Stanisław Skalski

Stanisław Skalski DSO DFC**
Born	(1915-11-27)27 November 1915 Kodyma, Russian Empire
Died	12 November 2004(2004-11-12) (aged 88) Warsaw, Poland
Allegiance	Poland
Years of service	1938–1945, 1956–1972
Rank	Generał brygady
Commands held	Wing Commander in 316 PAF, CO of 317 PAF, PFT, 601 RAF, 131st Fighter Wing, 133rd Fighter Wing
Battles/wars	Polish Defensive War, World War II
Awards	Virtuti Militari; Polonia Restituta; Cross of Valour; Distinguished Service Order (UK); Distinguished Flying Cross (UK)

Stanisław Skalski DSO DFC** (27 November 1915 – 12 November 2004) was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II, later rising to the rank of Brigadier General. Skalski was the top Polish fighter ace of the war and the first Allied fighter ace of the war, credited, according to official lists, with 18 ¹¹/₁₂ victories and two probable. Some sources, including Skalski himself, give a number of 22 ¹¹/₁₂ victories.

Stanisław Skalski was born on 27 November 1915 in Kodyma in Podolia Governorate, Russian Empire (now in Ukraine). After completing Pilot Training School in 1938 Skalski was ordered to the 142nd Fighter Squadron in Toruń (142 eskadra "Toruńska"). On 1 September 1939 he attacked a German Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance aircraft, which was eventually shot down by Marian Pisarek. Skalski then landed next to it, helped to bandage wounded crew members and arranged for them to be taken to a military hospital. By 16 September Skalski reached "ace" status, claiming a total of six German aircraft and making him the first Allied air ace of World War II.

His claims consisted of one Junkers Ju 86, two Dornier Do 17, one Junkers Ju 87, two Hs 126s and one Hs 126 shared (official list credits him with four aircraft: two Do 17s, one Hs 126, one Ju 87 and one Hs 126 shared). Soon after he fled the country with other Polish pilots to Romania, and from there via Beirut to France and after went on to fight with the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain.

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