He was born on 6th November 1920 in Tarnopol and he joined the training school in Swiecie in 1938. Due to the outbreak of war, he was unable to complete his course and was evacuated from his base at Moderowka to Romania. He arrived in France on New Year’s Day 1940 and immediately requested a transfer to England. He arrived here on 17th February 1940 and after finishing his basic training, he began pilot training on 19th July 1941 but six weeks later was transferred to air gunner training.
He completed this training at 7 Air Gunnery School, RAF Stormy Down near Bridgend, Glamorgan, South Wales and, on 25th September 1942, began his operational training with 18OTU at RAF Bramcote near Nuneaton in Warwickshire. Eventually, on 14th October 1943, he was posted to 304 Squadron at RAF Davidstow Moor in Cornwall where he remained until 20th April 1944.
He survived the crash of Wellington bomber HF898 on 24th December 1942 when the aircraft ran out of fuel after 11 hours 56 minutes in the air and the crew baled out safely near Cannock in Staffordshire.
After leaving the squadron he was suspended from flying duties on 5th February 1945 and from all aircrew duties five days later for medical reasons. He was awarded the Cross of Valour and the Air Medal.
On demobilisation, he settled in Southampton but moved to Blackpool at some point and died there on 24th August 2008.
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