Eugeniusz Szaposznikow

Eugeniusz Szaposznikow (17 July 1917 – 8 July 1991) was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 8 confirmed kills and one shared.

Eugeniusz Szaposznikow
Eugeniusz Szaposznikow, far left
Born(1917-07-17)17 July 1917
Died8 July 1991(1991-07-08) (aged 73)
Nottingham
Allegiance Poland
 France
 United Kingdom
Service/branch Polish Air Force
 France Armée de l'Air
 Royal Air Force
Rankkapitan
Unit111th Fighter Escadrille (Poland)
No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron
No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron
Battles/warsPolish Defensive War, World War II
AwardsVirtuti Militari; Cross of Valour; Cross of Merit (Poland); Distinguished Flying Medal

Biography

Szaposznikow took part in the Invasion of Poland in the 111th Fighter Escadrille. On 1 September he damaged a He 111. After the September Campaign he crossed the border with Romania, then he came to France where he was posted to the Cebrzyński section of the Groupe de Chasse II/5. After the French capitulation he arrived in the United Kingdom. From 2 August 1940 he was assigned to No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron.

He took part in the Battle of Britain. From 31 August to 7 October he shot down eight German aircraft.[1] In May 1941 he became instructor in 8 OTU. On 14 December 1943 he was sent to No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron, on 21 December 1943 he returned to No. 303 squadron.

After the war ended he stayed in the UK and changed his name to Sharman.

Eugeniusz Szaposznikow died on 8 July 1991 in Nottingham.

Aerial victory credits
  • He 111 - 1 September 1939 (damaged)
  • 1/3 Hs 126 - Battle of France
  • Bf 109 - 31 August 1940
  • Do 215 - 7 September 1940
  • Bf 109 - 7 September 1940
  • 2 x Bf 110 - 11 September 1940
  • Bf 109 - 23 September 1940
  • Bf 109 - 27 September 1940
  • Bf 109 - 7 October 1940 and one damaged

Awards

Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
Cross of Valour (Poland),[2] four times
Cross of Merit (Poland)[3]
Distinguished Flying Medal

Military promotions
gollark: At least not one done THAT rather bad way.
gollark: ?
gollark: Gibson, can you use "password reset" technology on your accounts
gollark: That is lyric being bad.
gollark: <@687787153081761808> You're Gibson, so this has context, vote Gibson.

References
  1. Józef Zieliński: 303 Dywizjon Myśliwski Warszawski im. Tadeusza Kościuszki
  2. R. King, p.398
  3. R. King p. 398

Further reading
  • Arkady Fiedler Squadron 303 (book)
  • King, Richard (2012). Wydawnictwo RM (ed.). Dywizjon 303 walka i codzienność. Warsaw. ISBN 978-83-7243-979-6.
  • Zieliński, Józef. Bellona (ed.). 303 Dywizjon Myśliwski Warszawski im. Tadeusza Kościuszki. ISBN 83-11096-30-9.
  • Olszański, Michał (2005). Edipresse (ed.). Dywizjon 303. ISBN 83-60160-35-X.
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