Arsen Cebrzyński (; 8 March 1912 – 11 September 1940) was a Polish military officer and aircraft pilot. He served in the Polish Air Force, with the rank of a lieutenant, during the Invasion of Poland in the Second World War in 1939. Afterwards he served in the French Air Force during the Battle of France, and in the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain in 1940, being killed in action in the latter.
History Arsen Cebrzyński was born on 8 March 1912 in Batumi, then part of the Caucasus Viceroyalty in the Russian Empire, now being located in Georgia. In 1918, his family moved with him to Warsaw Poland. In 1932, he joined the Polish Air Force University in Dęblin. On 4 August 1934, the president of Poland, Ignacy Mościcki, granted him the rank of a second lieutenant, with the officer seniority from 15 August 1934, placing him at the 17th position in the aeronautics officer corps. The minister of military affairs, Józef Piłsudski, placed him in the 1st Aviation Regiment of the Polish Air Force.Dziennik Personalny Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych, no. 12. 15 August 1934. p. 215, 224. (in Polish) In 1936, Cebrzyński graduated from the Pilot Academy in Grudziądz, following which, he was assigned to the 111th Fighter Escadrille.Ryszard Rybka, Kamil Stepan: Rocznik oficerski 1939. Stan na dzień 23 marca 1939. Kraków: Fundacja CDCN, 2006, p. 774. ISBN 978-83-7188-899-1. On 19 March 1938, Cebrzyński was promoted to a lieutenant, with the officer seniority placing him at the 46th place in the lineal group of the aviation officer corps.Ryszard Rybka, Kamil Stepan: Rocznik oficerski 1939. Stan na dzień 23 marca 1939. Kraków: Fundacja CDCN, 2006, p. 217. ISBN 978-83-7188-899-1. (in Polish) During the German invasion on Poland in September 1939, he was one of the first pilots on the Polish side to destroy an enemy plane. On 3 September, Cebrzyński destroyed a Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter aircraft, and together with Zdzisław Krasnodębski and Mirosław Ferić, they shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110 fighter-bomber.Richard King: 303 (Polish) Squadron: Battle of Britain Diary. Red Kite Books, 2010, p. 57.Richard King: 303 (Polish) Squadron: Battle of Britain Diary. Red Kite Books, 2010, p. 34. On 5 September, together with other officers, destroyed Cebrzyński a Junkers Ju 87.
Following the capitulation of Poland, Cebrzyński traveled via Romania to France, where he served the Polish Air Force of the government-in-exile. He became the leader of the Frontal Group Ce, a unit formed predominantly of Polish officers, subsiding to the 2/6 Fighter Squadron of the French Air Force. It was equipped with the Bloch MB.150 fighter aircraft. It participated in the Battle of France, during which, Cebrzyński shot down 1 plane and was credited with 5/6 of a destruction of another one.W. Król, Walczyłem pod niebem Francji. Warsaw, 1984. (in Polsih) On 5 June 1940, he shot down a Heinkel He 111 medium bomber, and shared half of the credit for the destruction another airplane of the same model with Zdzisław Henneberg.Richard King: 303 (Polish) Squadron: Battle of Britain Diary. Red Kite Books, 2010, p. 411-417. On 15 June, together with two other pilots, he shot down a Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance aircraft.
Shortly before the capitulation France, the unit, including Cebrzyński, was evacuated to the United Kingdom via Oran in French Algeria, arriving in England on 7 July 1940. He was assigned to the No. 303 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, with the rank of a flying officer, arriving in Northolt on 21 August 1940. Cebrzyński took part in his first aerial battle in the United Kingdom on 11 September 1940, during which, he piloted a Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft. The squadron took off from the airbase around 15:30 to intercept the enemy formations over the Horsham area. During the fight, he probably destroyed a Dornier Do 17 light bomber. Cebrzyński died during the air battle, with his aircarft being shot down, and him suffering severe wounds. He was 28 years old. Around 16:15, his plane crashed at the Hitchens Farm in the village of Pembury, England.Richard King: 303 (Polish) Squadron: Battle of Britain Diary. Red Kite Books, 2010, p. 179. His body was found lying near the aircraft, probably falling out prior to the collision with the ground. He was buried at the Northwood Cemetery in the town of Northwood, which is now part of Greater London, within the borough of Hillingdon.
Awards and decorations Aviation Medal Cross of Valour (double) Pilot Field Badge
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