R1002

This photograph shows the crew of R1002 (NZ – L) who were on board at the time it was lost. From left to right: F/SGt Paskiewicz, F/Lt Ostrowski, P/O Siuda, F/Sgt Szewczyk, P/O Trzebski and F/Sgt Gebicki all of whom survived the crash virtually uninjured.

R1002 (NZ-L) 14th July 1941

This aircraft took off at 22.40 on 14th July 1941 from RAF Syerston on a mission to bomb Bremen. On the return journey it was hit by flak and lost the starboard engine. With considerable skill, the pilot, Sgt Janusz Trzebski managed to get the Wellington back to England on the remaining engine. They had made radio contact with RAF Langham in Norfolk and were expecting a flare path to guide them in. Unfortunately there was an air raid in progress and the flare path could not be lit up. It was a moonless night, with low cloud and the pilot had to descend to a very low level whilst they looked for the airfield. They flew in at near rooftop level and at the last moment saw the roof tops of a small village; he had no power to climb but managed to avoid the village before stalling and being forced into a belly landing at 02.38 on the morning of 15th July 1941 in nearby woodland at Stiffkey, Norfolk – just two miles from the airfield. Impact with the trees sheared off the wings but the fuselage missed the larger trees . The Wellington was a total write off but all the crew and all the villagers survived with no serious injuries. The Commanding Officer’s comments on the crash card were that it was a creditable performance in conditions of fog and heavy rain. Luckily there was no fire. It is rumoured that a local Home Guardsman approached with rifle at the ready, believing from the voices that they were German fliers. Their RAF uniforms and assurances that they were Polish allies convinced him and they were taken to hospital, uninjured but badly shocked.
This photograph shows the crew of R1002 (NZ – L) who were on board at the time it was lost. From left to right: F/SGt Paskiewicz, F/Lt Ostrowski, P/O Siuda, F/Sgt Szewczyk, P/O Trzebski and F/Sgt Gebicki all of whom survived the crash virtually uninjured.