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Domanski, Ludwik B.

Civil Engineer, Aviator

Ludwik Domanski was born on October 22, 1918 in Siedlce, the son of Tadeusz and Halina nee Pekielis. In 1938 he finished studies in the Road Building Department of the National Railway Technical School in Warsaw.

During the September 1939 defensive campaign he was captured by the Soviets. He escaped from the train, but was later arrested and sent to Vorkuta (in the Komi Soviet Republic) for slave labor in a coal mine.

The German attack on the Soviet Union allowed him to be released to join the Polish Armed Forces and in May 1942 he arrived in Glasgow, Scotland. After intensive training at an air base he was assigned (in December 1943) to a Special Tasks Squadron (later Squadron 301). In February 1944 he was promoted to officer rank as aircraft commander and sent to Brindisi in southern Italy. He took part in making air drops to assist the Warsaw Uprising. His aircraft was shot down by a night fighter near Szantes, Hungary. He was captured and spent the remainder of the war in captivity, including Luftstalag III in Sagan.

At war's end he returned to England and flew in the civilian Transport Command on the route London-Marseilles-Naples-Athens. In 1951 he emigrated to California and settled in Los Angeles. He worked as a designer, while continuing his studies at the University in Los Angeles. During his 50 years of professional work he had been: a draftsman, designer, engineer, project office director and consultant.

He was decorated with the Virtuti Militari Cross, thrice with the Cross of Valor, the Polish Air Force Medal, Gold Cross of Merit, Home Army Medal, and the September 1939 Campaign Medal. He had also been decorated five times by the British.

Resume from Book: "My Flights to Freedom" by Ludwik B. Domanski

Published by: Dr. Antoni Lenkiewicz; Biuro Tlumaczen
50-550 Wroclaw, ul. Wieczysta 77/33, Poland, tel: 336-70-44
e-mail: [email protected]

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