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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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316 Squadron badge
22/23.11.1942 No 316 Squadron Spitfire Vb BL246 SZ-A Sgt. Orzechowski

Operation: Night training exercise

Date: 22/23rd November 1942 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit: 316 (Polish) Squadron

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BL246

Code: SZ-A

Base: RAF Hutton Cranswick, Driffield, Yorkshire.

Location: Barmston, East of Driffield, Yorkshire

Pilot: Sgt. Tadeusz Orzechowski 783097 PAF Age 21. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During night training a No. 2 Operational Training Unit Beaufighter was practising circuits and landings exercises when the two aircraft collided and crashed in the village of Barmston, killing both crew members.

We understand that a recovery group managed to rescue the Merlin engine from the Spitfire and initial reports were that is is in good condition and possible that it could run once again, although this was in 2007 and no news has surfaced as to this progress.

Latest info: (May 2013) I am pleased to advise readers that the rebuild of this Spitfire engine is very much in progress. Being undertaken privately, we are in contact with the person carrying out the rebuild.

Above as described (courtesy of Kazimierz Orzechowski)

He has kindly submitted some photographs but as it is a 'private' project we will not release his details. If you wish to offer him support please use the add info button at the top of the page and I will forward your message.

Course 23 58 O.T.U: Front row: P/O. Bendit, P/O. Banach, F/O. Andersz, Fl/Lt. Ridkosil, F/O. Preihs, P/O. Ciach, P/O. Birtus - Centre row: Sgt. Ziendalski, Sgt. Haczkiewicz, Sgt. Makowski, Sgt. Muszynski, Sgt. Gilis, Sgt. Orzechowski, Sgt. Plenkiewicz - Rear row: Sgt. Bednarz, Sgt. Starzynski, Sgt. Kierski, Sgt. Sztuka, Sgt. Murkowski, Sgt. Kobylinski

Notes: The Spitfire was built at the Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory and was fitted with the Merlin 45 engine.

Burial Details:

Sgt. Tadeusz Orzechowski. Driffield Cemetery, Yorkshire. Grave 6194. Born 13th September 1921 in Lwów, Poland. N.o.K. details not yet available. He was buried on 26th November at a funeral with full military honours.

Researched for relatives of the pilot with thanks to the Grangemouth Air Cadets 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’, Polish Squadron O.R.B. ‘website’. Finally to Kazimierz Orzechowski (relative of the pilot) who contacted us in September 2017 and submitted the photographs.

KTY 31.08.2017 Map added

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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 MWO 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', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, 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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