VIII - Name, Rank and Serial Number ?

Look at these primitive monster cannons. Note bullet ridden shield below picture

No wonder his hearing was shot

Zygmunt's military's assignment

Cannon wz.97/25 is a  Pattern 1897 French Cannon modified in Poland in 1925

Again I find the multiple language translations causing a bit of confusion, at least for me, being a non-military person to understand his rank or position during his service. There are many common threads. This is what I have gleaned from the different records:

• Gunman 2 Air Division A.P.L - .(Polish)
• 2 Air Division
• 2 Air Platoon
• 2 Flieger  - "Aviator"  (German)
• 2e Regt. Artillerie  -"2nd Regiment Artillery" (French)
•  Appointe -  A grade for foot soldiers whose long service and bravery received more pay than other privates (French)
• Gefreiter - loosely translated as acting corporal by the UK but Private First Class in Polish
• Bomb. L/Cpl - from a post war (1952) document rank, possibly a promotion after liberation

 Initially I found no information on a 2 Air Division, Platoon or A.P.L. in the Polish military.
**Update 10-20-15**  2 Dywizjon Artylerii Przeciwiotniczej (2 Squadron Anti-aircraft Artillery) 2nd Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion), an Army unit mobilized in Grodno, A.P.L is likely Artyleria PrzeciwLotnicza also known as Anti-aircraft "Flak" Artillery.

It appears his rank rose from Gunman to acting Corporal due to Polish manpower and leadership being decimated defending 2 fronts and attrition. 

Thanks to information from Polish Forums website and others.

So I can conclude Dad was in The Polish Army of the 2nd Republic, Semi-permanent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Squadron No.131, 2nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Squadron-Grodno, Anti-aircraft Battery #131 . Mobilized in late August 1939. This was part of a secret plan  "Plan West" mobilizing 3 defensive lines against a a nearly surrounded Poland, Dad was in the 3rd defensive line around Southeast Romania holding the region of the "Romanian Bridgehead" as long as possible. 

From the school interview papers, with my daughter Shannon came an important clue; he told that her that he fired 75 mm cannons at aircraft. First hand infomation.  So he was a gunman in the 2nd air division artillery manning 75 mm anti-aircraft guns. That is clear.

 

Wow, googling 75 mm anti-aircraft cannon came up with some scary, primitive looking weapons.

The four 75mm assigned to his battery were "wz97/25", 1897 French cannons modified by Poland in 1925. In fact the record shows  the 75mm the old (1897 models), poorly maintained, ran out of ammunition frequently causing retreat into the forests. In fact before abandoning the cannon in retreat, acid was poured down the barrels to avoid the enemy using them.

Anti-aircraft Batteries Batteries #131,#132 and #131  were engaging German aviation in the Jordan Park area of Krakow until September 5, 1939 until  the city was overrun with German soldier. The batteries to cities of Deblin, Szczucin, Mielec and Luck (Lutsk) then to the South to set up the 3rd defensive line, positioning him  in the Lviv, Berezhany area. 

At  this point, I am going to make a best informed analysis to where and why dad was been stationed when captured. There is no doubt it was in the East as explained above "Plan West". Just as his military conscription was extended due to looming invasion crisis, his unit was placed as needed along the 1500 km Eastern border in late 1939. He likely had supported South Eastern border defense, along with the civilian militia, rag-tag volunteers, defending access to the Romanian Bridgehead for the retreating survivors.

This explains fully why a military serviceman from Grodno, in the territory of Belorussia, ended up captured in Lipica Dolna in Eastern Galacia September 19,1939

These are the verified circumstances that put him at Lipica Dolna, 12 km from Berezhany. The Russian prisoner record card was the "smoking gun" I have been looking for. This closes a huge gap  in my quest for understanding.