Evening star., 1953-06-12

cape plans. It was early last
March, at the Air Force base at
Slupsk, 100 kilometers west of
Gdynia. Since April. 1852. when
the Communists had forced me
| to join the party as the price of
becoming a pilot. I had been
plotting my escape.
I wanted to bring the message
to the West that my countrymen
were submitting to Red rule at
gun point, but in their hearts re-
This is the lost Of three articles by
the 2l-yeor-o Polish 0viotoT who flew
his MlG-l5 over the Iron Curtain from
Poland to Denmork lost Moreh 5,
inspiring freedom loving people every
where with his courageous defence OF
his homelond's Red mosters.
jected communism. I was lonely
and miserable. heartsick in an
atmosphere that would not allow
you to trust your best friend.
A Russian captain in Polish
uniform had forced me to sign a
pledge to spy on my colleagues.
I was told the signs that indi-
Gated a pilot was plotting an
escape flight.
Such a man, the captain said,
collects maps and measures dis
tances. He asks questions about
foreign countries. He sells his
belongings to get cash.
Thank you for the tip, captain,
I said to myself.
The morning of March 4. /
slipped into the deserted briefing
room and stole a map which
showed Bornholm Island in Den
mark, just Ct miles from the
Polish boundary. In my jet
MIG-15, I could fly there in II
minutes.
Red propaganda had told me
about Bornholm. Posters de-
picted an enormous United
States airbase near there. We
had been told that eventually,
from this base, A-bomb carriers
would take off to destroy Poland.
The following day was slated
to lead a training fight. I con-
cluded my political talk to the
squadron my last night by say
ing: "At all times you should
follow the example of leading
pilots. You must follow my ex-
ample in whatever I do" I hoped
those words would be engraved
on their hearts after they heard
about my escape.
In my bunk my mind worked
furiously. I dozed off we'll after
midnight and wakened excitedly
at dawn. was overjoyed when
I saw the weather was good.
drank a cup of coffee and nib
pleo on roll.
I burned letters. papers and
the pages of my diary bearing
names of my acquaintance
Bulging pockets might arouse
suspicion.
Four training planes were to
patrol in two pairs. I directed
one pair to fly along the Baltic.
I told the pilot in the fighter
accompanying me that we would
fly at higher altitude.
We had 10 MICS at the
Slupsk base. The Russians got
the jet engines from England
and made improvements. At all
times four planes are kept oper-
ational. with guns loaded, ready
to take off and give battle.
Ordinarily the guns in a train
ing plane are not primed-but I
managed to get two of mine set
up. was ready, if necessary, to
shoot down pursuers.
I switched on the radio and
called: November (the code
name for my station). may I
take OFF," The reply came: "731
you may take Off" I was off
on an 11-minute flight to liberty!
Visibility over the Baltic was
bad. Somewhere north through
the mist was Bornholm. I was
at $4,000 feet. Three other planes
were in my general vicinity.
I pressed a button. to jettison
my reserve tanks. I had to get
rid of the load to gain the extra
speed I needed. The tanks
dropped off. That tipped off the
other pilots. I heard them Shout
ing over the radio: "731 is escap-
ing!"
I am not going to sit in judg-
ment on my companions. If they
hadn't sounded the warning, I
expect they would have been
executed for aiding my flight.
Over the combat wavelength
I heard the base order, "Krest,"
the code for Shoot down." I
heard the four operational MICS
taking off in pursuit.
My plane began to shake and
wobble. I was on the brink of
the sonic barrier and I strained
to level up. My speed was about
683 miles an hour. Y had dropped
to $500 feet. I was out of the
radar field. My course couldn't
be followed on the screen.
I shot across Bortholm. Il
cried out in dismay. Grimly an
other part of my mind repri-
manded me: you should have
known that the Commies never
tell the truth"
Only Tiny Grass Strip.
Below was just tiny grass
strip. Where was that vast con-
crete runway the Reds had de-
picted in their anti-American