Jan Zumbach was one of the best Polish fighter pilots during World War II. He fought with and later commanded the legendary 303rd Fighter Squadron. After the end of the war, he led an extremely active and eventful life, ending with his death on 3 January 1986 in Paris in circumstances that remain unexplained to this day.
Jan Zumbach was born on 14 April 1915 in Ursynów (now a district of Warsaw). He had Swiss roots – the grandparents of the future pilot on his father’s side came from this country.
From 1922 to 1935, he lived in Bobrów in Pomerania, where his parents ran a country estate. It was there that he witnessed the aerial acrobatics that determined his future life.
After passing his matriculation exams in 1935, at the beginning of the following year he was admitted to the Air Force Officer Cadet School in Dęblin, concealing the fact that he held Swiss citizenship.
Upon graduation, he was assigned to the 111th Fighter Squadron in Warsaw. Unfortunately, due to an air crash in May 1939, he was hospitalised with his leg broken in several places. For this reason, he did not take part in the fighting against the Germans in September 1939 in his home unit.
After losing the campaign, like many pilots, he was sent to France and then to England. There, he was sent to the nascent Polish 303rd Fighter Squadron, which proved to be the most effective fighter unit during the Battle of Britain in 1940. He alone shot down at least seven German aircraft during this time. And his total record in the Second World War closed with shooting down at least 12 and 1/3 aircraft certain, 5 probable and damaging one. This was the sixth highest score among Polish pilots. During wartime operations, he commanded various aviation units, including his home 303rd Squadron.
After the end of the war, he took up various jobs. He owned a small aviation company, which he used for smuggling activities. He also fought as a mercenary in Africa in the 1960s.
The circumstances of his death in Paris on 3 January 1986 have not been clarified. He was buried in the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw.