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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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302 squadron crest
15.09.1940 No. 302 Squadron (P.A.F.) Hurricane I P2954 WX-E Fl/Lt. Chlopik

Operation: Patrol

Date: 15th September 1940 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 302 (Polish) Squadron

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: P2954

Code: WX-E

Base: RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire.

Location: Battlesbridge, Essex

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Tadeusz Pawel Chłopik 76691 PAF Age 32. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Attached during this period at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. On a patrol when they met with Luftwaffe fighters carrying out attacks on North Weald airfield. His aircraft was shot down by an Me109 at 14:45 hrs. 

He did manage to bale out, but was found dead at Rawreth near Rayleigh in Essex. His Hurricane crashed at Marks Farm, Woodham Road, Battlesbridge.

Fl/Lt. Tadeusz Pawel Chłopik and grave at Sutton Road Cemetery (archives)

Trained at the Polish Air Force Acadamy in Deblin in 1930 and graduate as an observer/pilot. In 1932 he completed advanced flying course in Grudziadz, qualifying as a fighter pilot.

During the invasion of Poland and the Russians he was serving as an instructor in Deblin and had been since 1937. Prior to this served with 143 and 141 fighter squadrons of the 4th Air Regiment. He then escaped with many others via Romania to France. 

After France capitulated he left for England and trained on Hurricanes with 6 O.T.U. before joining 302 Squadron on the 3rd August 1940. 

Credited with two victories on this day, a Do215 and a Do17 shared with Fl/Lt. Jastrzebski. (Not likely the Do215 identified correctly)

His aircraft, as a replica, is mounted at the IWM entrance in Duxford

Burial Details:

Fl/Lt. Tadeusz Chłopik. Sutton Road Cemetery, Southend on Sea. Plot R. Grave 12265. Born June 18th 1908. 

Dedicated to relatives of Fl/Lt. Chłopik. Also commemorated on the Polish Memorial at Northolt.

With thanks to Peter Sikora for additional information, also to Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', other sources as quoted below.

KTY 13.07.2015 Map updated

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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 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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