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Operation: Bremen
Date: 22/23rd June 1941 (Sunday/Monday)
Unit: 301 Squadron (Polish)
Type: Wellington IC
Serial: R1026
Coded: GR-R
Base: RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire
Location: Roe Wood Farm, Winkburn, Nottinghamshire
Pilot: P/O. Stanisław Pietruszka P-1379 PAF Age 22. Killed
Co/pilot: Sgt. Zygmunt Popławski 780248 PAF Age 29. Survived, slightly injured.
Obs: F/O. Henryk Sawłewicz 76672 PAF Age 32. Survived, slightly injured.
W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Franciszek Fłorczak 780318 PAF Age 22. Survived, slightly injured.
W/Op/Air/Gnr:: Sgt. Czesław Tegowski 781654 PAF Age 22. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Mieczysław Grzymski 780863 PAF Age 20. Survived, slightly injured. (1)
(1) Some publications show this crew member as Sgt. Czesław Sułgut 782213 PAF - we have obtained our information from Polish Aviation Historians.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from RAF Swinderby in Lincolnshire at 21:58 hrs as part of a force of 45 Wellingtons and 25 Hampdens to attack Bremen.
On return the aircraft had a fire in the starboard engine which resulted in the propeller falling off and the aircraft came down in the area of Roe Wood Farm, Winkburn, Nottinghamshire at about 03:20 hrs. It is thought that it had been hit and damaged by either flak or a German night fighter over the target area.
Above left: Ariel view of Roe Wood Farm, Winkburn and right: Mr. and Mrs. Broadberry, with rescue equipment, outside their farmhouse in Winkburn. Read more about that diary for that morning.
Local people including members of the Broadberry family, went to the scene to try and assist the crew. Mr and Mrs. Boroadberry were both awarded the BEM for their actions.
Notes:P/O. Stanisław Pietruszka - born on the 27th August 1916 Gruszów, Poland. Sgt. Zygmunt Popławski - born in Biała Podl, Poland, died 08th January 2009. F/O. Henryk Sawłewicz - born in Jodańce, Poland, died 27th November 1985, Sgt. Franciszek Fłorczak - born in Duisburg, Germany, died 17th July 2001. Sgt. Czesław Tegowski - born on the 23rd June 1919 Ksiete, Poland. Sgt. Mieczysław Grzymski - born 25th October 1921 Włodawa, Poland, died 05th February 2011.
Burial Details:
P/O. Stanisław Pietruszka. Newark-Upon-Trent Cemetery. Sec H. Grave 303A. Next of kin details not available - are you able to assist?
Sgt. Czesław Tegowski. Newark-Upon-Trent Cemetery. Sec H. Grave 303. Next of kin details not available - are you able to assist?
With thanks to the Broadberry family for some of the photographs used and the diary entries, also to the sources as shown.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 14 March 2021, 20:11