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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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303 Squadron Spitfire IX EN173 RF-C Fl/Sgt. Szymkowiak, Tilloy-Les-Conty, France

Operation: Ramrod

Date: 24th September 1943 (Friday)

Unit: No. 303 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: EN173

Code: RF-C

Base: RAF Northolt

Location: Tilloy-Les-Conty, France

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Tadeusz Szymkowiak 794022 PAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Shot down and killed by FW190 over Tilloy-Les-Conty, France.

Fl/Sgt. Tadeusz Szymkowiak shot down a FW190 sharing it with F/O. Majewski on the 24th August 1943, whilst escorting B17's after a bomb run over France. He also shot down a FW190 on the 4th September 1943.

Left: Fl/Sgt. Tadeusz Szymkowiak. Right: Spitfire EN173 being worked on by 303 ground crew


Above as described - believed to have been taken on or around 27th May 1942

Any relative of any pupil shown on this photograph are invited to apply for H/R copy free of charge by using the ‘add info’ button above with your details. A few other course photographs are also available.
Front row: Sgt. Seaman, Sgt. Stockton, Sgt. Emes, Sgt. Walker, Sgt. Roberts and Sgt Robinson.
Centre row: Sgt. Sorge, Sgt. Jackson, Sgt. Tysowski, Sgt. Utterson, Sgt. Warr, Sgt. Waterhouse and Sgt. Smith A.W.
Rear row: Sgt. Ksiazczyk, Sgt. Brygider (killed 19.04.1944), Sgt. Calinski (killed 20.05.1944), Sgt. Kraszewski, Sgt. Dabrowski (killed 14.06.1943), Sgt. Zurakowski (killed 27.05.1944), Sgt. Bartlomiejczyk, Sgt. Rembowski, Sgt. Nowoczyn and Sgt. Szymkowiak
Burial Details:

Fl/Sgt. Tadeusz Szymkowiak. Poix de Picardie Cemetery. Row. 2. Grave 57. Born on the 02nd March 1922 at Chrościce, Poland.

With thanks to 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', Jerzy Bogdan Cynk - 'The Polish Airforce At War' Vol's 1 and 2.

KTY Updated 09.02.2019

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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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