302 Squadron Spitfire Vb P8725 F/O. Godlewski
Operation: Training
Date: 29th May 1942 (Friday)
Unit: No. 302 Squadron (Polish)
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: P8725
Code: WX-B
Base: RAF Heston
Location: Fairmile, Henley-on-Thames
Pilot: F/O. Sylwester Jerzy Godlewski P-1450 / 76739 PAF Age 27. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
During a practice formation flight crashed at 14:00 hrs - no apparent reason and we welcome any further information on this loss.
Course No. 15, 58 O.T.U. Grangemouth, Scotland: - Front row: Sgt. Corbett, Sgt. Brunon Semmerling, Sgt. Marian Kotlarz. Sgt. Stanisław Roman Madej, Sgt. Mirosław Ludwik Szelestowski, Sgt. Antoni Krakowski, Sgt. Antoni Polek, Sgt. Adam Kołczyński, Sgt. Stanisław Elmerych, Sgt. Władysław Grobelny, Sgt. Alojzy Rutecki, Sgt. Tadeusz Szymanski. Second row: P/O. Hunter, P/O. Loree, P/O. Frith, P/O. Deytrikh, F/O. Ludomir Feliks Ciastuła, Fl/Lt. Władysław Walendowski, P/O. Davies, P/O. Phelan, P/O. Tonge. F/O. Sylwester Jerzy Godlewski, P/O. Wigston, P/O. Zakrzewski. Third row: Sgt. Powers, Sgt. Watkin, Sgt. Vance, Sgt. Machan, Sgt. McGready, Sgt. Taggart, Sgt. Oliver, Sgt. Shaw, Sgt. Kippan, Sgt. Moeser, Sgt. Matthewman.Back row: Sgt. Hunt, Sgt. Julian, Sgt. Watson, Sgt. Little, Sgt. Nicoll, Sgt. Kaye, Sgt. Allingham, Sgt. Miller, Sgt. Davies, Sgt. Jowett, Sgt. Rawson, Sgt. Cleaver, Sgt. Burley. (Photograph available to relatives in a higher definition - please contact us)
Burial Details:
F/O. Sylwester Jerzy Godlewski. Northwood Cemetery, Middlesex. Sec. H Grave 289. Born 27th October 1914, Warsaw, Poland. Next of kin details not available as yet.
Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks for further information to Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', The Grangemouth Air Cadets and the Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial Trust who provided me with so much information and assistance during my visit.
