George Byczynski
George's Run For Arsen Cebrzyński (303 Squadron)
Fundraising for RAF Museum
Story
About the run
I am participating in the Spitfire Virtual 10k Run to commemorate F/O Arsen Cebrzyński, who was flying with the legendary 303 Polish Squadron. The Fighter Squadron was one of two Polish squadrons that fought during the Battle of Britain during the Second World War. Flying Hawker Hurricanes, the squadron claimed the largest number of aircraft shot down of the 66 Allied fighter squadrons engaged in the Battle of Britain, even though it joined the fray two months after the battle had begun.
Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of the Battle would have been the same. - Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, RAF Fighter Command
About Arsen Cebrzyński
In 1936, Arsen Cebrzyński had graduated from the Pilot Academy in Grudziądz, after which, he got assigned to the 111th Polish Fighter Escadrille. On 19 March 1938, he got promoted to the lieutenant. During the Invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany in September 1939, he was one of the first pilots on the Polish side to destroy enemy planes. On 3 September, he had destroyed Messerschmitt Bf 109, and together with Zdzisław Krasnodębski and Mirosław Ferić, had destroyed Messerschmitt Bf 110.
After the fall of Poland, he had evacuated via Romania to France, where he joined the Groupe de Chasse II/6 of the French Air Force, becoming the leader of Frontal Group Ce, equipped with Bloch MB.150 fighter aircraft. He participated in the Battle of France having successfully shot down several planes.
After the fall of France, he had evacuated to the United Kingdom via Oran, French Algeria, and arrived in England on 7 July 1940. He got assigned to the No. 303 Polish Squadron of the Royal Air Force, arriving in Northolt on 21 August 1940. He had his first combat flight for the squadron on 11 September 1940, during which, he had piloted Hawker Hurricane no. V6667/RF-K. The squadron took off from the airbase around 15:30 to intercept the enemy formations over the Horsham area. During the flight, he likely had destroyed a Dornier Do 17 bomber. Later, his plane got badly damaged during the fight, and he himself got badly wounded, and around 16:15, his plane had crashed at the Hitchens Farm in Pembury, England.
He is buried at the Northwood Cemetery, London.
The collected funds go to the Royal Airforce Museum, commemorating airmen who bravely fought for freedom and sovereignty of Europe.
More about the 10k Spitfire Run: https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/virtual-spitfire-10k-2024/