Władysław Gnyś was a Polish pilot of the Polish Air Force, a World War II flying ace and the first Polish victor in aerial combat in World War II. He briefly served as the commander of No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron; he was shot down on his first mission over France on August 27, 1944. At dawn on September 1st. 1939, Hitler's Luftwaffe began their attacks on targets across Poland. Based at a secret airfield, Lt. Wladek Gnys and his C.O. Capt. Mieczyslaw Medwecki were alerted by the sound of the German attack. Taking off immediately the pair came under fire from Ju-87's, and Medwecki was shot down. Gnys evaded the attackers, and on spotting two Dornier bombers dived to attack them, downing both aircraft, making these the first two victories to be scored against the Luftwaffe in WWII. Gnys went on to fly with the French Air Force during the Battle of France, and later in the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Władysław Gnyś has hand signed this 4x6 Photograph. PSA Encapsulated #84124454