Allied Losses and Incidents: All Commands

Allied Air Forces Losses and Incidents Database.

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NOTE ON DATES: IMPORTANT: For consistency, the Date is given as the date the mission TOOK OFF since the precise time of a loss is not always certain. Take Off date is unambigous and fixed in the official records, but obviously in those cases where the incident occurred before midnight UK time, then the Take Off Date will be the same as the Incident Date. Of course, most Bomber Command missions flew through midnight, therefore a Luftwaffe claim against a plane - or a locally generated crash report - may record the incident as occurring on the day following our Take Off Date. Bear this in mind when cross-referencing to our Luftwaffe Victories by Name/Date Database and other Luftwaffe sources. In some cases other sources may quote the date following our date, using locally generated reports as their source. To add to the potential for confusion, remember to take into account a Luftwaffe recorded date will be in local time, 1 hour ahead of UK time. When we discover a validated Incident Date we change our record if necessary.

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Thanks to Personnel of the Polish Air Force in Great Britain for supplementary data and images (marked with a chequerboard device) related to the Polish Air Force, and many images courtesy of our respected colleagues Wojtek Matusiak and Robert Gretzyngier. Other images from our own archives.
Responding to requests that respects may be paid in this database to a loved one or friend, or someone you want to recognize, an In Memoriam plaque may now be placed next to any entry. See our Donate Page for details. Search for In Memoriam in this database to see examples of plaques which have been placed.

Polish Air Force personnel have a supplementary database containing more information and many more entries. Check the following:
Personel Polskich Sił Powietrznych posiada dodatkową bazę danych zawierającą więcej informacji i wiele innych wpisów. Sprawdź następujące elementy:
Archiwum: PSP 1939 -1947 Database 17,000+ Polish Air Force Entries
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You searched for: “"BZ859"”

#	Name*	First Names	Rank	RAF Equivalent Rank	Service No.	Born	Nationality	Role	Awards	Air Force	Command	Unit	DateofIncident *See Note	Aircraft	Type	Serial	Code	Base	Mission	Incident	Fate	Commemorated	Photo (Click to Expand)	Referring Database	Links/Archive Reports
1	Błażeński	Romuald	Kapral Strzelec Bombardier	Flight Sergeant	P.793669	Born 28 January 1920 Łódź (Age 23 when killed)	Poland	Bomb Aimer / Air Gunner	Medal Lotniczy (x2)	PAF	Bomber Command	1586 Special Duties Flight SOE	1944-01-06	Consolidated Liberator	lll	BZ859	GR-J	RAF Brindisi, Italy	Supply drop to Poland	One of four aircraft engaged in Supply Drop to Poland. This aircraft was the only one to accomplish its task but was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, returning on three engines. Crashed into the sea at Grotaglie, off Brindisi, Italy during landing attempt. Only the second pilot. F/Lt K Dobrowolski survived. Location : Italy.	Killed on Operational Flight	PAF Memorial, Northolt, Polish Cemetery at Casamassima, Italy (some reports No Known Grave - Drowned off Brindisi, Italy)	Casamassima Polish Cemetery Italy		Further details at Archiwum Polish Database
2	Bohuszewicz	Witold	Porucznik Pilot	Flight Lieutenant	P.0638	Born 25 March 1914 Sobotniki Belarus (Age 29 when killed)	Poland	Pilot	Złoty Krzyż Zasługi z Mieczami Medal Lotniczy (x2)	PAF	Bomber Command	1586 Special Duties Flight SOE	1944-01-06	Consolidated Liberator	lll	BZ859	GR-J	RAF Brindisi, Italy	Supply drop to Poland	One of four aircraft engaged in Supply Drop to Poland. This aircraft was the only one to accomplish its task but was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, returning on three engines. Crashed into the sea at Grotaglie, off Brindisi, Italy during landing attempt. Only the second pilot. F/Lt K Dobrowolski survived. Location : Italy.	Killed on Operational Flight	PAF Memorial, Northolt, Polish Cemetery at Casamassima, Italy (some reports No Known Grave - Drowned off Brindisi, Italy)	Cassamassima Polish Cemetery, Italy	.	Further details at Archiwum Polish Database
3	Dobrowolski	Kazimierz JM	Kapitan	Flight Lieutenant	P-0267	02.01.1908 Brzeżany Belarus	Poland	Pilot	Krzyż Walecznych (x2) Medal Lotniczy (x4) Odznaka Za Rany i Kontuzje (Wound Badge)	PAF	Bomber Command	1586 Special Duties Flight SOE	1944-01-06	Consolidated Liberator	lll	BZ859	GR-J	RAF Brindisi, Italy	Supply drop to Poland	06.01.1944 Liberator [1586 SDF] special flight over Poland - damaged by artillery fire. he continued the flight - he landed in the sea before the runway - he was the only one from the crew to survive. He died in Kensington, London.	Died 02.08.1970 London, U.K.	Noth Sheen Cemetery UK	North Sheen Cemetery UK.jpg	.	Further details at Archiwum Polish Database
4	Drong	Jerzy	Sierzant Mechanic Pokladowy	Sergeant	P.782076	Born 5 December 1908 Gródek (Age 35 when killed)	Poland	Mechanic	Medal Lotniczy (x2)	PAF	Bomber Command	1586 Special Duties Flight SOE	1944-01-06	Consolidated Liberator	lll	BZ859	GR-J	RAF Brindisi, Italy	Supply drop to Poland	One of four aircraft engaged in Supply Drop to Poland. This aircraft was the only one to accomplish its task but was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, returning on three engines. Crashed into the sea at Grotaglie, off Brindisi, Italy during landing attempt. Only the second pilot. F/Lt K Dobrowolski survived. Location : Italy.	Killed on Operational Flight	PAF Memorial, Northolt, Polish Cemetery at Casamassima, Italy. Plot E, Row I, Grave 19		.	Further details at Archiwum Polish Database
5	Finder	Kazimierz Roman	Podporucznik Strzelec	Flying Officer	P.145001	Born 4 March 1905 (Age 38 when killed)	Poland	Air Gunner	Medal Lotniczy	PAF	Bomber Command	1586 Special Duties Flight SOE	1944-01-06	Consolidated Liberator	lll	BZ859	GR-J	RAF Brindisi, Italy	Supply drop to Poland	One of four aircraft engaged in Supply Drop to Poland. This aircraft was the only one to accomplish its task but was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, returning on three engines. Crashed into the sea at Grotaglie, off Brindisi, Italy during landing attempt. Only the second pilot. F/Lt K Dobrowolski survived. Location : Italy.	Killed on Operational Flight	PAF Memorial, Northolt, Polish Cemetery at Casamassima, Italy. Plot Z, Row E, Grave 40	Casamassima Polish Cemetery Italy	.	Further details at Archiwum Polish Database
6	Kuźmicki	Mieczysław	Kapitan Nawig	Flight Lieutenant	P.0124	Born 15 September 1904 Homel Belarus (Age 39 when killed)	Poland	Navigator	Virtuti Militari DFC Krzyż Walecznych (x4) Medal Lotniczy (x2) Odznaka Za Rany i Kontuzje (Wound Badge)	PAF	Bomber Command	1586 Special Duties Flight SOE	1944-01-06	Consolidated Liberator	lll	BZ859	GR-J	RAF Brindisi, Italy	Supply drop to Poland	One of four aircraft engaged in Supply Drop to Poland. This aircraft was the only one to accomplish its task but was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, returning on three engines. Crashed into the sea at Grotaglie, off Brindisi, Italy during landing attempt. Only the second pilot. F/Lt K Dobrowolski survived. Location : Italy.	Killed on Operational Flight	PAF Memorial, Northolt, Polish Cemetery at Casamassima, Italy. Grave 20	Casamassima Polish Cemetery Italy	.	Further details at Archiwum Polish Database
7	Pułczyński	Antoni Józef	Kapitan Nawig	Flight Lieutenant	P.76619	Born 12 August 1914 Lanckorona Wadowice (Age 29 when killed)	Poland	Air Observer	Krzyż Walecznych (x2) Medal Lotniczy (x2)	PAF	Bomber Command	1586 Special Duties Flight SOE	1944-01-06	Consolidated Liberator	lll	BZ859	GR-J	RAF Brindisi, Italy	Supply drop to Poland	One of four aircraft engaged in Supply Drop to Poland. This aircraft was the only one to accomplish its task but was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, returning on three engines. Crashed into the sea at Grotaglie, off Brindisi, Italy during landing attempt. Only the second pilot. F/Lt K Dobrowolski survived. Location : Italy.	Killed on Operational Flight	PAF Memorial, Northolt, Polish cemetery at Casamassima, Italy. Grave 37	Casamassima Polish Cemetery Italy	.	Further details at Archiwum Polish Database
8	Taczalski	Zdzisław	Sierzant Radio Operator	Flight Sergeant	P.781610	Born 2 December 1918 Leszkowice Lubartów (Age 25 when killed)	Poland	Radio Operator	Virtuti Militari Krzyż Walecznych (x3) Srebrny Krzyż Zasługi Medal Lotniczy (x2)	PAF	Bomber Command	1586 Special Duties Flight SOE	1944-01-06	Consolidated Liberator	lll	BZ859	GR-J	RAF Brindisi, Italy	Supply drop to Poland	One of four aircraft engaged in Supply Drop to Poland. This aircraft was the only one to accomplish its task but was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, returning on three engines. Crashed into the sea at Grotaglie, off Brindisi, Italy during landing attempt. Only the second pilot. F/Lt K Dobrowolski survived. Location : Italy.	Killed on Operational Flight	PAF Memorial, Northolt, Polish cemetery at Casamassima, Italy. Grave 37	Casamassima Polish Cemetery Italy	.	Further details at Archiwum Polish Database