EUGENIUSZ MAZUREK

He was born on 11th November 1919 in Zywiec near Krakow and in 1937 he joined the training school in Bydgoszcz. Because of the imminence of war his course was shortened and he completed it in 1939, qualifying as an aircraft mechanic in Krosno. He was based at Luck aerodrome and was evacuated to Romania when it was bombed.
By November 1939 he was in France; he did not stay there long as he volunteered for aircrew service in England. He arrived on 12th February 1940 and began further training before being attached to the newly forming 301 Squadron probably at RAF Bramcote near Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He began pilot training in October 1941 but he was switched to wireless operator and air gunner at the end of March 1942.

He started the wireless training at the Blackpool Polish Depot on 13th April 1942 but completed it at 1 Signal School at RAF Cranwell North on 18th November of that year. The very next day he went to 8 Air Gunnery School at RAF Evanton at Invergordon, Scotland. Now almost fully trained he returned to the Blackpool Depot on 8th January 1943 to await radar training which he began on 1st April 1943 at 11 Radio School at RAF Heaton Park, Manchester.

A few weeks later he went to 6OTU at RAF Silloth, Cumberland (now Cumbria) for his final operational training before posting to 304 Squadron on 5th August 1943. At this time they were based at RAF Davidstow Moor in Cornwall and serving in Coastal Command. He completed his tour of duty on anti-submarine sweeps and then returned to 6OTU as an instructor. On 20th February 1946 he was posted to RAF South Cerney near Cirencester in Gloucestershire; this was probably still in a training function. He left the Air Force in September 1948. During his service he was awarded the Cross of Valour twice and the Air Medal.

After the war he worked mainly for Rediffusion, a company who specialised in wired television and radio networks.

He died in Southampton on 12th October 2000.