Global InformationTadeusz Sawicz information
Tadeusz Władysław Sawicz | |
|---|---|
 Sawicz in July, 1943 | |
| Born | 13 February 1914 Warsaw, Poland |
| Died | 19 October 2011 (aged 97) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Allegiance |  Poland,Allied Powers |
| Service/ | Polish Air Force French Air Force Royal Air Force US Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1934–1947 |
| Rank | Wing Commander, Brigadier General (Hon) |
| Unit | 111th Fighter Escadrille 114th Fighter Escadrille Groupe de Chasse III/10 No. 303 Squadron No. 316 Squadron 56th Fighter Group |
| Commands held | No. 315 Squadron No. 131 Wing No. 133 Wing |
| Battles/wars | World War II
|
Tadeusz Władysław Sawicz (13 February 1914 – 19 October 2011) was a Polish World War II fighter pilot. He served in the Polish Air Force, and after the fall of Poland, he served in the Polish and allied units in France and United Kingdom. He was the commander of several air units, including the No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron, 1st Polish Fighter Wing, 3rd Polish Fighter Wing, 131st (Polish) Fighter Wing and 133rd Fighter Wing. He participated in the Battle of Britain and was ranked as the 82nd highest scoring Polish fighter pilot of the war.
In addition to receiving Poland's highest military decoration, the Virtuti Militari, he was awarded a British Distinguished Flying Cross, an American Distinguished Flying Cross and the Dutch equivalent, the Airman's Cross or Vliegerkruis. In 2006 Sawicz was appointed honorary brigadier-general in the Polish Air Force.
After the war, he emigrated to Canada. At his death, he was believed to have been the last surviving Polish pilot to have fought in the Battle of Britain.