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The Aeronautical Monument from Michałowice, Poland

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Abstract

After World War I Romania was sized with contradictory feelings: on the one hand: a general euphoria, stimulating many ambitions, on the other hand, the fear that everything that had been obtained through the sacrifice of half a million Romanian soldiers could have been lost.The insecurity of its borders and the fear of the revisionist forces counterattack determined Romania to conclude a treaty of alliance with Poland (March 3, 1921), then to join the countries that were part of the Little Entente (Czechoslovakia, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). It was followed by France, terrified by its inability to stop the expansion of Germany.
INCAS BULLETIN, Volume 4, Issue 1/ 2012, pp. 143 – 152 ISSN 2066-8201
The Aeronautical Monument from Michałowice, Poland
Iosif RUS*,1
*Corresponding author
Romanian Association for Propaganda and History of Aeronautics (ARPIA),
Str. Mircea Vulcanescu 125-127, Sector 1, Bucharest, Romania
arpiaro@yahoo.com
Abstract: After World War I Romania was sized with contradictory feelings: on the one hand: a
general euphoria, stimulating many ambitions, on the other hand, the fear that everything that had
been obtained through the sacrifice of half a million Romanian soldiers could have been lost.
The insecurity of its borders and the fear of the revisionist forces counterattack determined Romania
to conclude a treaty of alliance with Poland (March 3, 1921), then to join the countries that were part
of the Little Entente (Czechoslovakia, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). It was followed by France,
terrified by its inability to stop the expansion of Germany.
Key Words: aviation, development, testing, flights, cooperation, relationships, monument,
associations
Analyzing the cooperation between Romania and Poland in the aviation field I found many
historical reference marks that originated over 90 years ago. The emergence and
development of the aeronautical phenomenon in both countries followed a path that often
interfered. After the First World War, Romania and France founded the Franco-Romanian
Society of Air Navigation - CFRNA which opened the first transcontinental airline in the
world. Paris was linked to Istanbul passing through Eastern European capitals, including
Warsaw.
There are also other interesting arguments. In 1804, Iordache Cuparencu born in Iasi
(1784) reached Warsaw with the Kolter theater troupe and gave acrobatic performances in
Bracka Street. In 1806 he started to build a balloon made of glued paper with a basket and
hot air produced by a little stove installed on board. The first public ascent was made in June
1806 in Warsaw, in the Foxal Garden when the balloon reached up to the church of St.
Cross. The balloon caught fire but Cuparencu was able to escape. Second flight took place
on December 6, 1806 in Vilnius with another paper balloon. This time he traveled 2.5 km.
His third ascent was in Warsaw in July 1808, at the same place, the Foxal Garden when
he reached a height of about 1280 m. In 1811 he joined the Polish army as an artillery
officer.
He seems to be the inventor of mechanical theater being confined for his shows
performed in Poland during 1830-1842. He died in 1844 and was buried in the Greek
Orthodox cemetery of Wola.
Part of information about Iordache Cuparencu was obtained in 2001 from Piotr
Lopalewski by some Romanian historians, head of research department of the Polish
Aviation Museum in Krakow. Data were also received from Prof. Boleslaw Orlowski, a

1Gl(r), president of ARPIA
DOI: 10.13111/2066-8201.2012.4.1.15
Iosif RUS 144
well-known researcher at the Institute of Science History of the Polish Academy of Sciences
(Instytut Historii Nauk-PAN).). These examples show that even since the 19th century there
were some important cultural links between the Romanian Principalities and Poland. It is
known the great interest of Romanian inventors Henri Coanda and Ion Stroescu in the
aeronautical scientific work of the famous researcher S. Drzewiecki (Le Vol Plane Essai
d'Une Solution Mecanique du Probleme, 1891 - French Edition).
After World War I Romania was sized with contradictory feelings: on the one hand: a
general euphoria, stimulating many ambitions, on the other hand, the fear that everything
that had been obtained through the sacrifice of half a million Romanian soldiers could have
been lost.
The insecurity of its borders and the fear of the revisionist forces counterattack
determined Romania to conclude a treaty of alliance with Poland (March 3, 1921), then to
join the countries that were part of the Little Entente (Czechoslovakia, the Kingdom of
Yugoslavia). It was followed by France, terrified by its inability to stop the expansion of
Germany.
In 1925 the Conference from Locarno took place and it was signed the famous Pact
Kellogg - Briand between the U.S. Secretary of State and the French Minister of Foreign
Affairs, joined by other countries which pledged to abandon the use of force as a
continuation of their policy. The immediate result: an increased budget for weapons.
In a short time, the Little Entente countries realized that diplomatic barrier standing in
the way of Germany would not last. At the conference held in 1927 at Ioachymow, the three
components of the Little Entente states decided the development of a mutual economic plan.
Each state preserved its sovereignty, but had to remove the economic weaknesses within the
alliance, so far focused more on political and diplomatic side. Numerous bilateral economic
treaties were signed. Subsequently, economic cooperation deepened with the establishment
of the Economic Alliance. Regarding the military cooperation, every state conceived a
detailed plan of economic and industrial mobilization in case of war. Starting with France,
all states began to arm themselves.
In 1928 one of the largest military air contests of the Little Entente was organized at
which Poland also attended. On the morning of August 4 participating crews were at the
airfield in Prague, two days later, they took off on the air route Prague, Krakow, Warsaw,
Lwow, Iasi, Bucharest (Baneasa). The next air route stage was Bucharest, Belgrade, Brno
and Prague.
There followed a series of contacts with Poland. In 1929, the Polish General Staff
requested to the Romanian party to collaborate on the development of railway directly
linking Poland to Romania, and also on proposals for a plan of economic cooperation during
peacetime and warfare. Maybe it was a pure coincidence that the Minister of War in
Romania was a general whose origins came from Poland, Henri Cihoscki.
In order to ensure stable air links between Bucharest and the capitals of states that joined
the Little Entente an agreement on the air navigation between Romania and Poland was
signed on May 9, 1930. On June 1, the air traffic from Bucharest to Gdansk started at a rate
of three times a week. Romanian state pledged to jointly exploit the air route Bucharest –
Warsaw by a national airline together with LOT Polish companies.
Shortly after signing the documents, the Polish built on Baneasa airport a building for
staff providing the aircraft arrivals from Warsaw and the passengers boarding / unboarding.
On June 28, 1931 opened the airline Gdansk, Thessaloniki, via Warsaw, Bucharest, and
Sofia. Two days later Romania and Poland have signed a new commitment to mutual support
INCAS BULLETIN, Volume 4, Issue 1/ 2012
145 The Aeronautical Monument from Michałowice, Poland
in case of attack on their eastern borders. Each of the two states disposed of 17 infantry
divisions, two cavalry divisions and 20 aviation squadrons as intervention forces.
INCAS BULLETIN, Volume 4, Issue 1/ 2012
Between 3 and July 9, 1937 the conference of Romanian and Polish major staffs was
held in Bucharest. They discussed the forces situation at that time, conduct of operations in
the junction area, organization of permanent defense of the junction area, including through
aviation. There were exchanges of information on Soviet army.
These contacts also increased the mediation role of military economic relations that
would materialize in aeronautical construction by building in Romania under license some
types of Polish jet fighters and trainers, including the famous PZL.
Also, it should be emphasized the connections in the sport aviation field, which were
maintained at a very high level by the International Aeronautical Federation President
himself, the Romanian Prince George Valentin Bibescu. Between 27 and 30 August 1936 he
chaired the Federation conference held in the Polish capital. As a premonition, the members
of the flying clubs affiliated to the federation discussed the problem of overflights prohibited
areas, the militarized ones. During his stay in Poland, Prince Bibescu visited Wieliczka
plants. From his initiative, numerous international competitions offered the occasion of sport
confrontation between the Romanian and Polish pilots. There were many cases where, orders
and medals of one of the two countries have rewarded the other country airmen’ merits.
During the invasion of Poland by German troops, part of Polish aviators took refuge in
Romania; some valuable Polish engineers started to work for aviation factories in Bucharest
and Brasov. One of them, Iakimiuk, became friend of the Romanian engineer Radu
Manicatide and after the war, got in France to the famous company Sud-Aviation where he
got a helping hand to the Romanian delegation which was negotiating the license of the
“Allouette” helicopters.
After the Second World War, Romania and Poland were among the states in the Soviet
sphere of influence. Later on, the two became the members of the Warsaw Pact. A new
collaboration, this time in the field of helicopters is to be mentioned in the 60s. The first
helicopter purchased by Romania and manufactured in Poland, arrived in 1959 and was used
by the Reed Central. It was flown by the pilot Aurel Damian who was trained by the
supplier. Later on, in 1962, four officers were selected to be trained as pilots. Mr. Iacob
Mihai and Lt. maj. Nae Constantin.
The other two, Cpt. Eng. Rafael Teodorescu and Cpt. Ioan Gogescu were prepared for
maintenance and technical operation of helicopters SM-1 and SM-2. Each pilot totalized 10
hours of dual and single control flight. After qualification in Poland, the four pilots returned
home, and in a short time two helicopters SM1were brought for school and training,
registered 01 and 02, then three other SM-2 SC helicopters for transport missions, registered
28, 29 and 30.
Moreover, there have been numerous other contacts between military and civilian
aeronautics representatives of the two countries including visits of military delegation at
ministers’ level. Also, the close friendship, developed within the Intercosmos program
between the Romanian and Polish spacemen is well-known, and is still maintaining
nowadays
A few years ago, a good collaborator of ARPIA, Col. Cristian Scarlat, former Director
of the National Office for Heroes Memory told me about a Polish monument erected in
memory of Romanian and Polish airmen. From his explanation it resulted that the monument
appearance and condition, at the time, were not good at all. Time, wind, moisture and frost
had deteriorated it faster than expected by our neighbors, designers, pilots and visitors. Our
colleague Lieutenant (r) Vulpoiu Ioan, Head of Department within ARPIA, had the chance to
Iosif RUS 146
discover on the internet a material about this monument located in Michalowice, near
Warsaw. This author is, Roman Wozniak who entitled his article, ZAPOMNIANY POMNIK
LOTNIKÓW MICHAŁOWICACH W (The Forgotten Aviation Monument at Mihałowice).
In the article was also mentioned the following text engraved on the monument:
MAM - FARR - ARPA
AND
THE AERONAUTICAL CIRCLE
FROM
- ROMANIA -
BRING THEIR PIOUS HOMAGE TO
DISTINGUISHED AIRMEN AND
TECHNICIANS WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES ON THE ALTAR OF THE
AERONAUTICAL SCIENCE
AT - 7-XI-1936
LT-CDOR – MIHAIL PANTAZI
INC - AV - JERZY RZEWNICKI
CPT-ENG-ROMAN POPESCU
SECR-TECH - JERZY SZRAJER
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147 The Aeronautical Monument from Michałowice, Poland
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In the first half of 1933, engineer Zbysław Ciołkosz began working -for the Polish
Aerospace Industry (PZL)- on a transport plane for 10 to 12 passengers, called PZL 30 and
powered by two Pratt & Witney engines of 295 kW (400 HP). The project was contracted by
Polish Airlines in 1934. Subsequently LOT dropped PZL 30 and bought Lockheed L 10A
Electra. Industrial Department has received then, Colonel T. Karpinski’s suggestion to
convert the prototype PZL 30 into a bomber. In such circumstances in March 1936 the P.30
BI prototype was flown by Bolesław Orliński on the Okecie airport. This plane, with a
weight of 2891 kg was named Żubr (European Bison). Tests were conducted at the Institute
of Aviation Technology between April 24 and July 3, 1936 achieving a maximum speed of
277 km / h and a ceiling of 4600 m although the engine power was quite low. The P & W
engines were changed with the Pegasus VIII ones t o improve the bomber performances.
The P30 B.II plane - such modified and having a mass of 4004 kg, became the series
model number LWS 6 ŻUBR whose production began in Lublin Aircraft Plants in fall of
1936.It was tested at the same Institute of Aviation (ITL) from September 23 to October
28.Romania was interested in that bomber and negotiated the purchase of 24 pieces equipped
with GNOME-RHONE engines. On November 7, 1936 during a flight demonstration, the P
30 B.II prototype, carrying on board the members of the Romanian Military Delegation
which had arrived in Warsaw, lost an engine and a few wing elements. The pilot Jerzy
Rzewnicki, the technician Jerzy Rzewnicki and the two Romanian air officers were buried
under its remains.This disaster determined Romania to abandon this contract and stop the
manufacturing of LWS 6 ŻUBR aircraft. Engineer Z.Ciołkosz was withdrawn from this
project, which gave a new impulse to the construction of LWS 6 aircraft whose developing
was entrusted to engineer Jerzy Teisser.
The Production prototype LWS 6 – with two vertical tails flew at Lublin in late 1937. In
1938 the production was resumed on 15 ŻUBR aircraft, with a single vertical tail. Since
1937, the production model received the signal code LWS 4.
The aircraft was completed in the second half of 1938 but was not a success and
therefore it was subjected to endless reconfigurations absorbing large amounts of money.
In 1939 the building of another prototype whose wing tubular structure was made of
welded chrome-vanadium was started, resulting in a decrease in weight with 300 kg. In the
summer of 1939 ten ŻUBR aircraft were used for training, five were in reserve and one at
the plant in Lublin. The aircraft didn’t carry out operational flights. During the war, the
Germans LUFTWAFFE used some of them for crews training in blind flight.
In 1937 the Romanians erected a memorial to the four pilots,on the very place of the
catastrophe while local authorities gave the name of: Aviation and Romania to the crossroad,
Streets. The Romanian text engraved on the commemorative plaque recorded all that I’ve
described above.
Under the engraved text- the author continues- a beautiful emblem includes a propeller
having a damaged blade supported from the both sides by bird wings into a new expression
of unfulfillment. Here we can feel the Romanian specificity creating such a plastic and
realistic vision of the tragedy, as happened here on this land. About the monument several
papers were written in 1997 and 1998, but still nobody said that it „belongs to us” (a n:to
Poland).
In 1937 the Romanians erected a memorial to the four pilots,on the very place of the
catastrophe while local authorities gave the name of: Aviation and Romania to the crossroad,
Streets. The Romanian text engraved on the commemorative plaque recorded all that I’ve
described above.
Iosif RUS 148
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149 The Aeronautical Monument from Michałowice, Poland
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Under the engraved text- the author continues- a beautiful emblem includes a propeller
having a damaged blade supported from the both sides by bird wings into a new expression
of unfulfillment. Here we can feel the Romanian specificity creating such a plastic and
realistic vision of the tragedy, as happened here on this land. About the monument several
papers were written in 1997 and 1998, but still nobody said that it „belongs to us” (a n:to
Poland).
The pilot of the ŻUBR-aircraft was Jerzy RZEWNICKI, 36 years old, a lieutenant in
reserve, engineer, founder of the magazine "Skrzydlata Polska" (Polish Wings, magazine
founded in 1930 that still exists today). He should prove the aircraft performances to the
Romanian officers Mihail PANTAZI and Roman POPESCU who would also lose their lives
in that disaster. The fourth victim was Jerzy SZRJER 24 years old, reserve lieutenant, who
was on the plane as a technical-observer. Both Polish officers were buried at the Military
Cemetery WARSZAWA-POWĄZKA.
The monument fell prey to the ravages of time and rust crept in all possible places.
The remains of the monument were cared for by Anton Kowalski, a neigbour that kept
what fell off or was not yet scrapped and „valorized” as waste metal.
Anton Kowalski takes care of the monument as one of the faithful people settled on
these lands The laced metal latice and the entire construction soars toward the skies. Each
flier, a member of the crew of this plane has a distinctive element represented on the
monument. Everything has a regression and an end, although the construction of the
monument had to last for more than one hundred years. The winds and weather put their
marks on the monument.
It survives somehow (n.a. at the time the document was written), perhaps because
Michałowice benefis from the proximity of the Okęcie airport. Most of the citizens in our
village are linked to aviation, working as technicians, pilots and other airport-related jobs!
The airman's monument is also rememberance of the friendship between our peoples once
neighbors,with similar traits and purposes but also under similar threats. Does a similar
monument exist in Romania too? Maybe any of our readers knows more about this...
3-4 years ago, the author insistently informed all village inhabitants, officials of Military
and Civil Aviation and Ministry of Culture, Aviation Seniors and all people interested in
aviation about the need of the urgent repair of the monument.
Since then and until now, the author of the mentioned article, Mr. Roman Wozniak, a
specialist in civil aviation tried by all means and methods to concentrate forces, media,
supporters and sympathizers of aviation, aiming to restore, renovate and unveil again the
Monument. All his efforts have been successful! Hats off!
Our story relates further the moment of the new unveil of the Romanian and Polish
airmen monument on Monday, November 7, 2011. It was the date when 75 years ago, during
testing,the PZL 30 Zubr bomber crashed at Michalowice in the Warsaw airport area. The
crew’s members were: Mihail Pantazi, Eng. Roman Popescu, Jerzy Rzewnicki and Jerzy
Szrjer.
The handicraft, the monument and the details, as seen in the attached images, confirm
that the structure and architecture are of Romanian design. The memorial was made by
students of the Industrial High School Carol the IInd of Bucharest. It is the school where
lt.commander Mihail Pantazi had taught the engines couse until the year of his death. The
monument was inaugurated in 1937, survived the Second World War and the communist
period. It started deteriorating, and a retired Polish airman, now journalist, as I’ve already
informed the readers, searched the history and origin of the monument. Then he provoked
the Polish Sejm (Parliament), embassies, and hosts to react.
Iosif RUS 150
An ARPIA member, on his own expense, attended the debates due to technical, financial
and organizational issues,along with Polish media, the representative of the Polish
Parliament and the Romanian Embassy in Warsaw. The Senior Aviators Club, The National
Association of Aviation Techniques and The Polish Air Force Association, have restored the
monument with the support of Mihałowice Village Hall and the Romanian Embassy in
Warsaw.
Its aspect is impressive, causing interest, piety and reverence. The area is monitored and
at night is electrically lighted. On Monday, November 7, 2011, within a very impressive
official military and religious ceremony, the new unveil of the monument took place. A great
local audience and representatives from all backgrounds and institutions honored the event.
The monument is built on the site of the plane crash and adjacent streets have been
named "Romania Street" and "Aviation Street" to honor the heroes who fell doing their duty.
Initially ARPIA answered the host's invitation with a promise that three persons will
participate, one being a member of the acrobatic flight group "Yacarii Acrobati". He
intended to go there in his plane to greet the commemorated heroes with a flight salute.
Romanian aviation has ideed fantastic folks! They love the kinsmanship between the fliers of
this world,but organizing and weather problems along with announcements and
participations in various events cancelled the flight to Poland and this ellegant professional
salute. On the site I joined discussions with several persons and was pleasantly surprised,
beyond expectations even, that in Poland they know a lot about the evolution of Romanian
aviation, and about the two Romanian heroes. Yes, indeed, lt.commander Mihail Pantazi,
along with Petre Ivanovici and Max Manolescu was a long-time member of the high aero-
acrobatics group "Dracii Rosii" (the Red Devils). In fact it was the same Mihail Pantazi that
held the record for flights above South Africa!
The Aviation Legends Foundation in Poland, a very active non-governmental
organization, tried to obtain new information, details and adresses about the well-known
Romanian airplane, the IAR-80 and PZL 11f / PZL 24 once found, the evidence from
Romania. When I returned in Romania and opened my e-mail I found a lot of questions
meant to obtain further information to enrich their knowledge and publications. Before and
after the date of November 7 2011 I found quite a lot comments about the monument and the
tribute to the four pilots on the inernet, in local newspapers and at several broadcasting and
television shows, including Radio Romania Actualtăţi and also at a meeting I attended in
Poland where I met a few bodies whose members were pilots. Their honorable gesture to
restaure the monument together with the Romanian Embassy in Warsaw and the village hall
of Mihałowice is to be remarked and appreciated both in writting and maybe in the near
future, even by some institutional and moral rewards. As the author of these lines and a
member of the Romanian delegation, as a soldier and an airman I can say that I and my
colleagues, we felt on-site the consideration and consistency of a common effort of paying
hommage to four pilots - heroes who died on a mission which meant the substance of
connection between two countries whose ways often have interfered. Their mission was one
of responsibility and prestige in favor of national defense, based on a unitary conception and
mutual support in the danger that would arise in Europe at the end of the fourth decade.
Our mandate, as members ARPIA is to strengthen the collaboration started long ago
beetwen our countries and to support further on the image of Romanian aviation. The
homage moment was significant if we also mention that Poland and Romania’s national days
are at close dates - November, 11 and December, 1 respectively - whose historical
significance originated in 1918 under the same historical circumstances.
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151 The Aeronautical Monument from Michałowice, Poland
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Iosif RUS 152
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Photos: Roman Woźniak and slt.(r) Ioan Vulpoiu
REFERENCES
[1] Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" (Polish aviation constructions 1893-1939), WKiŁ,
Warsaw 1977 (Polish language, no ISBN).
[2] Local paper of - Gmina Michałowice Hall -, Oficjalny serwis informacyjny. Aktualność. Pomnik lotników.
Żubr- Michałowice. (Zam: 19.01.2009 r., godz. 14.02).
[3] Lotnictwo z Szachownica Journal
[4] www.samolot zubr.pl, www.Polskie Niebo. Blog o Lotnictwe/Archiwa
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939
  • Andrzej Glass
Andrzej Glass: "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893-1939" (Polish aviation constructions 1893-1939), WKiŁ, Warsaw 1977 (Polish language, no ISBN).