[1] He was awarded the Virtuti Militari, Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war, on 20 February 1941[2] and fought in the Polish Defensive War, the Battle of France, and the Allied invasion of continental Europe, before being killed in action on 18 May 1944.

After training on a Bloch MB.150, Adamek took part in the Battle of France, flying under the orders of Commander Eugeniusz Wyrwcki in the 4th Polish Squadron.

The next year, on 14 April 1942, he shot down a Bf 109, this being his fifth individual victory, and enough to give him the honorary title of fighter ace.

317 Polish Fighter Squadron, based at RAF Chailey in East Sussex, an Advanced Landing Ground designed to support the invasion of continental Europe by Allied Forces.

[9] On 18 May 1944, while particIpating in a 'Ranger' mission over Fecamp, France as Flight Commander,[2] Adamek's Spiftire Mk IX was hit by flak.

[3] Adamek is memorialised at a monument which can be found at RAF Chailey, alongside Flight Lieutenant Jan Kurowski of 308 Squadron, who was killed in action three days later.

The monument carries a quote from Josef Chielnicki of RAF Poland: "A Nation will always live, if there are people ready to die".