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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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04.04.1944 No. 306 Squadron Mustang III FX881 Fl/Lt. Szajda

Operation: Ferry flight

Date: 4th April 1944 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 306 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Mustang III

Serial: FX881

Coded: Not assigned

Base: RAF Coolham

Location: RAF Aston Down

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Wladyslaw Jan Szajda P-1740 PAF Age 25. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Delivering the Mustang to his Squadron from Aston Down - crash landed after take off with tanks full of fuel.

Pilot was stuck in the cockpit by his legs and despite attempts to free him he died in the flames.

Course 26, 58 O.T.U: Front row: P/O. Bialecki, P/O. Dubielecki, F/O. Kalinowski, P/O. Radziszewski, P/O.Bartys, P/O. Meyer - Centre row: Sgt. Sczepankiewicz, Sgt. Tomkczak, P/O. Panek, P/O. Sworniowski, P/O. Stankiewicz, P/O. Radwanski, Sgt. Stanski - Rear row: Sgt. Lewicki, Sgt. Jan Sweryda, Sgt. Szajda, Sgt. Gieerczycki, St. Jaszczar, Sgt Kepdzynski


Burial Details:

Fl/Lt. Wladyslaw Jan Szajda. Northwood Cemetery. Grave Sec H 357. Born Born 31st October 1919. Chorodylow, Poland

Research by Peter Sikora (April 2009) Dedicated to relatives of the pilot and the people who tried to save his life that day.

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Acknowledgements
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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 Captain 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', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, 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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