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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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318 Squadron crest
30.08.1944 No. 241 Squadron (318) Spitfire VIII JG540 F/O. Czeslaw J. Nowak

Operation: Patrol

Date: 30th August 1944

Unit: No. 241 Squadron (Attached from 318 Squadron)

Type: Spitfire VIII

Serial: JG540

Base: RAF Piagiolino, Italy

Location: Po Valley, Northern Italy

Pilot: F/O. Czeslaw Jan Nowak P-2070 Polish Air Force Age 25. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During an attack on enemy transport column Spitfire VIII JF540 was hit by German anti aircraft fire. JG540 caught a tree, the right wing hit the ground with the aircraft exploding. No further details available on exact location.

F/O. Nowak had a lucky escape earlier in 1943 when his Spitfire caught the propeller of F/O. Dec’s aircraft - he bailed out, but sadly F/O. Dec was killed.

           

Above: F/O. Czeslaw Nowak during training. Right: grave at Bologna Polish cemetery (courtesy Jerzego Kobackiego)

                    

Burial Details:

F/O. Czeslaw Jan Nowak. Buried in the Polish Cemetery Bologna, Italy. Plot 2. Grave 4.  Born 12th May 1919. Trained with 58 OTU during 1943, joined 302 Squadron in April 1943. Then in January 1944 attached to 517 Squadron, 318 Squadron in July 1944 then attached to 214 Squadron on 3rd August 1944. Next of Kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks to the following for further information, 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', Polish Air Force, Aircrew Remembered own archives.

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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