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Franciszek Żwirko [english pronunciation like: frantsishek zhvirko] (16 September 1895 – 11 September 1932) was a prominent Polish sport and military aviator. Along with Stanisław Wigura, he won the international air contest Challenge 1932.
Franciszek Żwirko a adăugat 2 fotografii
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Franciszek Żwirko [english pronunciation like: frantsishek zhvirko] (16 September 1895 – 11 September 1932) was a prominent Polish sport and military aviator. Along with Stanisław Wigura, he won the international air contest Challenge 1932.
Franciszek Żwirko a adăugat 2 fotografii
acum 6 zile
Biography He was born in Sventiany, near Vilnius in Lithuania (at that time part of the Russian Empire), and attended school in Vilnius. During World War I, he volunteered for the Russian Army, graduated from an officer school in Irkutsk, and served in infantry, fighting against the Germans. He was awarded the Order of St. Anna, 4th class. In 1917, he joined the Polish corps of Gen. Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki, formed in Russia. After the corps was disbanded in 1918, he enlisted in Gen. Anton Denikin's Volunteer Army and fought against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War. He completed an air observer course. After the Bolsheviks' victory in the war in 1921, Żwirko fought his way to Poland across the Soviet-Polish border. In Poland, he graduated from an aviation school in Bydgoszcz in November 1923, and a higher pilotage school in Grudziądz. He became a fighter pilot in the 18th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Air Regiment, with a rank of porucznik pilot (flying lieutenant). He also became active in sports aviation. Żwirko distinguished himself as a very skilled and calm pilot. In August 1927, flying a Breguet 19 military plane, he took the 2nd place in the 1st air…
Franciszek Żwirko a adăugat o fotografie
acum 6 zile
Honours and awards On 14 September 1932, the President of Poland posthumously awarded Żwirko the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta "for his contribution in the field of propaganda in the international aviation" and, on March 12, 1933, he received a posthumous promotion to the captain with seniority from 1 January 1933. He had also been decorated with the Gold and Silver Crosses of Merit and the Russian Order of St. Anna, class IV (combat merit).