Bolesław Orliński

Bolesław Orliński (13 April 1899 - 28 February 1992) was a Polish aviator, military, sports and test pilot.

He was born in his family's estate in Niwerka at Podole. During the World War I he was commissioned in the Russian Army, fought in infantry on the German front and became NCO. In 1918 he joined the newly formed Polish 1st Corps of Gen. Józef Dowbór-Muśnicki. When the corps was disarmed by the Germans in May 1918, he got to Ukraine and, for a short time, served in the army of Ukrainian People's Republic. He returned to Poland after it regained independence and joined the newly formed Polish Army. He served in the cavalry during the Polish-Soviet war, then he volunteered for the air force.

He completed pilot schools in Bydgoszcz and Grudziądz. In 1923 he became an instructor in Grudziądz himself. He was especially interested in aerobatics.

From 27 August to 25 September 1926, with a mechanic Leon Kubiak, Orliński flew the Warsaw-Tokyo route (10,300 km/6,400 miles) and back, in Breguet 19 A2 plane. On the way back, the plane was damaged by wind in Byrka - its left lower wing was broken and propeller was cracked, but the Polish aviators shortened the opposite wing and repaired a propeller with a glue and wire, and flew luckily 6680 km to Warsaw. Orliński was awarded for that flight with the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun 6th class, French Legion of Honor and promoted to Captain.

In 1928 he quit the service and became a test pilot in the Polish biggest PZL aviation works in Warsaw. He was first to fly all PZL fighter prototypes, starting from PZL P.1 of Zygmunt Puławski's design in 1928, through PZL P.6, PZL P.7, PZL P.8, PZL P.11, PZL P.24 to PZL P.50 Jastrząb in 1939. He also flew first sports planes PZL.19, PZL.26, passenger planes PZL.4, PZL.44 Wicher, liaison plane PZL Ł.2.

Apart from his test pilot work, he took part in numerous aviation contests and presentations of Polish aircraft abroad. Flying the PZL.5 he took part in Challenge 1930 international touring planes contest, but did not finish it due to engine failure on 26 July. In December 1930 he presented the fighter PZL P.6 at Paris Air Show. Flying P.6, Orliński won National Air Races in Cleveland in 29 August - 7 September 1931. Flying the PZL.19 he took part in the next Challenge 1932 contest, but had to withdraw due to illness. on 23 August. On 28 June 1934 he set a world speed record for fighters with radial engines 414 km/h, flying PZL P.24. He survived several crashes or emergency parachute jumps.

After the outbreak of the World War II and German invasion on Poland, he volunteered for the Polish Army. On 8 September 1939 he was sent to Romania in order to receive British fighters, that eventually were not delivered there. Via Yugoslavia, Italy and France he got to Great Britain, where the Polish Air Force was recreated. Because of his age, he could not be a fighter pilot and became an instructor instead. In 1943 he persuaded to join the No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron, with a rank of Major, flying fighter-bombers de Havilland Mosquito. Having perfectly mastered the plane, he trained pilots, among others in single-engine landing. From 1 August 1944 to 31 January 1945, Wing Commander Orliński was the commander of the No. 305 squadron. He flew 49 sorties, mostly night bombing ones. From 1 February 1945 until the end of the war in Europe he was rested from combat.

After the war he decided not to come back to communist country and settled in Toronto, Canada. During his career he flew 92 aircraft types and spent some 7,000 hours in air. He died in Canada at the age of 93 and was buried in Poland.

He was awarded, among others the Virtuti Militari 5th class (World War II), Cross of Valor (Polish-Soviet war), Golden Cross of Merit (two times), Medal Lotniczy (four times), Distinguished Flying Cross.