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Operation: Transport flight.
Date: 5th April 1943
Unit: No. 317 Squadron (Polish)
Type: Tiger Moth II
Serial: T7458
Base: RAF Kirton-In-Lindsey, Lincolnshire.
Location: RAF Coltishall, Norfolk.
Pilot: Sgt. Brunon Makowski 783157 PAF Age 26. Seriously burned.
Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Piotr Tadeusz Hanzelka 793154 PAF Age 24. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
The previous day two aircraft had to remain at RAF Coltishall as they were unserviceable after a Ramrod (6) The remaining 10 returned to Kirton-In-Lindsey.
At 10.55 hrs Sgt. Makowski took off from their base in Lincolnshire together with the squadron engineer officer to check over the two aircraft. Leaving the engineer. Early in the afternoon Sgt. Makowski left with one of the pilots Fl/Sgt. Hanzelka from one of the U/S Ramrod operation aircraft. The wind was extremely strong and as he tried to turn at a low speed the light aircraft was caught by the wind crashing.
Fl/Sgt. Hanzelka was killed instantly but Sgt. Makowski survived, was pulled from the burning aircraft, but sadly died of his injuries at the RAF Hospital that evening.
Above left: Sgt. Brunon Makowsk and right Fl/Sgt. Piotr Tadeusz Hanzelka
Left: Siloth Cemetery and right Gloucester Old Cemetery
Burial Details:Sgt. Brunon Makowski. Siloth Cemetery. Grave 2. Born 18th March 1917. Bronisława, Poland.
Fl/Sgt. Piotr Tadeusz Hanzelka. Gloucester Old Cemetery. Plot B. Grave 9118. Born 18th February 1919. Brytanni, Poland.
Acknowledgments: Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - "Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945", Jerzy Bogdan Cynk - "The Polish Airforce At War" Vol's 1 and 2, Polish Archives.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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