Need Help with info on early Polish flyer

[rsloma]

I have four major questions and some supplemental inquiries about an early Polish flyer named Ludwik K. Bieńkowski (ca. 1897-1984; aka, Louis K. Bienkowski), who immigrated to the United States in 1922. I believe the story of Ludwik, his brother and their family in general to be very interesting and perhaps someone on this site may have some suggestions as to where I could find more information to expand what I have already learned of Ludwik’s aeronautic experiences.

First, I was wondering if anyone knew where I could find a copy of an early pilots license, or pilot's license application ca. 1921-1938 for Ludwik K. Bieńkowski (ca. 1897-1984; aka, Louis K. Bienkowski). I contacted the FAA and they even supposedly checked records in Washington that go back to the 1930s with no success. It may be that Louis received a license between 1926-1930 from the Department of Commerce Aeronautics Bureau. As a follow up, does anyone know if these records even exist somewhere?

Second, is a question, perhaps more appropriately asked of this site - Does anyone know whether a pilot like Ludwik would have been required to have a license (ca. 1922 to about 1938?) if he flew under an old foreign certification? Bienkowski was a Polish immigrant who may have trained with the Austrian air force during WWI or in the fledging Polish air force around 1918. I have a reference that states that Bienkowski later was a commercial pilot in the United States, but he may have only had a license for flying private aircraft, because I have no other evidence at this time that suggests he was a commercial pilot in the US or Poland for that matter.

Third, has anyone ever come across the name Ludwik Bienkowski as an Austrian or Polish flyer? Any ideas where to look for such information? Is looking for more information futile? Newspaper accounts indicate that Louis Bienkowski trained and or served as a military pilot prior coming to the United States but his experience in this area was brief after a crash. I think that he may have been a pilot in the Austrian air force during WWI because he served as one of General Pilsudski’s Polish Legionaires in the Austrian army ca 1914-1916. As such he may have trained with the Austrian air force during WWI or in the fledging Polish air force around 1918. He also served in the Polish cavalry during the 1919-1920 war against the Bolsheviks and was an honor guard while Herbert Hoover was distributing relief aid in Krakow ca. 1919. Unfortunately, I have no information on what units Ludwik served in. One newspaper account writes that his brother Janusz was in the 15th Uhlans and was briefly captured, but saved by his brother’s unit. That other unit may have been led by Ludwik or their other, younger, sibling, Bogdan (aka, Bohdan). I emailed the Central Military Archives in Warsaw, but they could find no record of Ludwik, Janusz, or Bogdan. I’m not sure how thorough the search was and perhaps I would get a more serious search if I followed up with a written request. Traveling to do the research myself is not an option right now.

A little background, municipal records in Poznań, Poland document Ludwik's birth in the village of Granica, on August 25, 1900. Ship manifests dated November 4, 1922 record Ludwik Bienkowski's arrival in the port of New York on the SS America from Bremen, Germany on October 25, 1922 on his way to his brother "John Bienkowski" at 913 Park Avenue, Syracuse, New York. The date of Ludwik's arrival and ship are confirmed on bureau of Naturalization forms. At the age of 25, Ludwik listed his occupation as actor and the word "screen" appears to be hand written above in another person's handwriting. He presumably lived in California after visiting his brother in Syracuse and before settling in Utica, New York in 1927. Perhaps he was an aspiring actor working as a screen artist, but he presumably had formal art training in Krakow, Poland. Louis (Ludwik) Korwin Bienkowski’s tenure in Hollywood (ca 1923-1926) was reputedly as a studio artist hired to paint scenes of European villages and costumes.

Lastly, does anyone come across any specific references to europeans getting jobs in early Hollywood through individuals who may have served in the same foreign armies, (i.e., Austrian, German, Russian, Polish)? I was wondering if Ludwik’s military experience aided him in getting a job in Hollywood. Perhaps he already knew someone in Hollywood who served in the Austrian army like like Fritz Lang or Erich Von Stroheim? If he trained to serve in the Polish air force he may have known Merian C. Cooper who was a volunteer of the American Kościuszko Squadron which supported the Polish Army in the Polish-Soviet War. As discussed on this site, Cooper led movie production for RKO Radio Pictures before and after World War II, notably co-writing and co-directing King Kong.

Thank you