HENRYK PLIS

He was born on 28th June 1920 in Wilkow near Pulawy and joined the training school in Bydgoszcz in 1937. His course was shortened because of the likelihood of war and he qualified as wireless operator at Krosno in 1939. He was evacuated from his base at Luck to Romania and made his way to France, via Beirut, arriving there on 14th January 1940. He was one of those who chose to come to Britain immediately and arrived here on 29th February 1940.

He completed his wireless training at the Blackpool Depot and was posted on 7th November 1940 to 4 Air Gunnery School at RAF Morpeth in Northumberland. On completion of his training there, on 6th January 1941, he joined 18OTU at RAF Bramcote near Nuneaton in Warwickshire for his final operational training. On 7th April 1941 he was posted to 304 Squadron at RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire.

On the night of 20th October 1941 he was on board Wellington bomber N2852 on a mission to Hamburg (or Emden?) from RAF Lindholme. He sent a Mayday message saying that one engine was damaged and reporting his position as near the German island of Heligoland. Other aircraft in the area reported seeing flares in the area but N2852 was lost without trace. His body was never found.

During his six months operational service he was awarded the Cross of Valour three times and the Air Medal.

Photo courtesy of ARS Group