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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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301 Squadron Crest
27.07.1945 No. 301 Squadron Warwick III HG226 GR-D Fl/Lt. Ratajczak

Operation: Transit flight

Date: 27th July 1945 (Friday)

Unit: No. 301 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Warwick C III

Serial: HG226

Code: GR-D

Base: North Weald

Location: Chonas l’Amballan, near Vienne, France

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Alojzy Ratajczak 780249 PAF Age 33. Killed

Nav: Sgt. Antoni Jan Mikołajczak 704011 PAF Age 22. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Eugeniusz Kocoń 782439 PAF Age 30. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Franciszek Bąk 794777 PAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Understood to have originated from Athens, Greece and refuelled at Pomigliano d'Arco in Italy,

Whilst over France they encountered a severe electrical storm and that they were hit by lightning before crashing into a hill, killing all the Polish crew members. We welcome any further information on this loss.

It is understood that M. Brian Millar and Paul Mathevet from Drôme, France had arranged a memorial to these four Polish airman and this was unveiled on the 05th June 2010 - we would welcome any further information on this loss.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Alojzy Ratajczak. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot X. Row A. Grave 5. Born on the 18th June 1912 in Broników, Poland. Next of kin details not available.

Sgt. Antoni Jan Mikołajczak. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot X. Row A. Grave 7. Born on the 24th June 1923 in Grodno, Poland (now Belarus) Next of kin details not available.

Sgt. Eugeniusz Kocoń. Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot X. Row A. Grave 8. Born on the 20th March 1918 in Warsaw, Poland. Next of kin details not available.

W/O. Franciszek Bąk (also known as František Bonk). Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. Plot X. Row A. Grave 6. Born on the 14th October in Vitazovce, Slovakia. Next of kin details not available.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources indicated below.

KTY - 22.01.2018

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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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