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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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Last Modified: 13 July 2015, 21:31