Janusz Zurakowski
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Janusz Żurakowski, born September 12, 1914 in Ryzawka, Poland - died on February 9, 2004 in Barry's Bay, Ontario, Canada, was a renowned Polish fighter and experimental aircraft pilot.
He took part in the Polish September Campaign in 1939, then he broke through to Britain. Since August 1940 he flew in the 234th RAF fighter squadron, later in the 609th RAF squadron. He was credited with 3 air-combat kills and 1 probable. In 1942 he became a commander of the 316th "Warsaw" Polish Air Force fighter squadron in England, with the rank of Squadron Leader. In 1944 he became an experimental pilot, testing among others the De Havilland Vampire. He was awarded many combat medals for his service, including the highest Polish medal Virtuti Militari.
After the war, Zurakowski decided to stay in Britain. In 1947 he was employed as an experimental pilot in Gloster. In the following years, he became one of the world's most famous experimantal and aerobatics pilots (he developed a new aerobatics figure, 'Zurabatic Cartwheel'). In 1952 he left for Canada and became an experimental pilot for A.V.Roe, Avro Canada. He broke the sound barrier flying the CF-100 plane. In 1958 he was the chief test pilot of the Avro Arrow. After the program was canceled, Zurakowski decided to quit experimental aviation. In 1973 he was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame.
A dramatic statue commemorating Zurakowski's involvement as chief test pilot of the Avro Arrow now exists at the crossroads of two main streets in his adopted hometown of Barry's Bay, Ontario.pl:Janusz Żurakowski