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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 badge
31.05.1942 No. 302 Squadron Spitfire Vb BL677 WX-V Sgt. Galazka

Operation: Rodeo 64

Date: 31st May 1942 (Sunday)

Unit: No. 302 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BL677

Code: WX-V

Base: RAF Heston.

Location: English Channel, off France.

Pilot: Sgt. Jan Galazka 781554 PAF Age 22. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took off from R.A.F. Heston at 18.57 hrs with 12 other aircraft. Weather conditions were extremely good and the squadron did a sweep over the French coast. 

Understood that they came under attack from Fw.190's from JG26 and Sgt. Galazka's aircraft was shot down and lost in the Channel. The remaining 11 aircraft arrived back at Heston at 20.32 hrs.

                 

                                The impressive 58 Operational Training Unit at Grangemouth, Scotland.

Burial Details:

Sgt. Jan Galazka - sadly his body was not recovered and is commemorated on both the Polish memorial at Northolt and also the Warsaw memorial in Poland (visited by Aircrew Remembered in 2009 and shown above). Born on 11th December 1919 in Łęczyca Poland. Trained at 58 OTU at Grangemouth, Scotland joining on 28th October, 1941 - graduating on the 23rd December. Understood to have been first posted to 308 Squadron.

Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks to the following for further information: Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945'.

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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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