WW2 Polish Silver Virtuti Militari Cross 5th Class (8284) Krupski & Matulewicz – Stanisław Słowik, 1586 (Polish Special Duties) Flight, Brindisi. Killed in Action

Stanisław Słowik was born on May 2, 1915, in Warsaw. He served as an airman in the 301st Bomber Squadron “Ziemia Pomorska” and the 1586 Special Duties Flight. He was an air gunner on a Liberator aircraft, KH 151.

The second formation of the 301st Squadron “Ziemia Pomorska” was created from the 1586 Special Duties Flight in Brindisi as part of the Allied Mediterranean Air Forces. The squadron operated Handley Page Halifax and Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft, performing missions for the SOE (Special Operations Executive) and conducting supply drops over occupied Poland, Yugoslavia, and Northern Italy. In March 1945, the squadron returned to the United Kingdom and was transformed into a transport unit in April.

Stanisław Słowik was awarded the Virtuti Militari Cross in 1942 for completing 21 bombing missions against enemy targets including: Bremen, Duisburg, Hamburg, Saarbrücken, Düsseldorf, Osnabrück, Frankfurt, Kassel, Wilhelmshaven, Essen, Aachen, and minelaying operations along the enemy coastline.

In the official recommendation for the award, submitted by Major Dąbrowa of the 301st Bomber Squadron, Sergeant Stanisław Słowik is described as “very good, calm, dutiful. As an aircraft gunner, he demonstrates composure and great courage even in the most difficult combat situations.”

A copy of the Virtuti Militari recommendation from the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum (PISM), London is included with the cross.

On January 19, 1945, Słowik took part in a special combat mission aboard Liberator KH 151 to Northern Italy. On return to the base in Brindisi, the aircraft crashed into the sea. The pilot testified that during the second landing approach, he was blinded by the green landing gear light, causing the aircraft to overshoot the runway.

Several crew members were injured in the crash: P/O Jan Czarnota, P/O Zbigniew Weyna, W/O Ludwik Skoczylas, and Sgt Andrzej A. Wandzel. Those killed instantly were: W/O E. Gągała, S/Ldr W. Żurawski, and W/O Stanisław Słowik.

Stanisław Słowik’s body was never recovered.
In 2019, an attempt was made to locate the wreck of the Liberator in Brindisi’s harbor. Although potential wreckage was detected, adverse weather conditions prevented divers from searching the seabed.

Dimensions:
Envelope: 11 cm x 6.2 cm
Virtuti Militari: 3.8 cm x 9.1 cm
Condition: As shown in the photographs.