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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 Crest
01.11.1944 No. 303 Squadron Spitfire F.IX MH910 RF-G Sgt. Jan Wierchowicz

Operation: Armed Recce

Date: 1st November 1944

Unit: No. 303 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Spitfire F.IX

Serial: MH910

Code: RF-G

Base RAF Coltishall

Location: West of Amsterdam.

Pilot: Sgt. Jan Wierchowicz KW (x2) ML 794984 PAF Age 27. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Shot down at 15.30hrs when attacking barges.

Report by W/O. Władysław Sznapka(1):
'I was assigned on this rec. as commander of 2 section. Jan was my wing man. We were at 7,500 ft whilst the leading section were at 6,500 ft.
To the west of Amsterdam the leading section attacked two small ships flying from west to east.
We jettisoned our reserve tanks and with Jan along side me we also attacked. After I pulled up, I couldn’t see Jan but recall I saw a strip of fire under his aircraft during the attack. I tried to call him, but he failed to reply. The time of the attack was 15.30 hrs.'

(1) W/O. Wladysław Sznapka survived the war, remaining in England. He died in Blackpool 1984-04-17

Burial Details:

Sgt. Jan Wierchowicz. Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery. Grave D.3. Row 69. No. 82. Further information: Born on 1st April 1918 at Sebastianów, Poland. First imprisoned by the USSR, after release he fled to England, arriving on 2nd January 1942. Trained at 61 OTU before being posted to 303 Squadron. Awarded the Krzyz Walecznych (Cross of Valour) (x2) posthumously.

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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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