Wladyslaw Piotr Szczupiel (1917-2000) - Polish radio operator, soldier in the Polish Air Force in Great Britain, participant in secret special operations of the CIA, employee of the American space agency NASA. Awarded, among others, the Virtuti Militari Cross and the Cross of Valor quadruple. A unique ensemble for the most discerning collectors.
The set includes a unique set of the Cross of Virtuti Militari 8287, along with a diploma (large) and an ID in the form of a booklet from 1945. Full sets of this type are practically non-existent on the collector's market. A set with a prominent provincial, including a photo of Wladyslaw Szczupiel's office with hanging items included in the set, including frames with his decorations, VM diploma, VM ID card and commemorative diplomas from NASA.
The set after Polish Air Force aviator Wladyslaw Szczupiel. The set includes:
Frame containing:
1) Virtuti Militari Cross No. 8287 (Cross of Valor from the production of Krupski Matulewicz, Warsaw).
2) Cross of Valor with Three Fittings (Quadruple award) Variety by G.Krogulc 18b (Great Britain)
3) Polish Air Medal with Two Fittings (Triple bestowal) medal produced by Mieczyslaw Bialkiewicz
4) (British) War Star 1939-45 (Star for the War 1939-1945)
5) (British) The Air Crew Europe Star (Star of the Air Crews in Europe) 1960-70s production.
6) (British) France & Germany Star (Star of Germany and France).
7) (British) Italy Star (Star of Italy).
8) (British) Defense Medal.
9) (British) War Medal (Medal for the 1939-1945 War)
10) Polish Eagle wz. 39 made by J.R Gaunt (Signed)
11) Radio Operator's Combat Mark (Visible on 1945 photo in VM card)
12) Badge of 301 Squadron 301 Bomb Squadron "Pomeranian Land named after the Defenders of Warsaw".
13) Rare Flying Personnel Badge of 300 Bomb Squadron "Mazovian Land" for officers (silver gilt version)
Other:
14) Framed diploma for the Virtuti Militari War Cross, dated February 23, 1943, with the signature of General Kazimierz Sosnkowski. (There was originally a VM card in the lower left corner).
15) Legitimation for the Virtuti Militari Cross No. 8287 to Wladyslaw Szczupiel issued on August 2, 1945.
16) NASA certificate containing the original American flag that was flown into orbit during the second Columbia shuttle mission (STS-2, November 12-14, 1981). This prestigious artifact was presented to Walter (Vladislav) P. Szczupiel in recognition of his significant contribution to the success of the mission, a pivotal moment in the history of the space shuttle program. The certificate features an authentic US flag that was aboard Columbia during the mission. The document was signed by key NASA officials, including Administrator James M. Beggs, as well as other program executives. The STS-2 mission was the first flight in history to use the same spacecraft a second time, marking a milestone in the development of reusable technology. The Columbia shuttle conducted important tests of onboard systems and new technologies that played a key role in the further development of the spaceflight program.
17) Photo of the Space Shuttle Orbiter model with the space station, dedication to Wladyslaw Szczupiel from NASA employee Kenneth "Ken" Wymore (1941-2017).
18) NASA's "First Shuttle Flight Achievement Award" certificate awarded for contributions to the historic STS-1 mission, the first manned mission of the Space Shuttle program. The document honors Walter (Wladyslaw) Szczupiel for his participation in the preparations for the flight of the shuttle Columbia, piloted by astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen. The certificate is framed in a black frame, decorated with the official STS-1 mission logo and the astronauts' signatures.
19) Photo of Wladyslaw Szczupiel's office with visible frame of decorations (1-13), Diploma to Virtuti Militari and Legitimacy (14-15) and NASA Certificate with Flag (16).
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Wladyslaw Piotr Szczupiel (1917-2000) - Polish radio operator, soldier in the Polish Air Force in Great Britain, participant in secret CIA special operations, employee of the American space agency NASA.
He was born on May 28, 1917 in Budziwoj , now a district of Rzeszów, as the youngest of nine siblings. He graduated from the Primary School in Bubdziwoju and then from the Gymnasium in Rzeszow. In 1932 he enrolled in the State Mechanical School in Kamionka Strumiłowa in Lviv province. In 1937, he completed his matriculation exam with a perfect score.
In November 1938, he was called up for air service in the 6th Aviation Regiment in Lviv. During the Defensive War in October 1939, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets in Hordenka, escaped being taken off a train and made his way to Romania. In January 1940, he joined the French Air Force in Beirut, then reached France. After the fall of France, he made his way to Great Britain where he joined the Polish Air Force.
According to Fred Cyran , "Wladyslaw Szczupiel was a bomber pilot even though he wanted very much to fly a fighter, but he was too big. He flew the "Lancaster" (British) bomber, and at the end of the war he flew the American C-47 (American twin-engine transport aircraft)."
During World War II, he served in the Polish Air Force in Britain as a sergeant (Warrant Officer) radio operator, service number 784889 in the 300th Bomb Squadron, 301st Bomb Squadron and 1586th Special Purpose Squadron. He took part in flights in various actions over England, Germany, Italy and Africa. On February 23, 1943, he was awarded the Order of the Virtuti Militari. Completely performed 74 combat flights in 490.50 hours. Incomplete 4 combat flights in 20.20 hours.
Fred Cyran : "...Probably during or immediately after the war he worked with the Americans in "Secret Missions". He didn't talk much about them because he was bound to secrecy. He mentioned that he took part in several secret missions as an escort for important dignitaries. He may have worked with the American CIA or its predecessor during the OSS war."
It has been confirmed that Wladyslaw Szczupiel took part in the CIA's "Project Cherry 106" operation between 1957 and 1959, as part of which he carried out secret intelligence missions for American intelligence on RB-69A aircraft. On January 1, 1959, he settled in the US. He then worked for the US space agency NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) as an electronics engineer contributed to the construction of the shuttle "Columbia". He died on July 7, 2000 in Huntsville, Alabama, and was buried in the Veterans Cemetery.
General condition as shown in the photos.
Sources:
https://listakrzystka.pl/szczupiel-wladyslaw-piotr/.
Much of the bio is taken from the article "Chevaliers of the Order of Virtuti Militari" by Teresa Borowiec and Regina Kawa of the Budziwoj Society of Budziwoj Enthusiasts, published in Głos Tyczyn 17/2006.
