AR banner
Search Tips Advanced Search
Back to Top

• Kracker Archive
• Allied Losses
• Archiwum Polish
• Paradie Canadian
• RCAF
• RAAF
• RNZAF
• USA
• Searchable Lists

Info LogoAdd to or correct this story with a few clicks.
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.
Check our Research databases: Database List
.
We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via the Helpdesk.
316 Squadron Crest
09.11.1944 No. 316 Squadron Mustang III FX935 SZ-O F/O. Stanisław Zajdel

Operation: Patrol

Date: 09th November 1944 (Thursday)

Unit: No. 316 Squadron (Polish) 'City of Warsaw'

Type: Mustang III

Serial: FX935

Code: SZ-O

Base: RAF Andrews Field, Essex

Location: Braintree, Essex

Pilot: F/O. Stanisław Zajdel P-1698 PAF Age 29 Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

316 Squadron (Polish) were undergoing night training flying. At approximately 20:00 hrs under very high cloud cover and a snow storm, FX935 dived out of cloud - crashing near Braintree.

Also lost on this day from 316 Squadron, Andrzej Dabrowski flying Mustang FX903 SZ-E. Crashed approximately 2 miles from airfield - ran out of fuel circling whilst waiting for a damaged American B.17 to be cleared from the runway.

Above: Course 29, Squad 1 at RAF Grangemouth, Scotland: Front row: Fl/Sgt. Wojcik, Fl/Sgt. Finney, P/O. Parker, P/O. Webster, P/O. Zajdel, Fl/Sgt. Grondowski. Middle row: Sgt. Wlodarski, Sgt. Benner, Sgt. Gowers, Sgt. Taylor, Sgt. Luffman. Rear row: Sgt. Durys, Sgt. Pietrzak, Fl/Sgt. Urbanczyk

Burial Details:

F/O. Stanisław Zajdel. Millom Churchyard (Holy Trinity) Cumberland. Grave No. 1120 Of Krośnie, Poland Born 18th July 1915 in Krosno, Poland. Graduated from the 14th Air Force Promotion Class in 1939. After the September 1939 campaign, he went to Great Britain, where in 1941, after a refresher course, he was sent to 58 Operational Training Unit in Grangemouth. In January 1943, he was posted to Blackpool Air Force Base, where he remained until February 1944. Posted again to fighter training at 41 Operational Training Unit, from where, in April 1944, he was assigned to 309 Squadron.

Research by Webmaster, April 2009 and dedicated to relatives of the pilot. We welcome any contact or any further information.

KTY 13.08.2015 Page updated

KTY 01-08-2025 Map updated

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
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.
Click any image to enlarge it

 Click to add your info via ticket on Helpdesk •Click to let us know via ticket on Helpdesk• Click to explore the entire site
If you would like to comment on this page, please do so via our Helpdesk. Use the Submit a Ticket option to send your comments. After review, our Editors will publish your comment below with your first name, but not your email address.

A word from the Editor: your contribution is important. We welcome your comments and information. Thanks in advance.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2025 Last Modified: 01 August 2025, 13:53

Monitor Additions/Changes?Click to be informed of changes to this page. Create account for first monitor only, thereafter very fast. Click to close without creating monitor