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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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306 squadron badge
19.05.1941 No. 306 Squadron Hurricane IIB Z3065 UZ-B P/O. Rutkowski DFC CV MV

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.

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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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