• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists
Operation: Karlsruhe
Date: 24/25th April 1944 (Monday/Tuesday)
Unit: 300 Squadron (Polish)
Type: Lancaster III
Serial: LM486
Code: BH-C
Basre: RAF Faldingworth
Location: North Sea - West of Vlissingen
Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Ludwig Józef Kurowski P-0819 PAF Age 34. Missing
Fl/Eng: Fl/Sgt. Wladyslaw Pruss 793556 PAF Age 26. Missing
Nav: F/O. Zbigniew Antoni Woch P-1780 PAF Age 30. Missing
Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Wladysław Karałun 794454 PAF Age 31. Missing
W/Op: Fl/Sgt. Karol Krysiak 703157 PAF Age 27. Missing
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Michal Wlodzimierz Wijtyk 784189 PAF Age 28. Missing
Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Józef Zygmunt Walecki 704024 PAF Age 24. Missing
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 22:09 hrs from Faldingworth - this along with LL855 BH-G were the first aircraft from 300 squadron to be lost since changing over to the Lancaster. In 1947 the Polish Armed Forces collected money in order for a memorial to be erected.
Oblt. Schnaufer also has claims for two others this night, 115 Squadron Lancaster DS734 and a Halifax from 192 Squadron LW622. He survived the war with a total claim of 121 kills.
"Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed.
In the morning one crew were engaged on levelling bomb sights. Two other crews were engaged on aircraft serviceability tests, combining it with W/T test. Other crews were engaged in their sections. In the afternoon one crew practiced bombing over the Bombing Range. The crews allotted for operations were briefed at 17:00 hours. The target
being ‘Karlsruhe’. Seven crews took off, five of them returned. Two were missing. Crews reported very difficult weather conditions. To reach the target they had to cross clouds
over the target. Crews reported some dummy fires and dummy markers. The raid was very concentrated and caused big fires. They were opposed by strong heavy flak and had two combats with enemy night fighters. Operational flying during the day amounted to 4 hours. Operational flying amounted to 30 hours 35 minutes."
Sq/Ldr. Ludwig Józef Kurowski. Commemorated on the Polish Memorial Northolt and Warsaw. Born 03rd January 1919, Warsaw, Poland.
Fl/Sgt. Wladyslaw Pruss. Commemorated on the Polish Memorial Northolt and Warsaw. Born 27th July 1919, Żnin, Poland.
F/O. Zbigniew Antoni Woch. Commemorated on the Polish Memorial Northolt and Warsaw. Born 19th November, Ruszlew.
Fl/Sgt. Wladysław Karałun. Commemorated on the Polish Memorial Northolt and Warsaw. Born 03rd July 1913, Wilno, Poland (now Ukraine)
Fl/Sgt. Karol Krysiak. Commemorated on the Polish Memorial Northolt and Warsaw. Born 22nd October 1917, Praska, Olesno, Poland.
Fl/Sgt. Michal Wlodzimierz Wijtyk. Commemorated on the Polish Memorial Northolt and Warsaw. Born 17th July 1916, Poland.
Fl/Sgt. Józef Zygmunt Walecki. Commemorated on the Polish Memorial Northolt and Warsaw. Born 13th November 1920, Opole Lub, Poland.
KTY 22.07.2015 Map added
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed
by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior
permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025
Last Modified: 22 July 2015, 22:13