Operation: Shipping Recce
Date: 13th February 1942 (Friday)
Unit: No. 316 Squadron (Polish - City of Warsaw)
Type: Spitfire Vb
Serial: W3513
Code: SZ-P
Base: RAF Northolt, Middlesex.
Location: White Farm, Maidstone, Kent.
Pilot: Sgt. Jan Wladyslaw Musial 782995 PAF Age 26. Killed
REASON FOR LOSS:
Take off time 11:15 hrs on a sweep between Ostend and Gravelines searching for shipping. No reports of contact and the squadron returned to base. During the return Spitfire W3513 collided with that of AB825 flown by F/O. Radwanski.
Some reference sources quote that Sgt. Radwanksi was flying with 129 Squadron, but we believe that we are correct. (Although we are always open to new evidence)
Notes: Spitfire W3513 was built at the High Post factory in Salisbury, first flew in June 1941, fitted with Merlin 45 engine. Spitfire AB825 built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft factory, AB825 also fitted with the Merlin 45 engine.
F/O. Gustaw Radwański 76708 PAF Born in Warsaw, Poland on the 02nd May 1913. Passed away on the 10th October 1961 at the very young age of 48.
Burial Details:
Sgt. Jan Wladyslaw Musial. Northwood Cemetery. Sect. H Grave 210. Born 27th July 1915 in Rzeszów, Poland. Next of kin details not currently available.
Researched for relatives of the pilot. With thanks to the following for further information supplied by the 1333 (Grangemouth Spitfire) Squadron and the Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial Trust who provided me with so much information and assistance during my visit, Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945.
Sgt. Jan Wladyslaw Musial grave at Northwood (archives)
