Leon Swietlikowski

Leon Swietlikowski served in the Polish Air Force, as well as the Polish squadrons attached to the French Air Force and Royal Air Force, during World War II.

Leon Lejek Swietlikowski was born on September 10, 1912 in Wilno, Poland to Kazimierz and Adolphina Swietlikowski. He worked as a pilot before joining the Polish Air Force at the onset of World War II. He flew in the September 1939 Campaign in Poland before fleeing to France to serve in the reassembled Polish Air Force there. Swietlikowski served in France from January of 1940 to June 21, 1940, whereupon he was forced to evacuate to the United Kingdom. 

Swietlikowski joined the now twice-displaced Polish Air Force in Britain and came under command of the Royal Air Force (RAF) on July 1, 1940. The Polish squadrons fought in all the major campaigns, and Swietlikowski taught flying and also flew many missions over Europe as a bomber, reconnaissance pilot, and weather observer, including the missions to invade France on D-day. Swietlikowski served in the Polish Air Force in Britain until December 3, 1946. 

While in Britain, he met his future wife, Elizabeth "Bette" Thomson Dale, who served in the RAF's Women's Auxiliary Air Force during the war. They wed in 1947. After living and working as a civilian in the United Kingdom for the next few years, Swietlikowski and his wife moved to America in 1951 and settled near Chicago. He died September 21, 1984.

Sources:
Biography derived from collection materials and donor information.