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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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587 Squadron Martinet EM412 Sgt. Barcikowski, RAF Weston Zoyland, Buncombe Wood, Somerset

Operation: Training

Date: 31st January 1944 (Monday)

Unit: No. 587 Squadron

Type: Miles Martinet I

Serial: EM412

Base: RAF Weston Zoyland, Bridgewater, Somerset

Location: Buncombe Wood, Somerset.

Pilot: Sgt. Jerzy Witold Barcikowski 703816 PAF Age 25. Killed

W/Op: LAC Alfred George Higgins 927273 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Co-operation sortie to Portland on the day in question with the crew failing to turn back, following Met warning, becoming lost in thick cloud and fog crashing into trees at Buncombe wood whilst descending to locate visual navigation aid at 11.55 Hrs.

Sgt. Jerzy Witold Barcikowsk insert and grave

Burial details:

Sgt. Jerzy Witold Barcikowski. Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery. Plot 39. Row A. Sec H. Grave 252 Born 4th June 1918, Warsaw, Poland. Next of kin details not available - can you assist?

LAC Alfred George Higgins. Gloucester Old Cemetery. Plot B. Grave 8793. Son of George and F. M. Higgins, of Gloucester.

Researched for relatives of the crew. With many thanks to: Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - "Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945"
Explore related reports: 1944 Fighter Command Poland Training
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Acknowledgements
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Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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