Adam Świerkocz

Adam Mirosław Świerkocz (born 15 December 1964), also spelled Świerkosz, is a Polish military pilot who served as brigadier general in the Polish Air Force.

Early life Świerkocz was born in Prudnik, Polish People's Republic. He was a member of the archery club, as well as a cyclist for .

Education He attended an elementary school in Prudnik. Next, in the years 1979–1983 he was educated at Aviation High School in Zielona Góra. Afterwards he joined the Polish Air Force University, gaining the military rank of flight commander. In 1988, he completed the MiG-21 pilot course at the Aviation Improvement Center.

From 1 February 1995 to 19 August 1997, he studied at the National Defence University of Warsaw. He was the originator of the international Łask-Buczek Air Picnic. On 15 August 2007, President Lech Kaczyński gave him the rank of brigadier general. A day later, on 16 August 2007, he became a commander of the 3rd Transport Aviation Brigade. During his service at that unit, a Polish Air Force C-295 military transport plane crashed in Mirosławiec on 23 January 2008. Świerkocz was on board the plane; he left it about an hour and a half before the crash. On 21 February 2008, Świerkocz was a representative of the Polish Air Force command at the funeral of Robert Kuźma, the commander of the plane.

During his military service, Świerkocz flied the MiG-21 and Su-22 fighter planes. He also did introductory flights of F-16 and PZL M28 Skytruck. He took part in training and air exercises in the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Turkey, Greece, and Italy. On 30 May 2008, he went into reserve.

Awards