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Operation: Stuttgart
Date: 28/29th January 1945 (Sunday/Monday)
Unit: No. 300 Squadron (Polish)
Type: Lancaster I
Serial: PB846
Code: BH-K
Base: RAF Faldingworth, Lincolnshire
Location: Berneck, Germany
Pilot: Fl/Lt. Zbigniew Edward Zarębski P-0845 PAF Age 31. Killed
Fl/Eng: W/O. Jan Stefan Gerwatowski 782414 PAF Age 47. PoW (1)
Nav: P/O. Romuald Andrzej Paszkowski P-2377 PAF Age 31. Killed
Air/Bmr: Fl/Lt Zygmunt Andrzej Wesołowski P-1779 PAF Age 39. PoW (1)
W/Op/Air/Gnr: W/O. Piotr Barzdo 705689 PAF Age 34. PoW (1)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Kazimierz Cymbała 706584 PAF Age 26. Killed
Air/Gnr: W/O. Ryszard Kazimierz Mańkowski 706090 PAF Age 24. PoW (1)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Taking off at 19:58 hrs from their base at RAF Faldingworth in Lincolnshire to bomb Stuttgart - the final heavy bombing of the city of the war.
The pilot had previously served as a fighter pilot with 308, 303 and 306 Squadrons before converting to twin engined aircraft. He was transferred to Bomber Command on health grounds.
Right: Hptm. Gerhard Friedrich.
It is thought probably that they were shot down by the Luftwaffe ace Hptm. Gerhard Friedrich of Stab I./NJG6 at 23:53 hrs. (See further details on this pilot in the Kracker Archives on this site)
(1) Further information : W/O. Jan Gerwatowski - Born on the 11th May 1898 in Zastawie, Poland. Passed away on the 10th July 1954, age just 56. Fl/Lt Zygmunt Wesołowski - Born on the 30th November 1906 in Stanisławów, Poland now Ukraine. Passed away on the 27th February 1974, age 68. W/O. Piotr Barzdo - Born on the 20th September 1911 in Podbrodzie, Poland now Ukraine. Passed away in February 1996, age 85. W/O. Ryszard Mańkowski - Born on the 21st May 1921 in Zaleszczyki, Poland now Ukraine. Passed away on the 02nd April 1994, age 73.
Durnbach War Cemetery - The quality of these photographs shown here can not be fully appreciated when the size is reduced for the web page. (courtesy David Franklin - David has kindly provided us with permission to release high definition copies to relatives)
Burial details:
Fl/Lt. Zbigniew Edward Zarębski. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 11.C.21. Born on the 11th May 1914 in Warsaw, Poland.
P/O. Romuald Andrzej Paszkowski. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 11.C.22. Born on the 10th November 1914 in Stary Zamość, Poland.
Sgt. Kazimierz Cymbała. Durnbach War Cemetery. Grave 11.C.23. Born on the 13th September 1919 in Chlewczany, Poland - now Ukraine.
Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to sources as shown but also thanks to David Franklin who took the grave photographs for us. Also to Archiwum on this site
KTY - 04.04.2018
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember
them. - Laurence
Binyon
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Last Modified: 06 April 2021, 14:14