Squadron Leader Wojciech Kolaczkowski DFC by Eric Kennington, pastel on paper

This pastel portrait is one of many made by Eric Kennington during his two-year full-time Official War Artist commission with the Air Ministry through the War Artists' Advisory Committee. A renowned portraitist, he was tasked with portraying high-ranking men in the RAF.

Following the invasion of Poland and the Battle of France, many Polish pilots joined the RAF while exiled in Britain and a total of twelve Polish Fighter and Bomber squadrons flew from RAF bases in the Second World War. Wojciech Kolaczkowski commanded No. 303 Squadron at the time of this portrait and went on to command the Second Polish Fighter Wing. His illustrious career in military aviation continued until 1946, when he returned to civilian life. From the Air Ministry allocation of works from the War Artists' Advisory Committee, 1947. Original accession number: LD2021. On loan from the RAF Air Historical Branch (MOD). Copyright: Crown (expired) / RAF Museum.