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Operation: Patrol
Date: May 19th 1941 (Monday)
Unit: No. 306 Squadron (Polish)
Type: Hurricane IIB
Serial: Z3065
Code: UZ-B
Base: R.A.F. Northolt, Middlesex
Location: Maidstone, Kent, England.
Pilot: P/O. Kazimierz Rutkowski C.V. M.V. D.F.C. P-0692 P.A.F. Age 27. Safe – injured.
REASON FOR LOSS:
A bad day for the Polish 306 Squadron. During a patrol over Maidstone when they were pounced on by unit of JG52. The Squadron lost three aircraft. 26 year old F/O. Jan Artur Czapiewski P-0706 flying Hurricane IIA Z2456 UZ-W crashed into the English Channel and was lost. Both Sgt. Kroczynski and F/O. Rutkowski managed to bale out – both were injured, Sgt. Kroczynski suffering more serious injuries.
P/O. Rutkowski escaped with his life on an earlier incident on the 8th December 1940. Hurricane P3938 had an engine fire, the pilot making a forced landing, suffering severe burns in the process. The aircraft was a total loss.
Burial Details:
None – P/O. Kazimierz Rutkowski C.V. M.V. D.F.C. survived the war. Born on May 24th 1914, Lisznie, Poland. After service with 306 Squadron he joined 317 Squadron, then returned to 306.
On May 11th 1944 he joined 61 U.S.A.A.F Squadron flying the P-47. An ‘ace’ by war end with 5.5 victories with another 2 probables.
He died in San Diego, U.S.A. on the 3rd May 1995, age 81.
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’, Norman L.R. Franks ‘Fighter Command Losses’ Vol. 1, Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek – ‘Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii’, Wikipedia, Aircrew Remembered own archives.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 02 July 2019, 16:03