Operation: Ramrod 1260
Date: 06th September 1944 (Wednesday)
Unit: No. 316 Squadron (P)
Type: Mustang III
Serial: FB351
Code: SZ-B
Base: RAF Coltishall, Norfolk
Location: Angerlo, Holland
Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Bohdan Stanisław Arct P-1090 PAF Age 30. PoW Stalag Luft Barth
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off from RAF Coltishall in Norfolk to attack rail yards and locomotives when it is understood his Mustang was hit by flak (other reports state that he had suffered an engine failure) either way he baled out of his aircraft, breaking a rib in the process. On landing caught by Dutch Police who immediately handed him over to the Germans.
20 year old Fl/Sgt. Kawiński flying Mustang FB396 SZ-F was less fortunate, he was also hit by flak over Oud-Reemst but sadly he lost his life.
In 2017 Aircrew Remembered were contacted by the wife of Fl/Lt Peter Henry Cutchey (1) DFC and Bar whose husband had served with Sq/Ldr Arct at Stalag Luft Barth. She had several sketches drawn by Bohdan Arct whilst a PoW presented to her late husband and informed us that he had left wishes that these are presented to a Polish Museum following his death. Joan wanted our help to make this happen.
(1) Fl/Lt. Peter Cutchey was shot down by flak whilst serving with 7 Squadron. Lancaster PB466 MG-Q also on the 06th September 1944 - 3 crew killed, 5 taken PoW.
Burial details:
None - survived the war, died in Siedice, Poland on Friday the 11th May 1973 aged just 59.
Other mentioned within this page:
Fl/Sgt Andrzej Jan Kawiński 782049 PAF. Born on the 25th January 1924 in Warsaw, Poland, the son of Zygmunt and Maria Buyno-Arctowa. Arnhem General Cemetery. Grave 39. Also commemorated on the Polish Memorial at Northolt, England and the Aircrew Memorial in Warsaw, Poland.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to sources as quoted below:
