Operation: Training

Date: 29th April 1941 (Tuesday)

Unit No: 18 Operational Training Unit (OTU)

Type: Wellington I

Serial: L4297

Code: ?

Base: RAF Bramcote, Warwickshire

Location: Weston Hall, Bulkington, Warwickshire

Pilot (Instructor): Plt Off. Ronald James Hawkes 81030 RAFVR Age 20. Killed

Pilot (U/T): Sgt. Tadeuszz Szostak 783508 PAF Age 21. Killed

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Jan Zwolski 781199 PAF Age 28. Killed

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Zygmunt Pawel Gaik 782652 PAF Age 23. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Bramcote for night circuit training.

At 01:09 hrs whilst descending to land at Weston Hall near Bucklington, the aircraft’s undercarriage caught on tree branches causing it to crash, killing all for men aboard.

One of the Polish Airmen, presumed to be Sgt. Jan Zwolski was aided by a Mrs Ethel Mary Jones for which she was awarded the National Commendation for her bravery. It is believed that Mrs Jones lived at Arden Lodge, which was virtually opposite Weston Hall where the crash happened.

Above: Cutting from the British Newspaper Archive announcing the award. (Courtesy of Dan Phelan)

Above: London Gazette dated 26th September 1941

Burial details:

Above Sgt. Zygmunt Pawel Gaik and the original grave marker for the Polish crew members (see credits)

Above: crew grave photographs (courtesy Bill Glover and Stephen Daglish)

Plt Off. Ronald James Hawkes. New Brentford Cemetery. Sec C.C. Grave 184. Grave Inscription: ‘TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE YOU LOVE IS NOT TO DIE‘. Born on the 28th May 1920 in Brentford, Middlesex. Son of Charles Ernest and Nellie (née Kates) Hawkes of Brentford, Middlesex, England.

Sgt. Tadeusz Szostak. Nuneaton (Oaston Road) Cemetery. Collective grave H 100. Born 26th September 1919 in Gdów, Wieliczka, Poland. Son of Karol and Hania (Tatarski) Szostak, Brother of Bolesław, Olenka, Jadwiga, and Zofia.

Sgt. Jan Zwolski. Nuneaton (Oaston Road) Cemetery. Collective grave H 100. Born 1st October 1912 in Koprzywnica, Sandomierz, Poland. Next of Kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Sgt. Zygmunt Pawel Gaik. Nuneaton (Oaston Road) Cemetery. Collective grave H 100. Born 13th November 1917 in Kraków, Poland. Next of Kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Thanks to Bill Glover, Stephen Daglish for the grave photographs. Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow Thanks to Anna Wing, the niece of Sgt. Szostak, for the update to his Next of Kin details (Dec 2019). Thanks to Dan Phelan for the newspaper cutting and information, other updates by Aircrew Remembered (May 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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