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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26.05.1942. No 3 D.F. Magister I R1822 Sgt. Zielenski

Operation: Aircraft Delivery

Date: 26th May 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 3 D.F. (Delivery Flight)

Type: Miles Magister I

Serial: R1822

Base: RAF High Ercall, Shropshire.

Location: Burgess Farm, High Ercall, Shropshire

Pilot: Sgt. Jerzy Stanislaw Zielinski 782403 PAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off on an unauthorised flight, making various turns and executing a barrel roll at very low height - crashed at Burgess Farm, High Ercall, Shropshire. No further details but we always welcome any new information.

Understood to have flown previously with 308 Squadron (joined in June 1941) trained prior to that at 58 OTU at Grangemouth, Scotland.

Burial Details:

Sgt. Jerzy Stanislaw Zielinski. Leconfield (St Catherine) Churchyard, Yorkshire. Row B.Grave 3. Born 27th July 1920 Topola, Inowrocław County, Poland. N.o.K. details currently not available.

Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks for further information to Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945'. With thanks also to John Duncalfe for sending in the funeral photograph - August 2016.

We place pages such as this as these chaps never seem to be recorded in the files of losses.

Thousands and we really mean that - thousands died in training accidents, delivery flights, airfield accidents, both men and women and we aim to place as many of these types of losses on our website as we are able. Dont be concerned that you lost a relative, and that they were 'only training' - tell us, send us your information and we will make sure that they have a page of remembrance - forever.

Lost before they could make a name in the channels of history - not as far as we are concerned!

We were recently contacted by a relative enquiring on the new Bomber Command Medal for their relative and they thought - as he was training - they would not be entitled to one. We are supporting them to make their claim and they 'will' receive the medal their relative had earned.

The original grave marker shown behind this funeral. The father of John Duncalfe (who kindly sent in this photograph in August 2016) is the tall airman taking part in this guard of honour. The other grave marker is that of 25 year old, Sgt. Witold Jozef Knott 781014 of 308 Squadron - Born on the 20th October 1916, from Krakow, Poland. Killed on the 17th May 1942 also whilst with 308 Squadron. Flying Spitfire V AB250 when involved in a mid air collision with Spitfire V BL534 flown by 25 year old, Sq/Ldr. Feliks Fryderyk Szyszka P-0507 PAF (also sadly killed) during a training flight over Redton Farm, Lodkington.

Note: research continues who’s actual funeral this is. Some thoughts are that it could be 27 year old, LAC Franciszek Radzimski 783904 PAF, ground crew - killed 6th October 1942 or of 22 year old, P/O. Władysław Balon 780972 PAF, both of 316 Squadron - killed 28th August 1942. Perhaps a reader living near this cemetery is able to take a photo of the same area - a guide would be that of the older grave to the left - although we have this photograph in a higher resolution we are unable to read what is inscribed.

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