Chelstowski Alexander (born April 22, 1912 in Rozan, died. March 26, 1973 in San José) - Polish airman, the pilot-observer, a soldier (a lieutenant) in September 1939, after its completion and after przedarciu to the UK - navigators and bombardier in 300 Squadron bombing Earth Mazowiecka, and then pilot-instructor in the British military aviation education. Military service after World War II ended in the rank of major, took place during the war, flying 42 combat: 8 during the defensive war in Poland and 34 in England.

After graduation (May 1932, the National Men's Gymnasium. King Wladyslaw Jagiello in Plock), began in September his military service in 67 Infantry Regiment in the 4 th Infantry Division, was there divisional course cadets who graduated in July 1933 with good results. Chelstowski decided to remain in the army as an officer of a professional, therefore, already in May 1933 submitted an application for admission to the Artillery Training Centre of Torun. After completing two years of training he was promoted - October 15, 1935 - to the rank of lieutenant. Was assigned to an artillery regiment of the heaviest, where he served in successive years. By the end of 1938 was interested in aviation, and in November he took a course in Deblin air observer for the position. This course is completed in the summer of 1939 (earlier, in March, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant): June 30, was transferred to the body of a passenger air force officers. Since July 1, has served in 26 Squadron equipped aircraft Monitoring Lublin R.XIII-D.

Education

WWII

Having burnt their planes and other equipment, documents, codes, etc. Observation Squadron 26 soldiers with cf. Chelstowski shortly after midnight on September 19 marched on foot to Romania. In Romania, together with other internees Chelstowski Polish soldiers spent three months: the first day of Christmas (25 December), a military transport ship sailed from Chelstowskim of Constanta, where after four days he reached Beirut. Another transport sailed 16 January 1940 from the Middle East, and to Marseilles in France, arrived on January 22. From Marseille to Caussade hit in mid-March to Lyon. During his stay in France, commander of Army Aviation, Colonel Krakow Sznuk occurred in February 1940 with a request for honor Chelstowskiego Virtuti Militari for the September campaign. But then the awards have not been. After the Germans entered France from Lyon Polish soldiers were evacuated to the African shore of the Mediterranean to Oran, where Chelstowski reached June 25. From there, a week later another boat came to Gibraltar, and after another week, another maritime transport, sailed to Britain. The convoy sailed to Glasgow, Scotland July 16 evening.

After undergoing training for the position of the navigator, which Chelstowski passed in the next period (graduated in Prestwick in April 1941) and bombardier (graduated at RAF West Freugh in Stranraer in June 1941) was assigned to 300 Squadron Bomber Mazowiecka Earth under the command of Major Stanislaw Cwynar. Along with the crew received a Vickers Wellington bomber Mk IV No. Z-1276, who dubbed the name "Sophie". The first operational flight took place in British aviation 16 October 1941. 28 October bombarded docks in Cherbourg, in the next (third) flight, November 1 - Kiel, then (7 November) - Mannheim, November 26 - Emden, 17 December - military port of Brest. December 23 Chelstowski took part in the raid, which aimed to Cologne, but due to dense cloud cover over the target, was bombed Aachen. In the eighth flight, militant Chelstowskiego (27 December, the last in 1941) has been involved in the bombing of Düsseldorf. In the next three flights - 6, 8 and 10 January 1942 - Chelstowski participated in the bombardment of Brest.