The Airmen Monument in Mielno is a place of remembrance dedicated to two military pilots who died in an aircraft crash on 7 September 1987. The monument stands on the Promenada Przyjaźni, at the height of ul. Słoneczna — near the place where the tragedy occurred.
History of the aircraft crash above Mielno
On that September day, a PZL TS-11 Iskra training aircraft, belonging to the 26th Fighter Aviation Regiment stationed in Zegrze Pomorskie, crashed into the waters of the Baltic Sea several hundred metres from the shore. In the crash, Captain Pilot Jan Kozyra and Second Lieutenant Pilot Ryszard Duro were killed — young airmen serving in Military Unit 5069.
Colleagues from the unit funded the monument in honour of their fallen comrades. The central element of the monument is a fragment of the vertical tail of a MiG-21 aircraft, covered with the red-and-white checkerboard pattern — the symbol of Polish military aviation. The monument is set on a plinth of granite cobblestones, which gives it a stern, military character.
Airmen Monument — practical information
The monument is located on the border of Mielno and Unieście, at the descent to the beach from ul. Słoneczna. The place is accessible all year round. Access leads along the Promenada Przyjaźni, which makes it possible to visit the monument during a walk along the seaside boardwalk.
Who is it worth stopping here for
This place speaks primarily to people interested in the history of the region and Polish military aviation. The Airmen Monument in Mielno is one of the more important places of memory in the commune and reminds of the price soldiers pay during their service.
Every year, on the anniversary of the crash, commemorative ceremonies for the fallen pilots are held by the monument.
Price
Free entry — publicly accessible attraction without tickets.
