Edward Hajdukiewicz was born to Władysław and Helena (nee Kranc) in Białystok on 14 June 1913. After completing primary school, he joined the Army to complete his basic service. He was assigned to the 80th Infantry Regiment in Słonim (now in Belarus), where he served successively in the 2nd machine gun company, 3rd machine gun training company and in the 2nd company as deputy team leader. In 1936, he enlisted in the Air Force, and completed a glider course in Ustianowa. He was then assigned to the 4th Air Force Regiment in Toruń, where, he completed a flying training course on single engine aircraft and a ground personnel training course.

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When the war broke out, his squadron was transformed into the 42nd Reconnaissance Flight and merged with the Air Force of of the „Pomorze” Army. During the initial days of the defensive war, the unit moved farther to the East, to the airfields of Zduny, Falbórz, Butlerów and Franopol. Hajdukiewicz completed three missions with the 42nd Flight. On September 11th, he was transferred, along with two other pilots and four Karaś aircraft to the 64th Bomber Flight of VI Light Bomber Squadron at Franopol airfield. While with this unit, he completed two combat missions.

 

On September 14th, after bombing squadron planes at Hutniki airport, the personnel withdrew towards the Roumania border, by way of a circular route. They crossed the Roumania border at Kuty on the morning of September 18th, the day after the Soviet Army crossed into Poland.

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Hajdukiewicz escaped Roumania, across the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and arrived in France on 29 October 1939. At first, he was directed to one of the gathering centers for Polish pilots and then to the Air Force Training Centre in Lyon-Bron. He applied to go with the Polish contingent for training with the Royal Air Force in England, and was stationed at the RAF Eastchurch. During the following months, he learned English and undertook basic theoretical courses. He was then transferred to Blackpool with the entire Polish group, until he was assigned to the RAF Carlisle, to be trained on British equipment. He continued these studies at Hucknall.

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After flying the requisite number of hours, Edward was assigned to the 300 Polish Bomber Squadron at RAF Hemswell. This squadron flew single-engine Fairey Battle aircraft and was engaged in harassing the German invasion fleet in continental ports. After the rearmament of 300 Bomber Squadron with twin-engine Wellingtons, the crew was increased from three to six. The scope of the mission changed as well. The bomber targets were far from England and included German cities. At first, Hajdukiewicz served as second pilot, but later served as first pilot.

 

He successively bombed Rotterdam, Cologne, Brest, Hamburg, Berlin, Brest, Kiel, Brest, Berlin, Kiel, Hamburg, Mannheim, Cologne and Osnabrück. On the attack on Berlin on the night of March 23-24, 1941, he was the commander of one of the first four Polish crews which dropped bombs on the German capital. His second raid on Berlin, on the night of April 17-18, ended with damage to his Wellington aircraft from anti aircraft fire. Because of this, the hydraulic system failed, and the crew had to lower the undercarriage by hand. Moreover, the navigator sustained light injuries.

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After completing 15 combat missions, Edwardwas sent on a Blind Approach Training course at RAF Mildenhall. He was transferred to 18 Operational Training Unit at Bramcote as a instructor of crew trainees on Wellington aircraft. While serving in this capacity he still flew twice on combat missions. On September 11, 1942 he was posted to the 305 Polish Bomber Squadron, and later to the 301 Polish Bomber Squadron. However, as a member of these groups, he did not participate in combat missions. Another transfer found him at the Motorized Cavalry Cadet Officers' School in Auchtermuchty in Scotland. On completing this course, he was promoted to the Polish rank of Pilot Officer.

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Shortly afterwards, Hajdukiewicz applied to take part in a second tour of combat missions and was assigned to his old unit, the 300 Polish Bomber Squadron. Once again, he flew Wellingtons as first pilot. He successfully completed his second tour of duty within seven months. He successively flew to: mine the waters near Lorient, bomb Cologne, Wilhelmshaven, Essen (twice), Duisburg, Bochum, Kiel, Stuttgart, Mannheim, twice more on mining missions, to bomb Duisburg, Bochum, Essen, more mining, over Düsseldorf and Aachen - altogether he carried out 19 combat missions, which counted as a second tour of combat.

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On August 24, 1943, he was transferred to the Polish Depot at Blackpool, where he had a four-month rest. Then, due to his long experience in flying twin engine planes, he received a posting to the 45th Transport Group which was based in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. There were many Poles who served in this group (over 100 throughout the war). Their mission lay in delivering planes produced overseas in North America to either Europe or Africa. Hajdukiewicz remained in the 45th Transport Group until the end of 1946, flying to Europe across the northern route: Canada-Greenland-Iceland-Scotland (Prestwick).

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Edward Hajdukiewicz completed his service in the Polish Air Force with the Polish rank of Flying Officer and the British rank of Flight Lieutenant. He was awarded the Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari (no. 9060), the Cross of Valour with three bars, and the British Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as other commemorative medals.

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After the war, he decided to settle in Canada, residing in Montreal, where he was the joint owner of a real estate firm "Hajdukiewicz-Edwards". He and several Polish pilots became co-founders of 310 Wilno Wing, connecting Polish Air Force veterans of the Second World War. In the 1950's and again after 1984, he served as the president of this organization.

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Squadron Leader (Major) Edward Hajdukiewicz died on 28 October 1998 at the age of 85. He is buried in the veterans' Field of Honour cemetery in Pointe Claire, Quebec.

 

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Excerpts from: https://www.polishairforce.pl/hajdukiewiczeng.html

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