Zdzisław Krasnodębski

Its pilots carried out numerous interception sorties in the Polesie region, where the Polish border was often crossed by Soviet Air Force reconnaissance aircraft.

During one incident, Krasnodębski gave the order to shoot at one such aircraft, when the pilot ignored Polish radio calls.

Predictions said that the squadron's mother airfield, Okęcie, would be heavily bombarded on the first day of World War II.

On the first day of the war, the squadron pilots flew from the early morning, intercepting bomber aircraft and engaging in combat with escorting fighters.

After treatment for burns, Krasnodębski continued to command III/I Squadron, until the Soviet invasion on Poland on 17 September 1939.

Between 18 and 24 June 1940, over 30,000 Polish military personnel – about 8,500 aircrew – escaped France by various routes and made their way to England.

On 6 September 1940 in heavy combat, 303 claimed five Bf 109 destroyed, but among the Polish losses this day were both squadron leaders; Krasnodębski was badly burned, and Sqn Ldr Kellet wounded, while two other pilots were shot down.

20 mm cannon shells hit his fuel tank, spilling burning petrol into the cockpit.

Blinded by the fire, Krasnodębski managed to invert his aircraft, unfasten his safety harness, rip off his oxygen mask, open the canopy and drop clear.

Soon after the chute opened he heard an approaching fighter; a Hurricane flown by Witold Urbanowicz, who saw the yellow Mae West life jacket worn by RAF pilots and veered off to circle the parachute all the way down.

Although Krasnodębski spoke little English, the old men identified that he was not German and called for an ambulance that took him to the local hospital.