Operation: Patrol
Date: 30th August 1944
Unit: No. 241 Squadron (Attached from 318 Squadron)
Type: Spitfire VIII
Serial: JG540
Base: RAF Piagiolino, Italy
Location: Po Valley, Northern Italy
Pilot: F/O. Czeslaw Jan Nowak P-2070 Polish Air Force Age 25. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
During an attack on enemy transport column Spitfire VIII JF540 was hit by German anti aircraft fire. JG540 caught a tree, the right wing hit the ground with the aircraft exploding. No further details available on exact location.
F/O. Nowak had a lucky escape earlier in 1943 when his Spitfire caught the propeller of F/O. Dec’s aircraft - he bailed out, but sadly F/O. Dec was killed.
Above: F/O. Czeslaw Nowak during training. Right: grave at Bologna Polish cemetery (courtesy Jerzego Kobackiego)
F/O. Czeslaw Jan Nowak. Buried in the Polish Cemetery Bologna, Italy. Plot 2. Grave 4. Born 12th May 1919. Trained with 58 OTU during 1943, joined 302 Squadron in April 1943. Then in January 1944 attached to 517 Squadron, 318 Squadron in July 1944 then attached to 214 Squadron on 3rd August 1944. Next of Kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?
Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks to the following for further information, 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', Polish Air Force, Aircrew Remembered own archives.
