Operation: Circus 114

Date: 13th March 1942 (Friday)

Unit No: 303 (Polish) Squadron, Fighter Command

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BL656

Code: RF:D

Base: RAF Northolt, Middlesex

Location: 8 miles NW of Hazelebrouck, France

Pilot: Flt Lt. Witold 'Tolo' Lokuciewski DFC, VM, CV and 3 Bars P-1492 PAF Age 30. PoW No 291 * (1)

* Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia, Germany, now Żagań in Poland

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off from RAF Northolt, Middlesex at 14.10 hrs the Squadron were detailed to provide close escort for some Boston aircraft that were to bomb the railway junction at Hazelebrouck, France. Flak was experienced as they crossed the coast but it proved very inaccurate.

Above a well known photograph taken in 1940 of some 'Polish Boys'. Left to right: Plt Off. Ferić, Flt Lt. Kent, Fg Off. Grzeszczak, Plt Off. Radomski, Plt Off. Zumbach, Plt Off. Łukuciewski, Fg Off. Henneberg, Sgt. Rogowski, Sgt. Szaposznikow.

Having dropped their bombs the formation started their return trip. About 8 miles NW of Hazelebrouck they were attacked by 15 - 20 Me109F's. Sqn Ldr. Kolaczkowski and Fg Off. Drobinski DFC. each destroyed one of the attacking enemy fighters and Fg Off. Lipinski probably destroyed another. Flt Lt. Lokuciewski's Hurricane was hit with the result that the Merlin engine stopped and he was also wounded in the leg.

German soldiers 'examining' the wreck of RF-D

Captured shortly afterwards by a German unit who treated him very well and an Austrian doctor, based at the Saint-Omer Hospital in fact saved his leg. After surgery he was greeted by Luftwaffe Officers with bottles of wine. Later transferred to a hospital in Germany, then on to Stalag Luft 3.

He was involved in the First escape attempt from Stalag Luft 3 on the 12th June 1943. The attempt was under the guise of a number of parties of PoWs who were to be moved to the German compound for de-lousing previously arranged with the Camp Commandant. He was amongst the main party of 27 PoWs which was escorted by two PoWs disguised as German guards. The PoWs all wore civilian clothes under their uniforms and had forged documents, escape food, money, maps and compasses. This party got outside of the camp into the woods, discarded their uniforms and proceeded to Sagan railway station. Two of the party were recognised at the station by the camp German medical officer who arrested them and raised the alarm. All of the party were eventually recaptured over the next few days, with one escapee managing to get within a few hundred yards of the Swiss border. (Ref 1).

(1) Wiltold ‘Tolo’ Lokuciewski was born on the 2nd February 1912 in Russia of Polish parents.

Whilst serving in the Polish Air Force in 1939, with the 112 Esk and a local defence flight in France he was credited with 1 German aircraft destroyed, 1 shared and 1 probable. He then escaped to England and joined the RAF and flew with 303 (Polish) Sqn. Whilst flying the Hurricane and Spitfire he was credited with a further 8 German aircraft destroyed and 3 probables (Ref 2).

He was awarded the Virtuti Militari (VT) on the 23rd December 1940,a Cross of Valour on his birthday in 1941, and a Bar on the 10th September. The RAF Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) was awarded on the 30th October (Ref 2).

After liberation he returned to England and after 303 Sqn was disbanded in December 1946 returned to Poland . He was imprisoned by the Communists for 5 years after which he worked as a taxi driver. He was then permitted to join the Polish Air Force in 1957 rising to Senior Rank. During the period 1969 to 1972 he returned to England with his wife to take up the post of Military, Naval and Air Military Attaché. He retired in 1974 (Ref 2).

Wiltold ‘Tolo’ Lokuciewski died on the 17th April 1990 and was buried at the Powazki Military Cemetery

Above: Grave of 'Tolo' Lokuciewski today at Powazki Military Cemetery

Witold Lokuciewski's relatives:

Danuta Lokuciewska-Zdanowicz, husband Janusz Zdanowicz and son Jaroslaw living in Warsaw, Poland;
Anna Lokuciewska-Bors, husband Tadeusz Bors , daughter Karolina and son Pawel living in Warsaw, Poland;
Karolina, husband Dariusz Drynski and daughter Olivia currently live in London, UK.

Burial Details:

None – Tolo Lokuciewski survived the war

Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks to Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii'. Thanks to Dariusz for providing information about Wiltold ‘Tolo’ Lokuciewski living relatives. Reviewed and updated with new information (Sep 2024)

Other sources Listed below:

References:

1. Stalag Luft III – The Official History of the ‘Great Escape’ PoW Camp, pp186-187 – Frontline Books

2. ACES HIGH Volume 1 – A tribute to the most notable fighter pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII, Chapter 5, p1175 – Christopher Shores.

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