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Archive Report: Allied Forces

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316 Squadron crest
09.08.1943 No. 316 Squadron Spitfire F.IX BS457 SZ-R F/O. Kondracki

Operation: Ramrod

Date: 9th August 1943 (Monday)

Unit: 316 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Supermarine Spitfire F.IX

Serial: BS457

Code: SZ-R

Location: Montreuil, France

Pilot: F/O. Lech Andrzej Kondracki P-1602 / 781019 PAF Age 24. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Collided at 18:30 hrs with F/O. Michael Miroslaw Maciejowski P-1912 / 780485 PAF also of 316 Squadron. Maciejowski VM DFC DFM piloting Spitfire IX, BS302 SZ-E, survived to become a PoW No. 2021 Stalag Luft Sagan And Belaria. (see note below)

F/O. Lech Andrzej Kondracki (courtesy Peter Sikora)


F/O. Michael Miroslaw Maciejowski VM DFC DFM (courtesy Peter Sikora)

Left: Grave at Boulogne-Sur-Mer Cemetery, France

Burial Details:

F/O. Lech Andrzej Kondracki Boulogne-Sur-Mer Cemetery, France, Grave. Nr. 2/367.37/10.A. Next of kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Note: F/O. Michael Maciejowski survived the war, settling in exile in Canada after changing his name to Manson. Also served with 249 Squadron. Born on the 29th October 1913 at Gródek Jagiell, Poland (now Ukraine) Died in Winnipeg, Montreal 26th April 2001 aged 88.

MICHAEL KAROL MANSON DFC DFM October 29, 1913 - April 26, 2001 Died peacefully at home at the age of 87. He served in the Polish Air Force in the RAF during the Second World War, where he was a Battle of Britain Fighter Pilot. After the war he was a test pilot with the RAF and later a catering officer. He lived in England until the death of his wife Christine then moved to Winnipeg in 1987 to live with his only daughter Karen Schmidt. He will be greatly missed by his daughter Karen, his best friend Novilla Cohan, his dog Mattie and his many friends. Michael enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest, travelling, square dancing, carpet bowling, playing Bridge, cooking and gardening. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 2 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Silver Avenue at Whytewold Road. In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael's memory may be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society, 5 Kent St., Winnipeg, Man., R2L 1X3, or a charity of choice. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200 (As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 28, 2001)

With thanks to Peter Sikora, Henryk Juszczak, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol. 1-3, Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945’. Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', With additional details from Aircrew Remembered archives.


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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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