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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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132
14 January 1944 132 Squadron Spitfire IX MH978 Sq/Ldr. Colloredo-Mansfeld DFC

Operation: Ramrod 453

Date: 14 January 1944 (Friday)

Unit: No. 132 Squadron (motto: Cave leopardum - 'Beware the leopard)

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: MH978

Code: FF-M

Base: RAF Newchurch, Kent

Location: Berck-sur-Mer, France

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Franz Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld DFC and bar 112005 RAFVR Age 33. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

On a 'Ramrod' operation during the morning shot down over Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise, the Spitfire crashed at Berck-sur-Mer killing the pilot at around 12:00 hrs.

This was the only loss from the squadron on this operation but 28 year old, Fl/Lt. Józef Piotrowski P/1312 PAF of 308 squadron flying Spitfire IX MH927 was also shot down and killed on the same operation. An Me 109 from JG26 is known to have claimed the loss.

Burial and other details:

Sq/Ldr. Franz Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld DFC and bar. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery. Plot 11. Row B. Grave 18. Grave inscription: 'Haec Peperit Virtus'. Born on the 01st March 1910 in Rome. Family moved to the USA from Vienna in 1918. Son of Count Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld an Austrian diplomat and of Countess Colloredo-Mansfeld (née Iselin - died 25th February 1939, age 51) and husband of Countess Colloredo-Mansfeld, of Welham, Massachusetts, USA. He studied at Harvard University, graduating in 1932. After the annexation of Austria in 1938, he left for Great Britain and enlisted as a volunteer in the RAF before the US entered the war. He served in fighter command and shot down several enemy aircraft. He reached the rank of Squadron Leader and became commanding officer of 132 Squadron.

Fl/Lt. Józef Piotrowski. Grainville-Langannerie Polish War Cemetery. Grave II.AA.10. Born on the 12th January 1916 at Stanislawów, Poland.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to sources as quoted below:

KTY 07-11-2021

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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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