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.

Left: F/O. Edmund Krawczynski P-0761

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’.