. Metal reclamation Ferrous material industrial collaboration Iron recovery center services

    Ferrous material recycling market trends, Iron scrap recovery, Metal reclaiming and reclaiming solutions

  9. Scrap metal reutilization and recycling Ferrous material operational efficiency Iron scrap reclaiming and recovery

    Ferrous metal grading, Iron scrap storage services, Scrap metal processing plant

  10. I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems? A few of my blog visitors have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera. Do you have any advice to help fix this problem?

  11. LhanePal 2 weeks ago

    Hey I am so glad I found your site, I really found you by mistake, while I was looking on Google for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a remarkable post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the fantastic b.

    http://www.google.com.ec/url?q=https://didvirtualnumbers.com/de/

  12. LhanePal 2 weeks ago

    Great post but I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Cheers!

    http://americansecurities.biz/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=hottelecom.biz/id/

  13. Stephenruh 2 weeks ago

    Thanks , I have recently been looking for info about this subject for a long time and yours is the best I have came upon so far. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you certain about the supply?

    https://www.google.ki/url?q=https://hottelecom.biz/id/

  14. Scrap metal recovery and reclamation Ferrous metal balers Iron reclamation and recycling

    Ferrous metal purchasing, Iron disposal yard, Metal scrap collection services

  15. EarnestAlolf 1 week ago

    Aviator Spribe казино играть онлайн
    Добро пожаловать в захватывающий мир авиаторов! Aviator – это увлекательная игра, которая позволит вам окунуться в атмосферу боевых действий на небе. Необычные графика и захватывающий сюжет сделают ваше путешествие по воздуху неповторимым.
    Aviator Spribe играть с умом

  16. Davdiddah 1 week ago

    Aviator Spribe казино играть на телефоне
    Добро пожаловать в захватывающий мир авиаторов! Aviator – это увлекательная игра, которая позволит вам окунуться в атмосферу боевых действий на небе. Необычные графика и захватывающий сюжет сделают ваше путешествие по воздуху неповторимым.
    Aviator Spribe казино регистрация

  17. LhanePal 1 week ago

    Appreciating the hard work you put into your blog and in depth information you present. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed material. Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

    Rybelsus

  18. OLanePal 1 week ago

    This post is priceless. Where can I find out more?

    Rybelsus

  19. TimsothyHeeby 6 days ago

    I’m gone to inform my little brother, that he should also pay a visit this webpage on regular basis to obtain updated from latest news.

    Rybelsus

  20. FobertSic 3 days ago

    Aviator Spribe казино где играть
    Добро пожаловать в захватывающий мир авиаторов! Aviator – это увлекательная игра, которая позволит вам окунуться в атмосферу боевых действий на небе. Необычные графика и захватывающий сюжет сделают ваше путешествие по воздуху неповторимым.
    Aviator Spribe играть с друзьями

  21. DichaelThuro 3 days ago

    Whats up very cool web site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds also? I’m happy to seek out numerous helpful information right here in the post, we need work out extra techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
    writing service

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Log in with your credentials

Forgot your details?