304 SQUADRON POLISH AIR FORCE IN EXILE

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OKROJ F/Sgt Aleksander P-782097

He was an instrument mechanic, born on 27th February 1915 at Radom. In 1931 he joined the training school in Bydgoszcz and qualified as an aircraft mechanic in 1934. He was sent straight from the school to the 2nd Air Regiment in Krakow. He was promoted to corporal on 1st January 1939 and transferred a few weeks later to Warsaw where he trained as an instrument mechanic. He took part in the September Campaign, working under difficult and dangerous conditions before being evacuated.

His route is not known but he arrived in France on 20th January 1940 and was posted to the 108th Air Battalion at Montpellier but, on the fall of France, he made his way to England arriving here on 1st July 1940.

Nothing is known of his training regime in Britain but he served with 304 Squadron until they were disbanded in December 1946. He ended his service with them as head of the section responsible for maintenance of instrumentation. During his service he was awarded the Bronze Cross of Merit and the Air Medal (three times).

After his demobilisation, he set up his own watch repair business in the Nottingham area, where the squadron had spent so much time. He died on 5th November 1976.

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MANDOWSKI Sgt Antoni Witold

He was born on 17th June 1917 in Krasocin in the province of Kielce. In 1935 he joined the training school in Bydgoszcz, qualifying as an aircraft mechanic in 1938. After this he was sent to the 2nd Air Regiment in Krakow and attached to24 Reconnaissance Squadron, taking part in the September Campaign until he was evacuated to Romania on 18th September 1939.

Like so many others he went to France by an unspecified route and moved on to England after France capitulated. He was retrained on British aircraft and then posted to 304 Squadron where he remained until they disbanded in December 1946. He specialised as an engine fitter and played an important part in keeping the squadron airborne. He was awarded the Air Medal, having worked under difficult conditions on aerodromes that were always within easy reach of Luftwaffe bombers.

After demobilisation he emigrated to Canada and died in Rexdale, Ontario on a date unknown.

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PEKACKI Sgt Edmund Piotr P-705651

He was born on 12th May 1922 in Bialobrzegi near Radom. In 1938 he joined the training school in Swiecie. His training was cut short by the outbreak of war and he was evacuated from Krosno to the airbase at Luck. When that base was bombed, the students were scattered throughout the local area and some time later he was captured by the Russians at Chelm Lubelski.

He was sent to Russia but he escaped en route and made his way home. During a later attempt to cross into Romania, he was again taken by the Russians and held prisoner in Bialystock. After a “trial” he was deported to Russia where he was virtually a slave labourer in the city of Gorki.

Following the German attack on Russia he was eventually (March 1942) allowed to join the Polish army that was being formed in Russia by General Anders. It is known that he travelled through the Middle East, specifically Iraq, but there are no further details on how he came to Britain or when. Presumably he was routed through RAF Blackpool since he had volunteered for the air force.

He trained at No 8 Air Gunnery School at RAF Evanton, Invergordon, Scotland completing his course on 25th August 1944. Following this he attended No 10 Signal School (possibly at RAF Blackpool) where he completed his wireless operator training on 11th October 1944. He then joined 6OTU at Silloth, Cumberland (now Cumbria) on 5th November 1944 for his operational training. On completion of this course, he was posted to 304 Squadron at RAF St Eval in Cornwall on 10th March 1945 as a wireless operator/air gunner flying anti-submarine missions.

In his short period of operational service he was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit and both Polish and British Campaign medals.

He was discharged in 1948 and emigrated to Australia where he worked on the railways and whatever other jobs he could find. He returned to England in 1956 and trained in Nottingham as a welder then returned to Poland in 1958 where he continued in that trade.

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MAZUREK Sgt Eugeniusz P-780597

He was born on 11th November 1919 in Zywiec near Krakow and in 1937 he joined the training school in Bydgoszcz. Because of the imminence of war his course was shortened and he completed it in 1939, qualifying as an aircraft mechanic in Krosno. He was based at Luck aerodrome and was evacuated to Romania when it was bombed.

By November 1939 he was in France; he did not stay there long as he volunteered for aircrew service in England. He arrived on 12th February 1940 and began further training before being attached to the newly forming 301 Squadron probably at RAF Bramcote near Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He began pilot training in October 1941 but he was switched to wireless operator and air gunner at the end of March 1942.

He started the wireless training at the Blackpool Polish Depot on 13th April 1942 but completed it at 1 Signal School at RAF Cranwell North on 18th November of that year. The very next day he went to 8 Air Gunnery School at RAF Evanton at Invergordon, Scotland. Now almost fully trained he returned to the Blackpool Depot on 8th January 1943 to await radar training which he began on 1st April 1943 at 11 Radio School at RAF Heaton Park, Manchester.

A few weeks later he went to 6OTU at RAF Silloth, Cumberland (now Cumbria) for his final operational training before posting to 304 Squadron on 5th August 1943. At this time they were based at RAF Davidstow Moor in Cornwall and serving in Coastal Command. He completed his tour of duty on anti-submarine sweeps and then returned to 6OTU as an instructor. On 20th February 1946 he was posted to RAF South Cerney near Cirencester in Gloucestershire; this was probably still in a training function. He left the Air Force in September 1948. During his service he was awarded the Cross of Valour twice and the Air Medal.

After the war he worked mainly for Rediffusion, a company who specialised in wired television and radio networks.

He died in Southampton on 12th October 2000.

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PLIS Sgt Henryk P-782026

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.

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PIECHOCKI F/Sgt Jan Antoni P-780341

He was born on 16th May 1918 in Wrzesnia near Poznan and in 1935 he joined the training school in Bydgoszcz, qualifying as a wireless operator in 1938. His first posting was to the 1st Air Regiment in Warsaw where he joined 213 Squadron for bomber training. He finished the course on 30th April 1939 and was posted to 217 Bomber Squadron. He took part in the September Campaign and was evacuated to Romania on 18th September 1939.

There are no details of his escape route but he reached France on 29th October 1939 and immediately applied for service in England. He arrived here on 18th January 1940 and undertook further wireless operator/air gunner training until 18th March 1941 when he was allocated to 304 Squadron which was then at RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire.

During his tour of duty he was awarded the Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari on 21st November 1941 by Air Vice Marshal Ujejski, having previously been awarded the Cross of Valour on 28th June 1941. He was awarded the latter on two further occasions and also the Air Medal.

On 4th March 1942 he was seconded to RAF Boscombe Down near Amesbury, Wiltshire for the purpose of “experimental flying” which was actually evaluating new radio equipment. On 2nd May 1942 he rejoined 304 Squadron for a second tour of duty. On 28th January 1943 he was grounded for medical reasons and posted to 1 Signal School at RAF Cranwell at Sleaford, Lincolnshire two weeks later. His duties here were as an instructor.

On 10th July 1944 he was posted to 16 Service Flying Training School at RAF Newton, Nottinghamshire but in September he was sent to RAF Faldingworth in Lincolnshire, taking up the post of Chief Signals Officer until 18th December 1945 when he returned to 16 SFTS.

After his discharge he changed his name to Cunningham and went to work in the coal mines. He retired early due to ill health and died in Coventry on 9th December 1988.

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MATEJACK Sgt Jan P-782799

He was born on 29th April 1922 in Merrghole, Germany and in 1938 he joined the training school in Swiecie. Due to the outbreak of war his course could not be completed and he was evacuated from his base at Moderowka to Romania. There are no details of his route but he went via Syria and arrived in France on 22nd January 1940.

He remained there until the fall of France, after which he made his way to England. At this early stage of the war, he may have arrived at RAF Eastchurch in Kent. There is no further detail of his life until 1st September 1941 when he started his pilot training – which he finished on 15th July 1942.

From there he went to 4 Air Gunnery School at RAF Morpeth in Northumberland to acquire flying experience. This suggests that he was flying Blackburn Bothas which carried the trainee air gunners or possibly flying the target tugs. This lasted until April 1943 when he returned to the Blackpool Depot. On 15th January 1944 he began a navigator course on completion of which he was posted to 304 Squadron on 3rd March 1944. At this time they were engaged in anti-submarine warfare based at RAF Predannack in Cornwall and flying long missions out over the Bay of Biscay.

During his service he was awarded the Cross of Valour twice and the Air Medal.

He survived the war and died in the USA in February 1970.

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PILAT Sgt Stefan P-794957

He was born on 24th November 1918 in Karczmiska near Pulawy and entered the training school at Bydgoszcz in 1934; he qualified as a wireless operator in 1937 and was attached to the 1st Air Regiment in Warsaw. On 1st October 1937 he was posted to 214 Bomber Squadron for operational training as a wireless operator/air gunner and completed the course on 31st May 1938.

He was retained as an instructor and then took part in the September Campaign. Unfortunately he was captured by the Russians on 18th September 1939 as he tried to leave the country; he was deported to Russia. There is no information on his time there except that he was released on 21st August 1941 to join the Polish Army that was being formed by General Anders following the attack by Germany on Russia.

On 1st February 1942, by an uncertain route, he arrived in England and was sent to the Polish Depot in Blackpool. Between 2nd March and 13th November 1942 he trained as a wireless operator at 1 Signal School, RAF Cranwell at Sleaford, Lincolnshire and immediately began gunnery training at 8 Air Gunnery School at RAF Evanton near Invergordon, Scotland; he completed this on 19th December 1942 and returned to Blackpool. He did a further month training at 11 Signal School and was sent to 6OTU for operational training on 23rd February 1943.

Now fully trained, he was posted to 304 Squadron on 15th April 1943 at RAF Docking, Norfolk where he was to fly anti-submarine missions. His career with them was short lived. He was on board Wellington bomber HZ575 flying out of RAF Davidstow Moor on 3rd July 1943 which was probably shot down by German fighters about 40 miles North west of Brest, France whilst on a Musketry anti-submarine patrol.

He was awarded the Air Medal.

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NOWAKOWSKI Cpl Zygmunt P-782567

He was born on 22nd June 1918 in Piaski Piastowskie near Warsaw and joined the training school at Bydgoszcz in 1936. He qualified as a radio mechanic at Krosno in 1939. He was posted directly to the 4th Air Regiment in Torun, where he was attached to 41 Reconnaissance Squadron. He took part in the September Campaign under the control of the Pomeranian Army. On 18th September 1939 he went to Kuty (now Ukraine) and crossed into Romania.

There is no indication of his route but he arrived in France on 13th November 1939 and on 4th March 1940 he was assigned to the maintenance section of a fighter squadron. He left his base on 14th June, just before the capitulation of France, and arrived at Liverpool on 16th July 1940.

He took a course in electrical mechanics and was posted to 305 Squadron on 30th August 1940 at RAF Bramcote near Nuneaton in Warwickshire; this was the day before their initial inception so he was one of the original members of the squadron’s ground crew. He stayed with them almost to the end of the war, moving to 12 School of Technical Training at RAF Melksham in Wiltshire on 20th January 1945. Here he qualified as an electrician and on 19th May 1945 he was posted to 304 Squadron.

Finally he was posted to 58 Maintenance Unit at Newark, Nottinghamshire on 2nd July 1946. Then into the Polish Resettlement Corps on 7th May 1947. He was awarded the Air Medal and finally discharged on 17th March 1949 from RAF Cammeringham in Lincolnshire.

After his discharge he worked in the electrical industry in Nottingham and as an instructor at a rehabilitation centre at Balderton, Nottinghamshire. He finally retired on 21st June 1983.

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NOWAK F/O Marian Leszek P-1728

He was born on 24th February 1916 in Jedrzejow in Kielce province and he joined the training school in Bydgoszcz in 1933. He qualified as an aircraft mechanic in 1936 and was posted to the 1st Air Regiment in Warsaw. He took part in the September Campaign and was evacuated to France and then on to England when France fell.

He worked as ground crew until 19th July 1941 when he started pilot training which he completed on 4th February 1942. After more training and two spells at the Blackpool Depot, on 19th August 1942, he went to RAF Cosford at Shifnal, Shropshire for four weeks officer training. After this he was commissioned as a Flying Officer and sent to 6 Anti-aircraft Co-operation Unit at RAF Cark in Cumberland (now Cumbria) to build up his flying experience. However, only five days later he was recalled to 18OTU to complete his operational training and then he was posted to 304 Squadron at RAF Dale in Pembrokeshire, Wales on 12th October 1942.

On 3rd July 1943 he was on board Wellington bomber HZ575 flying on an anti-submarine patrol from RAF Davidstow Moor in Cornwall. This aircraft was probably shot down by German fighters about 40 miles North west of Brest, France whilst on a Musketry anti-submarine patrol. He was awarde the Air Medal.

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PIEKARSKI Sgt Marian P-784131

He was born on 4th August 1920 in Stoczki near Lodz and he enrolled in the training school at Bydgoszcz in 1937 but his course was shortened due to the impendcing war; he qualified as an aircraft mechanic at Krosno in 1939.

He was evacuated from his base at Luck and crossed the border into Romania. He travelled on to France via Syria and stayed there until the capitulation was imminent and he came to Britain in May 1940. Once here, he trained as an air gunner at 18OTU at Bramcote near Nuneaton, Warwickshire and was posted to 304 Squadron on 30th September 1941 when they were based at RAF Lindholme in Yorkshire and still part of Bomber Command. He completed 50 missions with the squadron (17 with Bomber Command).

Early in 1943 he was posted back to the Blackpool Depot as a rest from operational flying and to re-train as a pilot. However he did not complete this training before the war ended. He was discharged in early 1947 and settled in Blackpool where he started his own upholstery business.

After the war he was also known under the name Piekarski-King (although he actually changed his name to King). He died in Blackpool on 10th February 2005; he is buried in the Polish plot at Carleton Cemetery. His son, also Marian but known simply as Roy King, became one of England’s foremost archers and bowmakers. Marian junior died in November 2009 and in his obituary, in the Daily Telegraph, it states that his father was a rear gunner who survived being shot down in a Wellington bomber – but there is no further information included.

In fact this occurred on 31st May 1942 when Wellington DV781 lost both engines and was forced to ditch in the sea – this was the first time one of the squadron’s aircraft had ditched whilst they were in Coastal Command. The crew were all safe and were rescued by the destroyer HMS Boadicea. At some stage he was awarded the Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari, the Cross of Valour three times and the Air Medal.

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PASZKIEWICZ W/O Konrad Jozef P-783264

He was born on 29th November 1920 in Gorzkowice near Lodz and in 1937 he joined the training school in Bydgoszcz. His course was shortened by the impending war and he qualified as a wireless operator at Krosno in 1939. He was evacuated from his base at Luck to Romania and made his way to France, arriving there in October 1939.

Once there he was placed under the command of Squadron Leader Jan Bialy (who later became the first Commanding Officer of 304 Squadron) and was based at St Jaques aerodrome near Rennes where it was intended to form a squadron of bombers. However, France capitulated in June 1940 and he was moved to Casablanca in Morocco and from there he took a ship to Glasgow, where he arrived on 17th July 1940. He was sent to the Polish Depot at Blackpool and did further training before being posted to 304 Squadron at RAF Bramcote near Nuneaton in Warwickshire in March 1941.

On 14th July 1941 his aircraft, R1002 (NZ – L), was on a mission to Bremen and was hit by flak; he survived the crash landing near Stiffkey, Norfolk but was seriously injured. He returned to duty early in 1942. He also survived the crash landing of R1697 at RAF Lindholme on 24th April 1942 following a mission to Rostock. 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.

In May 1943, after 42 operational missions, he was posted back to the Blackpool Depot for a rest from operational flying and in December of that year he was medically grounded and given a desk job at the Polish Headquarters in London. He had been decorated with the Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari on 21st November 1941 by Air Vice Marshal Ujejski, the Cross of Valour on 28th June 1941 and two subsequent occasions and the Air Medal four times. He was finally discharged in 1948.

He took a job in the motor industry and retired in 1982. He died on 29th May 2001 at Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire and was cremated at Boston crematorium.

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PIECHOWIAK Sgt Zygmunt Stanislaw P-792815

He was born on 4th April 1920 at Buk near Poznan and he joined the training school at Bydgoszcz in 1937. His course was shortened because of the war but he qualified as a wireless operator at Krosno in 1939. He was evacuated from his base at Luck to Romania and made his way to France and stayed there until the country fell to the Germans, when he moved to England. He finished his operational training there at 18 OTU at RAF Bramcote near Nuneaton in Warwickshire and was posted to 304 Squadron at RAF Tiree in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

He was a crew member of a Wellington that was jumped by 6 Ju88 fighters whilst on anti-submarine patrol near Bishop Rock on 16th 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 16th October 1942, whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay. Twice he sent out Mayday calls reporting the attack, but to no avail. His body was never found and he has no known grave.

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.

He was awarded the Cross of Valour three times and the Air Medal.

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PAWLUCZYK Sgt Mikolaj P-784106

He was born on 1st or 15th November 1914 (accounts vary) in Minsk, Russia and he joined the training school at Bydgoszcz in 1930 but appears to have failed the course as he was released after two years. In August 1939 he was conscripted and sent to 6 Air Regiment in Lwow. He was evacuated after the September Campaign and arrived in France in January 1940. He stayed there until the fall of France and arrived in Britain on 27th June 1940.

After a period of training he was posted to 307 Fighter Squadron on 27th September 1940 at RAF Kirton in Lindsey in Lincolnshire. He requested aircrew duties and began wireless operator training at the Blackpool Depot on 24th November 1941; he completed the course at 1 Signal School RAF Cranwell, Sleaford, Lincolnshire on 17th September 1942. Next day he went to 8 Air Gunnery School at RAF Evanton, Invergordon, Scotland where he qualified on 16th October 1942. On 16th December 1942 he went to 7 Signal School and then on to 6OTU at Silloth in Cumberland (now Cumbria) for operational training. On 15th April 1943 he was posted to 304 Squadron at RAF Docking in Norfolk.

He was on board Wellington bomber HE304 on 17th July 1943 when it ran out of fuel on the return journey from the Bay of Biscay. The whole crew baled out and landed safely at Carlow in the Irish Republic and the plane crashed near Ballickmoylar, County Laois. He managed to send out an SOS and three aircraft were sent out to look for them but they failed to find the crash because they were unable to violate Irish neutrality and the visibility was so poor.

He returned to the Blackpool Depot and was later posted to RAF Morecambe Polish training wing in Lancashire on 16th November 1944. Subsequently he was commissioned as an officer and transferred to 133 Wing as adjutant. On 3rd September 1945 he received his final posting to RAF Dunholme Lodge in Lincolnshire which appears to have been a storage facility for Hamilcar gliders at this time. He was awarded the Cross of Valour three times and the Air Medal.

After his discharge he returned to Poland and was last heard of in 1947.

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POSTOL Sgt Leonard Gabriel P-780954

He was born on 6th November 1920 in Tarnopol and he joined the training school in Swiecie in 1938. Due to the outbreak of war, he was unable to complete his course and was evacuated from his base at Moderowka to Romania. He arrived in France on New Year’s Day 1940 and immediately requested a transfer to England. He arrived here on 17th February 1940 and after finishing his basic training, he began pilot training on 19th July 1941 but six weeks later was transferred to air gunner training.

He completed this training at 7 Air Gunnery School, RAF Stormy Down near Bridgend, Glamorgan, South Wales and, on 25th September 1942, began his operational training with 18OTU at RAF Bramcote near Nuneaton in Warwickshire. Eventually, on 14th October 1943, he was posted to 304 Squadron at RAF Davidstow Moor in Cornwall where he remained until 20th April 1944.

He survived the crash of Wellington bomber HF898 on 24th December 1942 when the aircraft ran out of fuel after 11 hours 56 minutes in the air and the crew baled out safely near Cannock in Staffordshire.

After leaving the squadron he was suspended from flying duties on 5th February 1945 and from all aircrew duties five days later for medical reasons. He was awarded the Cross of Valour and the Air Medal.

On demobilisation, he settled in Southampton but moved to Blackpool at some point and died there on 24th August 2008.