Operation: Convoy Patrol
Date: 16th July 1943 (Friday)
Unit: No. 317 Squadron (Polish)
Type: Spitfire Vc
Serial: EE684
Code: JH-F
Base: RAF Perranporth, Cornwall
Location: 7 Miles off Lizard Point, Cornwall.
Pilot: F/O. Marian Ciach KW ML P-1713 PAF Age 24. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 14:35 hrs with 5 other aircraft from 'B' flight led by Fl/Lt. Janicki.
Visibility was poor so they were flying very low during the flight home Fl/Lt. Janicki noticed that F/O. Ciach was not following him, so he returned and noticed a patch on the sea. It is thought he drowned as there was no sign of the body or aircraft.
Notes: EE684 was built by the Westland Aircraft Factory and powered with a Merlin 46 R.R Engine.
View off Lizard Point, Cornwall, England
Above as described - taken on or about the 17th June 1942.
Front row: P/O. Wiesław Benoit P-1710 / 783408, P/O. Władysław Banach P-1673 / 784483, F/O. Stefan Andersz P-0958, Fl/Lt. Ridkosil, F/O. Jan Kazimierz Preihs P-0219, P/O. Marian Ciach P-1713 / 783441, P/O. Birtus.
Centre row: Sgt. Józef Marian Ziendalski 792036, Sgt. Tadeusz Haczkiewicz P-2311 / 793831, Sgt. Zbigniew Makowski P-2206 / 792839, Sgt. Muszynski, Sgt. Gilis, Sgt. Tadeusz Orzechowski 783097, Sgt. Antoni Stefan Plenkiewicz 784769.
Rear row: Sgt. Józef Bednarz 782356, Sgt. Henryk Starzynski 793783, Sgt. Kierski, Sgt. Sztuka, Sgt. Antoni Stefan Murkowski 784755, Sgt. Janusz Włodzimierz Kobylinski P-2203 / 781295
Burial Details:
F/O. Marian Ciach. Body not recovered, commemorated on the Polish memorial at Northolt and the Warsaw Memorial. Born 19th October 1918 in Deblin, Poland. Next of Kin details not available as yet.
Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks for further information to The Grangemouth Air Cadets and the Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial Trust who provided me with so much information and assistance during my visit, Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Polish Squadron O.R.B. 'website'.
