|
|
Post by hollister on Nov 20, 2008 15:37:40 GMT -7
Neville,
I just wanted to let you know I have been enjoying your posts!
Keep 'em coming please
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Nov 20, 2008 16:37:30 GMT -7
Thanks Hollister; if people are reading my posts I am getting my message across and I am keeping alive the memory of those brave Poles - the vast majority of whom are now dead. You can beat the enemy but you can't beat time.
Anyway, here's another story for you:
ANTONIEWICZ F/O Leopold
He was born on 22nd January 1916 in Zukowice near Minsk in Belarus but his family fled to Poland when he was a small boy. He was conscripted into the army at age 20 and at the start of the war he was teaching in the Technical Department of the School of Aviation in Warsaw. He left Poland by way of Romania and Syria and made his way to France. From there he crossed to Oran and went overland to Casablanca and on to Gibraltar and Liverpool.
He spent time training air crew at RAF Hucknall, Nottinghamshire and then on to St Andrews (RAF Leuchars) and RAF Blackpool (Squires Gate). In February 1943 he graduated as a pilot and was posted to 304 Squadron. The following month he was promoted to Lieutenant and posted to 6 OUT at RAF Silloth, Cumbria. Three months later he returned to 304 Squadron.
On 18th June 1944, he saw 2 U-Boats on the surface between the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel and attacked one, which he appears to have destroyed by the accurate dropping of depth charges. The first charges dropped were near misses but the second batch were seen to straddle the deck. A great deal of large pieces of wreckage and an oil spill were seen in the area; the oil spill was noticeably bigger on each of three passes made after the attack. Conflicting evidence suggests that this sub (U441) may have been destroyed by a British Liberator aircraft but it is now thought that it may have actually been U1191 which was lost in the same time scale and in the same waters.
On 17th September 1944 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and after completing his tour of 30 missions, he was posted back to 6 OTU, at RAF Silloth, as a flying instructor. During his career he was awarded the Order of the Militari Virtuti Silver Cross and the Cross of Valour as well as other decorations.
Neville
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Nov 21, 2008 15:06:53 GMT -7
I have just come across this extract, not directly related to 304 Squadron, which was part of a letter written home by a 304 crewman. It was written from his base on a remote Scottish Island. Poignant, melancholy and giving an idea what the Poles had to put up with:
Summing up their loneliness, George Glebocki of 304 (Slaski) Squadron wrote from Benbecula in 1944, “ Our quaint little isle, inhospitable and unfriendly as it seemed at first has many hidden charms. As if nature herself in recompense for bad weather and rain, wanted in the rare moments of respite, to stun and intoxicate us. Morning rose like many others, bathed in misty drizzle. A new flight was already hovering somewhere out over the icy Atlantic, tracking German U-boats, waging a cunning and ingenious war against the inventive skill of German engineers, and against the U-boat Schnorkel. An almost hopeless war. So many flights endured in vain in this terribly difficult struggle. So many hundreds of hours of torture, vomiting, engines and crews dying in wild, devilish burst of squalls, in the cruel clutch of icing 500 feet over the raging Atlantic. Till finally one morning in the grey dawn “X”, for X-Ray, from our Squadron reported that he was attacking a streak of smoke ahead of him. A flame growing from the water. He knew that it was the first and probably the last chance for attack. The explosion and the plume of foam blotted out the scene. When the water settled there was on the spot of the attack an ever-widening patch of shiny oil. That was all. Hundreds of flying hours for an attack lasting a few seconds. Night again lengthens and at last the wind falls. Slowly we leave the mess. This solitude on the island, this desertedness, this overlooking of all our work. The uncertainty of our fate and our morrow, and the wrong done against the living body of our nation, against all that is holy to us. What is the aim, the essence of this war? The wind catches our words and tosses them into space. We do not know whether it is the wind or the rain, or whether tears flow over our cheeks”.
Make of it what you will but it had a great effect on me.
Neville
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Nov 21, 2008 17:48:23 GMT -7
Since no one has objected to me posting the stories of the 304 Squadron, and there have been over 200 views in a few days, here's another one for you:
CZETOWICZ Sq/Ldr Kazimierz
He was an active flier and Squadron Commander from 16th August 1942 until 29th January 1943. He took part in a bombing raid on Hanover on 26th January 1942. In May 1942, he and his co-pilot received a commendation for bravery for an incident that occurred on 24th April of that year. The aircraft they were flying was severely damaged by machine gun and cannon fire from a fighter over Rostock. The aircraft was out of control and Squadron Leader Czetowicz was wounded. They managed to regain control and limp home. In spite of the undercarriage and the hydraulic system being unserviceable, they made a successful belly landing at RAF Lindholme, without further injuries to the crew. This occurred during a visit to the station by General Sikorski, head of Polish forces. The commendation was signed by Air Vice Marshall Ronald Graham. He was awarded the Order of Virtuti Militari on 21st November 1941 by Air Vice Marshal Ujejski. He had earlier been awarded the Cross of Valour. The text of the citation:
NOTABLE WAR SERVICES.
The Commander-in-Chief wishes to bring to the notice of all ranks in the Command the courage and determination and skilful airmanship displayed by Acting Squadron Leader K. CZETOWICZ and Flight Sergeant ZIOLKOWSKI, K., both of No. 304 (Polish) Squadron.
On the night of 24th April, 1942, this officer and N.C.O. were Captain and 2nd Pilot respectively of a Wellington 1C aircraft detailed to carry out an operational flight to ROSTOCK. On the outward journey a surprise attack was made on the aircraft by an enemy fighter which opened fire with machine gun and cannon, wounding the rear gunner in the arm. The Captain, while at the controls, also received wounds in the right arm as the result of which he momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but by great effort, and despite the pain he was suffering, he managed to regain control at 12,000ft.
Control of the aircraft, which had been rendered very difficult by the extensive damage sustained, was then taken over by the second pilot, the bombs jettisoned by the Navigator, and course was set for base. Despite the heavy damage which had rendered the hydraulic system and the undercarriage unserviceable, the second pilot made a successful belly-landing without further injury to the crew. The safe return of the aircraft to base can only be attributed to the fortitude and great skill shown by both the Captain and 2nd Pilot.
The Order of Virtuti Militari is something akin to our Victoria Cross or the American Congressional Medal of Honor and was won by a considerable number of the airmen in this Squadron. They were not as glamorous as the fighter pilots, had a top speed of 234 mph and not many weapons to defend themselves - and still they went out and fought.
Neville
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Nov 24, 2008 16:09:27 GMT -7
Another Pole of indomitable fighting spirit; a credit to 304 Squadron and to Poland:
LEWKOWICZ F/Lt Bronislaw Franciszek
He was born on 9th March 1913 in Jaruslaw, Poland, and after graduating from Grammar school he joined the Army Cadet Corps No 3 in Rawicz. In 1934 he was admitted to an artillery officer school in Torun and in 1939, he completed a course for air observer / navigators and was posted to the 212 Eskadra of the 1st Air Regiment in Warsaw. In September 1939 he was captured by the Russians but escaped and made his way to England via Romania and France. He joined 304 Squadron and took part in a number of bombing missions to Germany. He was awarded the Cross of Valour, for bravery in action, by Air Vice Marshal Ujejski on 28th June 1941 (he won this medal on a total of four occasions) and later the Order of Virtuti Militari on 21st November 1941 also by Air Vice Marshal Ujejski. He survived the crash landing of R1697 at RAF Lindholme on 24th April 1942. The aircraft jettisoned its bombs from 16,500 feet over Flensburg, Germany 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 and made it safely home. He was in charge of the advance party to RAF Tiree on 7th May 1942. In 1943 he volunteered for service with the Armia Krajowa, which was the main underground organization in Poland, and he was parachuted into Poland as an SOE operative. He eventually became second in command of the AK 25th Infantry Regiment. Under the pseudonym of Kurs, he became involved in an action against the SS Galizien Division in which he was badly wounded and later died. He was buried in the cemetery at Leceniczowka. After the war he was exhumed and buried in the Catholic cemetery at Gielniowo.
Another selfless sacrifice.
Neville
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Nov 26, 2008 3:20:24 GMT -7
ANOTHER POLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GIVE UP
LOZOWICKI Sgt A
He was posted in to the Squadron on 20th June 1941 from RAF Bramcote. He survived the crash landing of R1413 on 1st October 1941 at Micklefield, West Yorkshire and the crash landing of DV437 at March, Cambridgeshire on 12th April 1942. The latter was following an abortive attack on the Krupps works at Essen. En route, Sergeant Lozowicki and his crew fought off an attack by two Messerschmidt Me110 fighters and were unable to hit the primary target. In spite of engine trouble, he still managed to bomb a Luftwaffe aerodrome at Dinant, France before limping home. He was posted out to the Polish Depot at Squires Gate (RAF Blackpool) on 8th August 1942 pending a medical board following his injuries in the crash landing at March. He was awarded the Krzyz Walechznych (Cross of Valour) by Air Vice Marshal Ujejski on 21st November 1941.
With engine problems, he still diverted off his direct course home to make use of his bomb load rather than take the easy way out and dump them in the sea.
Neville
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Nov 27, 2008 13:28:09 GMT -7
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. I am sorry that this festival is alien to me but I realise that it is very important to Americans.
With all my best wishes for you
Neville
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Dec 2, 2008 12:16:21 GMT -7
Hello everyone,
I have more posts for you but my computer crashed and I am having to reconstruct everything. Please bear with me, I have not gone away!
Neville
|
|
|
|
Post by karl on Dec 2, 2008 13:03:11 GMT -7
Hello everyone, I have more posts for you but my computer crashed and I am having to reconstruct everything. Please bear with me, I have not gone away! Neville Neville Be concerned not, for it would so seem the devils of disaster also visit with you Brits in as much to our selves...When time allows, please do continue, for it is not only of Polish eyes that follow with interest of your presentations. Karl |
|
|
|
Post by Jaga on Dec 2, 2008 13:26:30 GMT -7
Hi Neville,
I was a bit concerned where did you go. I am glad that you were able to post so much already. As I told you before, we will also post at least one article in Polish-American Journal.
You gathered wonderful sources of information!
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Dec 3, 2008 2:59:50 GMT -7
I have now fully recovered the information I lost when my computer crashed. I was devastated at the loss but all is now well and I have much more to post (later today) please wait
Neville
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Dec 3, 2008 3:27:24 GMT -7
Karl and Jaga,
Thank you for your support; archivist crashed and burned, but he's back! I love this site and I would (and did) do everything to get back:
MICEL Sgt Ferdynand
He attacked and damaged a U – Boat in the English Channel on 21st June 1944. He was born in Berdjansk, Ukraine but lived mostly in Bialystock, Poland until he was captured by the Russians on 17th September 1939. He was sent to Krzywy Rog then Siewzeldorlag in Siberia on 11th September 1940 where he suffered the mental torture of at least one “mock” execution, involving a night in the condemned cell and a visit from a priest. In 1941 he was transferred to Juza camp in Iwanowska province and then, on 4th September 1941, he was allowed to join General Anders’ Polish army and sent to the UK from Archangel. He trained on gliders at Leeming and Sutton Bank and then spent time with 304 Squadron in Coastal Command. Later he flew weather flights from RAF Aldergrove and served at Hullavington, Syerston and Hornchurch ending up at Gan in the Maldives. He survived the war and died on 6th April 1983 in Leicester and his ashes are buried in Wrexham, Wales .
|
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Dec 3, 2008 13:24:22 GMT -7
MLYNARSKI Sgt Wladyslaw
He was an air gunner, born on 2nd Februay 1916 and 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 tail plane of another and scored hits upon 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. Sadly, he was killed on R1413 which was shot down by German fighters on 16th October 1942, whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay.
|
|
|
|
Post by karl on Dec 3, 2008 14:36:29 GMT -7
MLYNARSKI Sgt Wladyslaw He was an air gunner, born on 2nd Februay 1916 and 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 tail plane of another and scored hits upon 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. Sadly, he was killed on R1413 which was shot down by German fighters on 16th October 1942, whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay. This fellows were very fortunant. Our Ju-88 Kämpferbomber aircraft that protected our skies, were very powerful and formable. www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/germany/junkers/ju_88/Ju_88_nf.htmKarl |
|
|
|
Post by archivist on Dec 3, 2008 16:41:35 GMT -7
Karl,
You are right, the Ju88's were formidable aircraft and their crews were very well trained and capable. This is one of the rare times you can see the damage inflicted on one of the Polish aircraft. The picture shows the massive damage inflicted on this particular Wellington bomber. This aircraft was too slow and heavy for the conditions in which it had to fight but it could absorb incredible amounts of punishment and still fly; this was because of the geodetic design of the airframe. For a more comprehensive explanation look up the Wellington bomber on Wikipedia. But to see the actual damage to the actual aircraft in this story you should visit Polish Squadrons Remembered which is a cluster of websites hosted by Wilhelm Ratuszynski. On the site dedicated to 304 Squadron you will see a very good photograph of the damage described. It makes you wonder how on earth this plane ever got home.
Regards
Neville
|
|
