ZDZISLAW STANISLAW PIECZYNSKI

He was a radio operator, born on 28^th April 1916 at Sulejów p. Piotrków  and posted in on 12^th April 1942 from 18 OTU RAF Bramcote as a wireless operator and air gunner.  He was killed on Z1088 which disappeared on a mission to Cologne on 28^th April 1942.  It is believed to have been shot down near Villers la Ville, Belgium.  He is buried in the Charleroi Communal Cemetery.  He was awarded the Order of Virtuti Militari.

Photo © ARS Group

ZYGMUNT STANISLAW PIECHOWIAK

He was a radio operator, born on 4^th April 1920 and was posted in from 18 OTU RAF Bramcote on 27th April 1942.  He was a crew member of a Wellington that was jumped by 6 Ju88 fighters whilst on anti-submarine patrol near Bishop Rock on 16^th September 1942.  In a 12-15 minute battle, fought at 30 feet above sea level, this crew destroyed one enemy plane, saw large pieces break off the tailplane of another and scored hits on three more.  In return they had a two yard square section of wing torn off by cannon fire and their petrol tank was pierced.  They managed a power climb into the clouds and the action was broken off.  He was killed on R1413 which was shot down by three Junkers Ju88 German fighters of V/KG40 on 16^th October 1942, whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay.

The fatal blow was delivered by Uffizier Steurich on the second attack after R1413’s rear gunner had knocked out one engine on the first attack by  Leutnant Dieter Meister, putting him out of the combat.

WLADYSLAW PATLEWICZ

He was an air gunner, born on 20^th January 1915 and known to have been a member of 304 Squadron on 16^th December 1942 but transferred to 138 Squadron at RAF Tempsford.  On 17^th September 1943 his Halifax bomber BB309 was shot down at Slagille, Denmark on its way back from Poland.  The mission was part of Operation Neon 3 which involved successfully dropping weapons and two agents into occupied Polish territory.  They were detected by the German Radar Station “Seehund” and a Junkers Ju88 night fighter was scrambled and shot the Halifax down.  It crashed into a house, killing three adults and two children but six other children miraculously survived.

Four of the crew were killed instantly, one died later of his  injuries (severe burns) and another suffered a broken arm and leg but escaped from the hospital, with the help of the local Resistance, to neutral Sweden three weeks later.   There was an immediate burial of the dead in shallow graves in the church yard without a service much to the chagrin of the local priest.  He arranged for them to have a proper burial with a Christian service rendered in English.  The expenses, including coffins and flowers, were covered by A.P Moller, a Danish shipping magnate.

The German fighter, flown by Lieutenant Richard Burdyna from IV/NJG3, also crashed.  One report claims that it was hit by return fire from the Wellington, but the general consensus is that the aircraft was circling the wreckage and flew into power cables, killing the pilot and his two crewmen.  The Polish dead are buried in Slagille Kirkegaard Cemetery, Denmark and the German crew were interred in Vestre Cemetery, Copenhagen, Denmark.

The seventh member of the crew, Sergeant  Roman Puchala, suffered only minor head injuries and escaped across the fields and was sheltered on a local farm, where he was captured after a few hours. He was initially taken to Dulag Luft, a Luftwaffe transit camp  near Frankfurt am Main, Germany for interrogation and then on to Stalag Luft VI Gross Tychow, near Tychowo, Poland..  Finally, he went to Stalag 357 at Fallingbostel  in Lower Saxony, Germany. 

KONRAD PASKIEWICZ

He was posted in to the squadron on 20^th March 1941 and promoted to Flight Sergeant on 12^th February 1942.  He survived the crash landing of R1002 (NZ – L) on 15^th July 1941 near Stiffkey, Norfolk, which was hit by flak on a mission to Bremen. He also survived the crash landing of R1697 at RAF Lindholme on 24^th April 1942.  The aircraft jettisoned its bombs from 16,500 feet over Flensburg, following a surprise attack by a Messerschmidt Me110 fighter.  The aircraft was damaged and the pilot (Squadron Leader Czetowicz) and rear gunner (P/O Apanasik) were struck by bullets but all survived.  He was awarded the Order of Virtuti Militari on 21^st November 1941 by Air Vice Marshal Ujejski, having previously been awarded theCross of Valour on 28^th June 1941.

KAZIMIERZ PAKULA

He was born in 1920 and arrived in Plymouth in June 1940, aged 20.  He underwent a nomadic training regime within Britain before joining 304 Squadron; initially he was dispatched to St Andrews, Fife, which appears to have been a major gathering point for Poles.  He  then went to RAF West Kirby near Liverpool and then RAF Blackpool (Squires Gate) for training.  He learnt English and became an interpreter with 306 Squadron at RAF Turnhill (Shropshire) and then on to RAF Padgate. 

After six months he transferred to St Andrews (RAF Leuchars?) and then, for training on Tiger Moths, to RAF Hucknall (Nottinghamshire).  After this he went to the Navigation School at Eastbourne, the observer training at RAF Jurby (Isle of Man) and then on to RAF Silloth (Cumbria).  Finally, he joined 304 Squadron and flew 50 missions with them before being posted out to North Berwick in East Lothian, for Officer training.

JOZEF SERGIUSZ OSTROWSKI

He was a pilot, born on 9^th September 1905.  He graduated in 1928 and was assigned to the 1^st Air Regiment in Warsaw.  From June 1938 until the outbreak of war, he commanded the training squadrons. 

He made his way to England and, after training, he is believed to have been a Flight Commander with 304 Squadron between April 1941 and May 1942.  After completing his tour of duty he moved to Staff Headquarters.  He was awarded the Order of Virtuti Militari and the Order of the British Empire.

He survived the war and died in London on 16^th September 1982; he was cremated at Putney Vale and his ashes were buried in Highgate Cemetery.

ALFRED OSADZINSKI

He was a pilot, born on 13th September 1917. He was commissioned on 30th September 1941 and known to be in service on 1st February 1942.

On 9th March 1942, he took off on a mission to bomb the Krupp Works at Essen. Because of poor conditions at RAF Lindholme, he took off from RAF Swanton Morley and on his return, landed at RAF Oakington due to lack of fuel. During his crew debriefing his aircraft, R1602, was struck by another during dispersal; both were destroyed by fire – the official verdict was damaged beyond repair.

He was killed when X9764 was shot down by a night fighter near Geetbetz, Belgium on 6th April 1942. He is buried at Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Belgium. Luftwaffe records show that it was shot down by Oberleutnant Heinrich Petersen and Fw Leidenbach of 6/NJG1 Geerbetz 10 KM North West St. Trond at 02.28hrs

The list compiled by Tadeusz Krzystek gives his service number as P-1570 but it was not unusual for a newly commissioned officer to be given a new number. A little more difficult to explain/understand is the fact that he is also listed as being born on 12th September 1919