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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
26.01.1942 No. 302 Squadron Spitfire Vb AA747 Fl/Lt. Kosinski K.W. and bar. V.M.

Operation: Shipping Recce

Date: 26th January 1942 (Monday)

Unit: No. 302 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: AA747

Code: WX-B

Base: RAF Harrowbeer, Yelverton, Devon

Location: English Channel off Rame Head, Cornwall, England

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Bronisław Kazimierz Kosiński K.W. and bar. V.M. P-0298 P.A.F. Age 35. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

A patrol of four Spitfires left RAF Harrowbeer on a shipping recce over Brest. During their return they were attacked by fighters from JG2. Both Fl/Lt. Kosiński and F/O. Zdzislaw Bednarski (1) were shot down by the Luftwaffe ace, Oblt. Erich Leie at about midday. Neither bodies were recovered.

Rame Head, Cornwall



(1) 26 year old, F/O. P-0565 Zdzislaw Bednarski (shown left) was flying Spitfire Vb W3844 WZ-D.




Burial Details:

Fl/Lt. Bronisław Kazimierz Kosiński. K.W. and bar. V.M. Commemorated on the Polish Memorial at Northolt and also the Warsaw Memorial. Next of Kin details not currently available, born on 26th August 1906. Joined 302 Squadron in December 1940 - 'Battle of Britain' pilot. Previously served with 307, 32, 308 and 72 Squadrons.

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', Archiwum Polish Database, Aircrew Remembered own archives.

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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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