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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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317 Squadron badge
16.07.1943 No. 317 Squadron Spitfire EE684 JH-F F/O. Ciach

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'.

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Acknowledgements
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 MWO 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', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, 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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