Stanisław Skalski (1915 – 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. In October 1942 he was given command of the Polish Fighting Team (PFT), or so-called “Skalski’s Circus” – a Special Flight consisting of fifteen experienced Polish fighter pilot volunteers. During its two months on operations, the Polish pilots had claimed a total of 26 German and Italian aircraft shot down.
Stanisław Skalski died in Warsaw on 12 November 2004.
Virtuti Militari, Golden Cross
Virtuti Militari, Silver Cross
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Cross of Valour (Poland), four times
Order of Polonia Restituta, Knight’s Cross
Order of the Cross of Grunwald, 3rd class
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) and two bars
1939-1945 Star with Battle of Britain clasp
Italy Star
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