Franciszek Jarecki

Franciszek Jarecki (born September 7, 1931 – died October 24, 2010[1]) was a pilot in the Polish Air Force, who became famous in early 1953 when he escaped Soviet-controlled Poland in a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet, one of the best Soviet planes at that time.

From Denmark, he moved to London, where General Władysław Anders awarded him the Cross of Merit, and then to the United States, where he provided crucial information about modern Soviet aircraft and air tactics.

Three years later, four students of Dęblin's school escaped in two Yakovlev Yak-18 planes, crossing Czechoslovakia to land near Vienna in neutral Austria.

[4] After some time in London, England, Jarecki moved to the United States, living in Pennsylvania until his death on October 24, 2010.

In 2006, Polish TV Station TVN made a film, Jarecki, which is part of the "Great Escapes" series.

Frank Jarecki's flightsuit on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
A propaganda leaflet featuring Jarecki's story,, produced shortly after his defection for Operation Moolah , encouraging North Korean pilots to defect with their jet fighters.