Operation: Ramrod 191

Date: 9th August 1943 (Monday)

Unit: No. 316 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Spitfire IX

Serial: BS302

Code: SZ-E

Base: R.A.F. Northolt, Middlesex

Location: Montreuil, France

Pilot: F/O. ('Mickey Mouse') Michael Miroslaw Maciejowski VM DFC DFM P-1912 PAF Age 21. Survived - PoW No: 2021 Camp: Stalag Luft Sagan.

REASON FOR LOSS:

During ramrod 191 he collided with Spitfire BS457 flown by F/O. Lech Andrzej Kondracki over Montreuil, France at 18.30 hrs. Sadly F/O. Kondracki was killed, with F/O. Maciejowski taken PoW.

Earlier he escaped injuries whilst with 317 Squadron. Flying Spitfire Vb BL927, aircraft suffered damage Cat. 'B', we don't have any other details on this, except that it was during a Recce patrol on the 19th of August 1942.

Burial Details:

None - F/O. Michael Maciejowski VM DFC DFM. Survived. Born on the 29th October 1913 in Gródek Jagielloński, Ukraine

After the war in 1946, he changed his name to Michael Manson and moved to Canada where he died aged 88 on the 26th of April 2001 in Winnipeg, Canada.

MICHAEL KAROL MANSON DFC DFM October 29, 1913 - April 26, 2001 Died peacefully at home at the age of 87. He served in the Polish Air Force in the RAF during the Second World War, where he was a Battle of Britain Fighter Pilot. After the war he was a test pilot with the RAF and later a catering officer. He lived in England until the death of his wife Christine then moved to Winnipeg in 1987 to live with his only daughter Karen Schmidt. He will be greatly missed by his daughter Karen, his best friend Novilla Cohan, his dog Mattie and his many friends. Michael enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest, travelling, square dancing, carpet bowling, playing Bridge, cooking and gardening. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 2 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Silver Avenue at Whytewold Road. In lieu of flowers, donations in Michaels memory may be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society, 5 Kent St., Winnipeg, Man., R2L 1X3, or a charity of choice. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200. As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 28, 2001

With thanks to Henryk Juszczak for the corrected information. April 2022.

Battle of Britain pilot. A fighter 'Ace' with 9.5 victories.

Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks to the following for further information, Peter Sikora, Henryk Juszczak, 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', Wikipedia. Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol. 2, Henryk Juszczak for corrections.

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