Bolesław Gładych

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Bolesław (Michal) Gładych (1915- ), was a Polish fighter pilot, a flying ace of the World War II. He is one of those legendary characters whose wartime exploits have become clouded over the years with romance, hearsay, rumour and embellishment that obscure the undoubted achievements of an extraordinary man.

He graduated summa cum laude from the Polish Air Force Academy. On the outbreak of war he was flying PZL PXIc fighters. Escaping from the Romanian internment camp Turnu Severin (reputedly killing a guard in the process) he reached France, where he joined the recently formed Polish manned "Finnish" Squadron, intended to participate in the Finnish-Soviet war. The squadron became an Armee de l'Air Polish volunteer unit- Groupe de Chasse I./145.

Later Gladych recalled an air combat with a Bf 109E on 10 June 1940. After a long dogfight, the Pole's fighter was severely damaged. The pilot of the Messerschmitt - with the number "13" on its side - simply waggled his wings and disengaged. This, according to Gladych, was the first of several encounters with Luftwaffe ace Hauptmann Georg Peter Eder. (Although according to Luftwaffe records Eder flew his first sorties with JG 51 in September 1940!)

Reputedly 'Mike' claimed several air victories with both air forces, although this cannot be confirmed from surviving records.

Gladych did reach the UK in 1940, attending 57 OTU before transferring to the famous No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron in October 1940, although again records suggest a later arrival in 1941. During his first combats with the squadron he claimed 3 Bf 109's shot down and a probable in 2 sorties on 23 June 1941, then ramming a fourth. Wounded, he then crashed his damaged Spitfire at RAF Manston, and removed to hospital. Returning to operations , Gladych claimed 2 more fighters in June 1942 as a member of 302 Squadron "City of Poznan'. By the beginning of 1943 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant.

Gladych detailed in a magazine article years later (Real magazine, New York, April-May 1960) another encounter with Hauptmann Georg Peter Eder. After crippling Gladych's Spitfire in the spring of 1943, yet again Eder flew alongside his victim and waggled his wings, before flying away. The two aces possibly met in combat once more in 1944, when again Eder shot up Gladych's P-47 aircraft over Vechta, but the Pole cleverly tricked Eder by flying through the German flak barrage to escape. (Apparently in 1950 Eder and Gladych met by chance at a pilots reunion in Frankfurt and managed to confirm they had been adversaries in each case.)

Another story relating to Gladych is that in the autumn of 1943 Gladych mistakenly almost shot down the aircraft carrying Prime Minister Winston Churchill. RAF Fighter Command grounded Gladych as a punishment.

After this second RAF tour in 1943 he managed to arrange a secondment to the 56th Fighter Group in early 1944. He claimed a further 10 air kills and 5 ground kills by the end of September 1944. Gladych reported that on 8 March 1944, while escorting bombers to Berlin, he engaged three FW-190s. Low on fuel, he attempted to disengage after shooting down one of the FW-190s, but the other two fighters boxed him in and tried to force him to land. As he approached a German airfield configured for landing, Gladych suddenly opened fire on the airfield with his remaining ammunition. German flak gunners responded, but missed Gladych and shot down the two following FW-190s.

It was then claimed he flew further (unofficial?) operations with an un-named P-51 group, claiming a Me-262 jet downed, but this is not confirmed by USAAF records.

He was awarded the Virtuti Militari, Cross of Valour with 3 bars by the Polish Air Force, the DFC by the RAF, and the Silver Star & 2 clusters, the Air Medal and 3 clusters by the USAAF. He also claimed to have been awarded the Croix de Guerre for the sortie on 8 March 1944, when he strafed the airfield after shooting down a FW-190.

It is also claimed he intentionally understated the total of his air victories lest he be promoted and transferred off combat duties. His P-47s were named "Pengie" (Pengie I - Pengie V), sporting a cartoon of penguin on cowling.

He also claimed to have rescued his brother from a German POW camp liberated by the Russians in 1945.

His 'score' appears to total some 18 claimed destroyed, 1 probable, 1 shared damaged, with 5 ground kills.

After the war "Mike" Gladych moved to United States and settled in Seattle, Washington, obtaining a Ph.D. degree. He and his wife, Elizabeth, still live in the area, where Dr. Gladych practices psychotherapy.