Romualdas Marcinkus

Romualdas Marcinkus (22 July 1907 – 29 March 1944) was a Lithuanian pilot.

Marcinkus was born on 22 July 1907 in the provincial Lithuanian town of Jurbarkas.

At the time Jurbarkas, as well of the rest of Lithuania, was part of the Russian Empire.

Romualdas' father, Pranas Marcinkus, served as a policeman in Jurbarkas, Tauragė, and Rumšiškės.

His mother, Honorata Kroazė-Marcinkienė, came from an urban family of French origins.

After his father's death in 1927, Marcinkus took on the responsibility of supporting his remaining family, he also began playing football for LFLS Kaunas.

The aviator Steponas Darius, with associates, had established the Lietuvos Fizinio Lavinimo Sąjunga, which soon became one of the leading football clubs in Lithuania.

Marcinkus joined the club and won a national championship during his first season.

On 27 July 1927, Marcinkus played for Lithuania in an international match.

Although they lost, Marcinkus managed to score his first goal in an international game.

The Lithuanian team's coach predicted a bright future for Marcinkus in football.

At that time football was among the most popular sports in Kaunas.

Marcinkus participated in an early trans-European flight on 25 June 1934, and was the only Lithuanian pilot to serve in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War.

In his youth Marcinkus was a Lithuanian multifold football champion and a playing coach for the Lithuania national football team.

While serving in the Lithuanian Air Force, Marcinkus was a parachute instructor, and headed the aviation sport and physical education department, and during his later years coached a junior football team.

A few months before the Soviet occupation of Lithuania early in the Second World War, Marcinkus left Lithuania and enlisted in the French Air Force.

After the Battle of France and the French capitulation, Marcinkus escaped to Britain, where he flew for the RAF.

As a pilot for No. 1 Squadron RAF, he took part in various missions, including escorting bombers and night combat.

On 12 February 1942, during Operation Cerberus, he was shot down, became a prisoner of war, and was sent to Stalag Luft III.

At Stalag Luft III Marcinkus became an active member of an underground group of prisoners who organized and executed the Great Escape.

Marcinkus was responsible for analyzing the German railway schedules – a vital part of the plan.

On the night of 25 March 1944, Marcinkus became one of 76 servicemen who escaped the prison camp.

After several days he was recaptured by the Gestapo and executed.

At the end of the Second World War, Lithuania lost its independence and Marcinkus was largely forgotten.

His memory was kept alive by the Lithuanian émigré press.

After Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, more detailed accounts of his life were published there and abroad.

Marcinkus' cousin, Vanda Kroazė-Šestakauskienė, stated that the Kroazė family's origins in Lithuania began with a Frenchman named Courvoisier, who came to Lithuania with Napoleon's army during the French invasion of Russia in the 19th century and married a local Lithuanian woman.

Romualdas was the eldest of five children in the family.

After his younger brother died during childhood he became the family's only son.

Following the First World War, Lithuania successfully re-established its independence and the first gymnasium in Jurbarkas was established.

Soon afterwards, Marcinkus attended the institution, and became passionate about sports, especially football.

Romualdas, or Romas as his friends called him, played football for the local team.

Marcinkus was known for his stamina and discipline among his peers.

At age 17, Marcinkus moved from Jurbarkas to Kaunas, the temporary capital of Lithuania.

In Kaunas, he attended the Higher German School.

After graduating from the German School, he enrolled at the Kaunas Military School, intending to enlist in the Lithuanian army.

During this time the Lithuanian army was expanding and modernizing.

The Lithuanian Air Force was especially targeted for rapid development and service in this branch was prestigious.

Some of its earlier members such as Jurgis Dobkevičius and Antanas Gustaitis were instrumental in improving on aeronautical designs.

While at the military school Marcinkus played for the KSK (Kauno sporto klubas) football club.