Tadeusz Kotz

Tadeusz Kotz (1913 - 2008) - was a Polish pilot and fighter ace of the World War II. He was awarded several decorations, including Poland's Virtuti Militari and the British Distinguished Flying Cross.

Biography

Tadeusz Kotz was born in Biała Podlaska as Tadeusz Koc. After school he entered the cadet flying school in Dęblin. Later, he served in the Polish Air Force as fighter pilot. During the Invasion of Poland in 1939, Kotz fought in the 161 eskadra myśliwska air unit of Łódź Army. He shot down his first enemy Messerschmitt on 2 September 1939, while piloting a PZL P.11 airplane. In 16 september he shot down also Soviet reconnaissance bomber Polikarpov R-5.

After Poland was defeated, Kotz was ordered to evacuate to Romania along with other pilots. Soon he escaped via Yugoslavia and Greece to France, and continued to serve with the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain. He was one of the pilots in the famous Polish No. 303 Squadron, flying a Spitfire. Later, he became a squadron leader of 303 Squadron. In 1943, Kotz was shot down in north France, but returned to England via German occupied France, Spain, and Gibraltar to continue to fight until the end of war. He was demobilized in 1948.

He married and settled to Swaziland in Africa and then moved to Collingwood in Canada where he spent the remainder of his life.While in Canada, he published a book of memoirs "Błękitne niebo i prawdziwe kule" ("Blue sky and real bullets") in 2005.

References

* Kotz, Tadeusz. "Błękitne niebo i prawdziwe kule”, Toronto, 2005, Ontario Limited.
* Izydor Koliński: Wojsko Polskie : krótki informator historyczny o Wojsku Polskim w latach II wojny światowej. 9, Regularne jednostki Wojska Polskiego (lotnictwo), formowanie, działania bojowe, organizacja, uzbrojenie, metryki jednostek lotniczych. Warszawa : Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej 1978.

External links

* [http://www.polishschoollondon.com/plkotz.html Tadeusz Kotz in polish school - London]