Born in Moscow in 1899, Antoni Kiewnarski was a remarkable individual. He served in the Polish Army during the First World War, and then transferred to the Polish Air Force in the inter war years. He served with distinction during the German invasion of Poland in 1939, and after the surrender of Poland, he travelled to France to continue the fight. He saw action again during the Battle of France, before finally traveling to England. He joined No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron of the Free Polish Air Forces, and flew multiple missions over enemy territory in 1941 and early 1942.

On the night of 27 August 1942, he was en-route to bomb targets near the German town of Kassel when his aircraft was intercepted by a German night fighter. Three of his crew were killed during the attack, but Antoni managed to bail out of the stricken aircraft over Eindhoven in the Netherlands. He was captured by German forces and eventually sent to Stalag Luft III. He older than many other POWs, and was regarded as the elder statesman of the Polish prisoners - a father figure.

On the night of 24 March 1944, he was one of 76 men who escaped Stalag Luft III during the Great Escape. Antoni and a fellow Polish POW managed to board a train to Boerrohrsdorf but upon their arrival they were arrested by local police. He was murdered on 30 March. He was 45 years old. He is today commemorated in CWGC Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, 9. A. Coll Grave.