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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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308 Squadron crest
09.01.1942 No. 308 Squadron Spitfire IIa P8206 Sq/Ldr. Marian J. Wesołowski

Operation: Training

Date: 09th January 1942 (Friday)

Unit: No. 308 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Spitfire IIa

Serial: P8206

Base: RAF Woodvale Common, Merseyside

Location: RAF Woodvale Common, Merseyside

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Marian Jan Wesołowski VM. CV. P-0603 Polish Air Force Age 28. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

308 Squadron had recently been moved to RAF Woodvale Common, Merseyside for a rest.

Sq/Ldr. Wesołowski VM CV with right, the double grave at Formby, Merseyside

During a routine training flight at night, he collided with another Spitfire IIa P7745 flown by P/O. Kazimierz Dolicher. Dolicher suffered slight injuries, surviving the war, settled in Poland.

Sq/Ldr. Wesolowski was killed and buried at the Formby (Our Lady Of Compassion) Roman Catholic Churchyard. The graves within this churchyard are scattered, not in a military section.

Burial details:

Left: F/O. Edmund Krawczynski P-0761

Sharing a grave with 28 year old F/O. Edmund Krawczynski P-0761, also of 308 Squadron, killed in a flying accident near South Lytham Pier flying Spitfire V P6183 on the 21st December 1941.

Sq/Ldr. Marian Jan Wesołowski VM CV Formby R/C. Cemetery. Plot GA. Grave 15 JT. Further information: Born on the 25th August 1913 at Lubartow, Poland. After Poland fell he left via Romania to France. After France capitulated he left for England with his men via North Africa arriving in July, 1940. Served in 607, 56 Squadrons before joining 308 on the 21st July 1941, eventually taking over as C/O in December 1941. Next of Kin details currently not available - are you able to assist completion of these and any other information?

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii’.

KTY 12.08.2015 Spitfire serial number updated.

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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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