Operation: Scramble - patrol
Date: 28th November 1940 (Thursday)
Unit: No. 152 Squadron
Type: Spitfire I
Serial: P9427
Code: UM-?
Base: RAF Warmwell, Dorsetshire
Location: English Channel off the Isle of Wight
Pilot: Sgt. Zygmunt Klein KW and bar. 780685 PAF Age 22. Missing - believed killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
On the 15th August 1940 whilst with 254 Squadron, his Spitfire I (P9363) was hit, but he managed to crash land the aircraft at Twyford - he suffered no injuries.
On the 05th October he transferred to 152 Squadron. On the 26th November he crash landed his Spitfire (L1048) at Torquay - again he escaped with no injuries.
Finally during an operation over the Isle of Wight he was shot down and thought to have crashed into the Channel - neither his body or the aircraft were recovered.
Above left - memorial in Warsaw, Poland, right - Polish Memorial at Northolt, England.
Burial details:
Sgt. Zygmunt Klein. Remembered at the Polish Memorial at Northolt and also on the memorial to missing airman in Warsaw. We understand that a memorial at Koronowo, Poland was erected in his honour. Born on the 24th August 1918 in Skórcz, grew up in Koronowo, Bydgoszcz, Poland. at 18 volunteered for the Polish army. In 1937 trained in a Glider regiment following that he trained at the pilot school in Grudziądz on the PZL P.7 aircraft. After the invasion he made several sorties and during one such sortie with other Polish pilots shot down a Henschel 126. Following the invasion he escaped to Romania and the onto England where he arrived on the 19th February. Following further training with the RAF he joined 234 squadron on the 06th August 1940. He took part in more than 70 operational sorties prior to his loss.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to sources as quoted below:
