SQUADRON LEADER STANISLAW JOZEFIAK VM

 

I am sorry to have to report the death of Squadron Leader Stanislaw Jozefiak at the age of 96, in a nursing home in Derby.

 

He was one of two survivors of Wellington Bomber R1392, of 304 Squadron, which was badly shot up on a bombing mission to the docks at Boulogne and crashed in Sussex.  After recovering from his injuries, he continued crewing Wellingtons for a long time before re-training as a Spitfire pilot with 317 Squadron.  He then served with that squadron as part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force (2TAF) following the D-Day Landings.

 

After the War he spent 3 years in Greece, flying dangerous missions over Communist territory for the American Central Intelligence Agency.  When the British Government stopped its Nationals from flying with the CIA he was offered American citizenship if he would continue.  He opted to remain British and settled down in Derby where he opened a successful furniture and carpet store.

 

In his eighties he returned to Sussex and built a monument to his dead colleagues from R1392.  He also wrote his autobiography "God, Honour and Country".  In 2010, he featured in another book "Bomb on the Red Markers" by aviation historian Pat Cunningham.

 

As a personal tribute, he was very helpful to me when I started writing this blog.  He gave me a lot of information and photographs and a copy of his book.

 

He lived a long and happy life and the world is a poorer place without him.  May he Rest in Peace.