TADEUSZ JAN KWAK

 

He was a pilot, born on 29^th November 1911 at Krakow.  He was killed on X9829 which was shot down by a night fighter near the estuary of the River Ems close to Manslagt, Germany during a raid on Rostock on 24^th April 1942.  This was a raid by six planes from 304 Squadron, each one carried 450 x 4lb incendiary bombs and 42 bundles of nickels (propaganda leaflets).  Rostock was a city of largely wooden buildings and this was the first of a series of fire raising attacks. He is buried in the Sage War Cemetery, Oldenburg, Germany, his body having washed ashore some time after the raid.

Luftwaffe records show that it was shot down by Hauptman Hans-Georg Schutze. He flew with 4/NJG2; shot down and confirmed a Wellington of 304 squadron X9829 at 03.37 hrs over the River Ems near Pilum, 15 kilometres North West of Emden.  Hauptman Schutze was killed shortly afterwards in air combat on the 17/18th May 1942. He was credited with 5 kills, this Wellington was his 4th.
 

Tadeusz Jan Kwak (3rd from right) and crew probably at

RAF Lindholme

 

Tadeusz Kwak's grave at the Sage War

Cemetery, Oldenburg, Germany

 

With fellow aircrew probably at RAF Lindholme

 

Off duty and relaxing with friends location unknown

 

Photographs courtesy of his Grandson Jaruslaw Kwak