Janusz Meissner


Janusz Meissner was a Polish author and journalist, and a pilot of Polish Air Force.

Life

In late 1919 Meissner completed pilot training at Kraków's Lower Pilot School, and in March 1920, at Poznań's Higher Pilot School. From July 1920 he served in the Polish-Soviet War, in the newly formed Toruńska Eskadra Wywiadowcza in the rank of pilot sergeant. For his combat flight of 16 July 1920, he was decorated with the - newly introduced - Cross of Valor, and promoted to lieutenant.
After the Polish-Soviet War he participated in the preparations for the Third Silesian Uprising and in actual terror operations beginning 2/3 May 1921, commanding a special-forces detachment of the Wawelberg Group. For his contribution to the success of the Uprising, he was decorated with the Virtuti Militari, 5th class, on 27 June 1922, and with the Cross of Independence with Swords.
After the Silesian Uprisings he was discharged from the army and returned to civilian life. After an unsuccessful attempt to become a businessman he returned to the military in 1922 and remained until 1946. He served as chief pilot in Polish Air Force Academy. From 1944 he was an officer in the RAF. In 1946 he returned to Poland to live in Zakopane. In 1956 he moved to Kraków, where he died.
He left two sons: Andrzej and Jerzy.

Works

Books in Polish

Meissner is most known as the author of 48 popular books on flying, pilots, sea, pirates, sport, as well as hunting.
Meissner was a writer of: