Marian Bełc
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Marian Bełc DSO DFC** | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 27 January 1914 |
| Died | 27 August 1942 (aged 28) |
| Allegiance |  Poland France United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Polish Air Force France Armée de l'Air Royal Air Force |
| Service years | 1934-1942 |
| Rank | podporucznik |
| Service number | P-1901 |
| Unit | Polish 143rd Fighter Escadrille Polish 152nd Fighter Escadrille No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron |
| Conflicts | Polish Defensive War, World War II |
| Awards | Virtuti Militari; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Flying Cross (UK) |
Marian Bełc DFC (27 January 1914 – 27 August 1942) was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 7 confirmed kills and one shared.
Marian Bełc graduated from pilot training at Lublinek air base near Łódź. On 2 November 1934 he was assigned to the 143rd Fighter Escadrille in Toruń.[2] In autumn 1937 he was transferred to the Polish 152nd Fighter Escadrille in Wilno. During the Invasion of Poland Bełc shot down his first plane, on 3 September a Bf 109.[3] After the Soviet invasion of Poland he was evacuated to France via Romania. He served in the Krasnodębski section of the Groupe de Chasse et de Défense I/55 under the command of Zdzisław Krasnodębski.[4] In the same unit served two other Polish aces: Jan Zumbach and Stanisław Karubin. After the capitulation of France he came to the UK. All pilots of the Krasnodębski section were posted 2 August 1940 to the No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron.[5] In the Battle of Britain Bełc downed 6 German planes.[6]
On 15 April 1941 married Audrey Stephenson, their son Marian Edward was born on 27 October 1941.[7]
In 1942 Bełc became an instructor in 58 OTU. On 27 August 1942, in a training flight with a British pilot their plane crash-landed. Both pilots were killed.[8] Bełc is laid to rest at Northwood Cemetery in Grave 267, Section H.[9]
Aerial victory credits
- Bf 109 - 3 September 1939
- 1/8 Do 215 - 18 September 1940
- Bf 109 - 26 September 1940
- Bf 110 - 5 October 1940
- Bf 109 - 7 October 1940
- Bf 109 - 24 June 1941
- Bf 109 - 28 June 1941
- Bf 109 - 24 October 1941
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