Operation: Training

Date: 27th March 1941 (Friday)

Unit: No. 315 Squadron (Polish - 9 Group)

Type: Hurricane I

Serial: V7188

Code: PK-X

Base: RAF Speke, Liverpool

Location: Irish Sea

Pilot: Fl/Lt. Władysław Szulkowski 76747 PAF Age 31. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Taking off at 10:00 hrs on a training flight over the Irish Sea - a group of enemy was located by ground control and they were vectored to engage. No enemy aircraft were seen and the training flight continued.

During this the propeller from Sgt. Paterek's Hurricane V7187 PK-W struck the tail of Fl/Lt. Szulkowski' Hurricane and both aircraft were seen to crash into the sea. The body of Fl/Lt. Szulkowski washed up some weeks later.

L-R: F/O. Jerzy Jankiewicz, Sq/Ldr. Ronald Kellet, Sgt. Edward Paterek, P/O. Franciszek Kornicki (June 2014: Richard Kornicki tells us this was staged for the Press at Leconfield in October/November 1940 - many publications state that the pilot 3rd from the left is Sq/Ldr. Wacław Łapkowski, we have been assured by the niece of his niece, who contacted us in July 2018, this is not the case. Peter Sikora, the leading Polish Airforce researcher confirmed this)

Just a short while later Hurricane R4122 PK-S flown by P/O. Fiedorczuk developed an engine problem and he descended, making a safe landing at RAF Squires Gate in Blackpool. P/O. Hojden in Hurricane V7656 PK-V followed him down but was lost in cloud. Control vectored him back to base, but it is thought that he ran out of fuel and subsequently crashed into the sea.

P/O. Wolinski suffered an engine problem with P2974 PK-P and was forced to ditch but fortunately rescued.

The life boat "Sarah Ann Austin" from Blackpool and another from the Isle of Man were launched to assist in the rescue but due to poor visibility they abandon their search. Aircraft were also sent to search but the bodies of P/O. Hojden and Sgt. Paterek were never recovered.

Burial details:

Fl/Lt. Władysław Szulkowski. KW. ML. Liverpool Cemetery (West Derby) Sec. 11. R.C. Coll. Grave 392. Born on the 06th November 1909 at Goworowo, Ostrołęka, Poland.

Sgt. Edward Paterek KW. ML. 793342 PAF Age 31. - missing believed killed. Polish Memorial, Northolt. Born on the 30th May 1910 at Obojna, Stalowa Wola, Poland.

P/O. Tadeusz Hojden. ML P-0530 PAF Age 25. - missing believed killed. Polish Memorial, Northolt. Born on the 26th March 1916 at Czudyn, Romania.

Later:

P/O. Eugeniusz Fiedorczuk. 2xKW. 2xML. ODRK. P-0328 PAF Age 23. Killed on the 15th August 1942. Born on the 28th October 1918 at Czyta, Russia. Formby (Our Lady Of Compassion) Roman Catholic Churchyard. Plot G.A. Grave 17.

F/O. Kazimierz Wolinski. VM V kl. KW. ML. P-0722 PAF Age 31. Killed on the 16th September 1941. Born on the 15th May 1910 at Nisko, Poland. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery. Plot XIII Row B Grave 14

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Krzystka List and other sources shown.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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