Lieutenant Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski (Flowers)
US Army Air Force, WWII
From: Dziennik Zwiazkowy [Alliance Daily] May 11, 1943Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski received the rank of Lieutenant Navigator
The product of Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, despite his young age is advancing quickly in the American Air Forces.
Lt. Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski, son of Maria and Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski -- well known Alliance members, spent a few days in Chicago on leave. Thanks to his abilities, diligence and inborn intelligence is advancing quickly in the American Air Forces, as in the last few months he completed a special school for officer navigators and despite his young age received the silver wings of a navigator and the rank of full lieutenant in the Air Force. Previously Lt. Kwiatkowski completed the pilot's and bombardier's schools.
Lt. Kwiatkowski is a beautiful example of a real soldier and a good Pole and American. He received the careful upbringing in a patriotic family home, and will bring credit to his parents, to the Chicago Polonia and the Alliance School in Cambridge Springs, PA of which he is a product.
Before his return from leave to his unit the Lieutenant stated that it is his fervent wish to go east as soon as possible to England or Africa where he would be able to fly over Germany to avenge the wrongs done by the German barbarians to the nation from which he is descended.
The parents of Lt. Kwiatkowski may be rightfully proud of their young, brave son. The mother of the Lieutenant has worked for many years in the offices of the Polish National Alliance.
Photograph - Nov. 14, 1942
Caption: Lieutenant in the Air Force -- Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski, living at 2067 N. Mozart Street is the son of a well known Alliance family, after completing two Air Force training schools in seven months was named a Lieutenant in the Air Forces.
From: Dziennik Zwiazkowy, June 24, 1944Lieutenant M. Kwiatkowski took part in the Invasion of France
Mrs. Maria Kwiatkowska a worker at the office of treasurer of the ZNP (Polish National Alliance) received yesterday a letter from her son, Lt. Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski who informed her that as the pilot of a medium sized Mitchell [B-25 bomber] he was over France on the day of the invasion to cover the landings by American forces.
The letter was written on the historical day of the invasion, 6th of June, probably on the return by Lt. Kwiatkowski from his mission.
"As you probably already know, this morning we had a sweet D-Day," writes the son to his mother. "I was among those happy people in my group who covered the landings of our boys and got to bomb the Germans below raising some dust. I can assure you that I did not fail in this duty."
Lt. Kwiatkowski is the son of a one-hundred-percent ZNP [Alliance] family and is a ZNP member himself. He has flown over 70 missions over enemy territory. His chest is decorated by a number of military medals among them the Purple Heart for a wound received during a mission.
From: Dziennik Zwiazkowy - March 10, 1944An interview on WJJD about the accomplishments of Lt. M. Kwiatkowski
On this Saturday, 11th of March, the radio station WJJD will broadcast at 11:45 am a special program about the heroic accomplishments by American soldiers on various fronts.
During the program there will be a dramatization of a flight in which Lt. Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski took part. He is a well known Alliance youth, a product of the Alliance school in Cambridge Springs. He was highly cited for extreme courage and presence of mind. As we have previously reported Lt. Kwiatkowski has received various decorations including the Purple Heart. Lt. Kwiatkowski serves aboard a "Marauder." [B-26]
From: Dziennik Zwiazkowy - Wednesday 24 May 1944Lt. M. Kwiatkowski receives the D.F.C. Cross for 60 Missions
Lt. Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski, the hero of 60 bombing missions against Germany received the highest medal that the American Army can bestow on an aviator, that is the Distinguished Flying Cross. Lt. Kwiatkowski already possesses a number of military decorations including the Air Medal, nine Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart which he received for wounds received during a mission against German positions in France.
Lt. Kwiatkowski is the son of a well known Alliance family Mr. and Mrs. Mieczyslaw and Maria Kwiatkowska living at 2067 N. Mozart Street. His mother has been for many years a worker at the offices of the Polish National Alliance. He was brought up in the Polish spirit and has brought credit to the name of Poland and his parents who are proud of his military deeds.
Lt. Kwiatkowski is a bombardier-navigator on a medium bomber, the Marauder. Missions of this kind of bomber differ from that of the Flying Fortress, more cooperation among aircrew is necessary and the navigator must maintain his presence of mind. Lt. Kwiatkowski had participated in over 60 missions which is an unusual record for an aviator. The missions were against enemy objectives in Belgium, Holland, France, and Germany. The results of the missions were always good which may be mainly credited to the navigator.
Lt. Kwiatkowski is, like his parents and sister, a member of the ZNP. He is a product of Alliance College in Cambridge Springs, PA. As a young man he was actively involved in ZNP Boy Scouts, in 1936 he visited Poland on a ZNP scouting excursion.
Lt. Kwiatkowski has been serving in the army since 13 April, 1941.
From: Dziennik Zwiazkowy - Wednesday, 7 June 1944Kwiatkowski, Lala, Musik, and Zimaj are among the airmen during the invasion.
American air forces have contributed in large measure to the successful landing of the allied invasion forces on the north shore of France. Large air transports of the Douglas C-47 type, made in Chicago, were in a formation which dropped strong units of parachute troops into the interior of France, whose job it was to destroy bridges and rail lines and in this way delay the arrival of German reserves that might repel the invasion.
The American 9th Air Force took part in bombing the French shore just before the landings by the army, and among the airmen from Chicago who had the mission of removing shore obstacles during D-Day were: Lt. Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski; sub-Lt. Robert L. Lala of 1615 Melvin Street; technical sergeant Edward J. Musik of North Gate Rd., Riverside; and technical Sergeant Ernest J. Zimaj of 824 Willow Street.
For the invasion flights the best pilots were selected, with bombardiers and air gunners who had many missions behind them. It was an honor to each of them and a grave responsibility. The air force, per the received reports, acquitted itself well in its duty and sustained few losses in the initial operations.
Dziennik Chicagoski -- May 23, 1944Kwiatkowski Received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross
Official reports from the bomber station of the 9th division stationed in England inform us that the Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to Lt. Melvin Kwiatkowski, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Kwiatkowski living at 2067 North Mozart Street in Chicago. Lt. Kwiatkowski is a bombardier/navigator aboard the B-26 Marauder bomber. Earlier he received the Flying Medal with three oak leaf clusters.
The officer from Chicago was earlier decorated for service in the B-26 making 25 trips over enemy territory in continental Europe. Lt. Kwiatkowski contributed to the success of nearly every mission. His sacrifices testify to the high ideals of the US Army.
"One of these 25 missions has stuck in my memory, it was one over Belgium," said Lt. Kwiatkowski, "there is always the danger of being shot down and other apprehensions. Then there is the wait for the result of the dropped bombs. On that day everything went well. I felt like a boy in school, like a kid by the pickle barrel."
Before joining the air forces on 13 April 1941, Lt. Kwiatkowski worked for the Appleton Electric Company in Chicago.
Dziennik Zwiazkowy - 8 August 1944Censor Swietlik Congratulates Lt. Kwiatkowski
Mrs. Maria Kwiatkowska, the long serving worker at the ZNP offices, received a letter from censor F.X. Swietlik which conveyed his congratulations and best wishes for her son Lt. Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski who returned recently after completing 77 missions against the enemy and receiving the highest military decorations. Censor Swietlik wrote: " I have just learned from the Alliance Daily about the visit of her son, Lt. Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski and his superb record achieved during missions against the countries which are occupied by the Germans. Through your hands I would like to convey to your son these congratulations not only for his actions on the war front but on the occasion of his safe return."
"I wish him a pleasant rest and express the hope that when this war is over, and the end is quickly approaching, he will return to us in good health for good. With my expressions of respect. F.X. Swietlik, ZNP Censor."
Dziennik Zwiazkowy -- August 9, 1944After 77 Missions against the Enemy, Lieutenant Kwiatkowski came on Leave
After 14 months of serving in the air forces in England, Lieutenant Mieczyslaw Kwiatkowski, a hero-airman, arrived a few days ago on leave. His arrival caused great happiness to his parents, who awaited him longingly. Tears of happiness rolled from the eyes of his mother, his sister cried, while his father tried to hide his. The father was proud and happy because of the accomplishments of his beloved "Mieciu." Lt. Kwiatkowski's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mieczyslaw and Maria Kwiatkowski, a well known Alliance family, live at 2067 N. Mozart Street.Did 77 Missions Over the Enemy
Modest and non-talkative about his military exploits, Lt. Kwiatkowski has a wonderful record of service in the air forces. He is just finishing his 23rd year and can pride himself with 77 missions over enemy territory. He served his country as a good Pole and a good American. During his faithful service to Uncle Sam he always had a thought of Poland in his heart. He saw Poland for the last time in 1936 when he went there with a ZNP scout troop for a trip to "the old country." He knew the kind of harm the Germans did to Poland, so during his mission he paid back the "supermen" with well-aimed bombs.
In a Fortress over Poznan
To be sure, Lt. Kwiatkowski saw Poland last not so long ago. It was not a touring trip, however, but a regular mission with the American heavy bombers.
Lt. "Miecio" found out that American air forces in England were going to raid German military objectives in Poznan, Poland. Poznan could not be reached by the "Marauder" medium bombers in which he served on missions against the enemy. Therefore, the young lieutenant volunteered for the Flying Fortresses. The "Marauder" is a twin engine bomber with medium range while the Flying Fortress is an air giant with four engines and can reach the enemy at long distances. The brave volunteer was accepted for a special mission of heavy bombers and was given the navigator's seat in a Fortress.
A Long and Tiring Flight
"It was the longest flight in my life" said Lt. Kwiatkowski. "I thought that we would never reach Poznan. But we had luck and we reached Polish territory, found Poznan, and flew around it to locate German barracks and war factories. Then we released a load of bombs. I am sure the raid had an effect on the Germans and that the Polish people in Poznan were jumping up and down happy to know that the arm of the American air forces can reach so far. After releasing the bomb load we had a long and tiring trip back, always being watchful for German pursuit planes.
77 Bombing Missions
Lt. Kwiatkowski took his "Marauder" 77 times over enemy territory. The missions were against German military objectives mainly in France, Belgium, and Holland. Seventy-seven time he stared death in the face. Seventy-seven time he took to the air not knowing if he would return to land in Great Britain.
"We hurt the Germans," he says, "our Marauder worked hard and experienced a lot. It had a thick skin and endured everything. We left the Germans not only bombs as 'presents' but we would fly low and strafe the Nazis with our machine guns until the bullets ran out."
Has Many Decorations
For his air achievements Kwiatkowski received several decorations [pencilled in on article: silver star]. Among these are the following: Distinguished Flying Cross (the highest air decoration) with cluster, the Purple Heart medal for heroism and wounds received in action. The Air Medal with fourteen oak clusters (which equal to 15 decorations) and others.
During one of his air missions Lt. Kwiatkowski was wounded in the head by shrapnel from anti-aircraft guns. He was brought back safely to England where he recuperated in a hospital.
He Crashed in France
Lt. Kwiatkowski took part in the invasion of France from the first day of that great operation. On the third day of the invasion his "Marauder" was hit by anti-aircraft damaging the right engine. It had to land behind German lines. After destroying the bomb sight, which is a military secret, Lt. Kwiatkowski and other members of the crew hid from the Germans and during the night made their way through the German patrols toward the American lines. The group of our flyers found an American patrol in the darkness. To his great surprise and joy Lt. Kwiatkowski found that it was commanded by Lt. Kazimierz Lenard of Chicago, his friend, who took good care of the entire crew.
On Leave Until the End of August
After this adventure Lt. Kwiatkowski was given leave and arrived in Chicago last Friday. His military "vacation" will last until the end of August, after that he will report to a base in Florida where he will await further orders.