Date: 27/28th April 1942
Unit: No. 304 Squadron (Polish)
Type: Vickers Wellington IC
Serial: Z1088
Coded: NZ-D
Location: Villere-La-Ville, Belgium.
Pilot: F/O. Ryszard Zygmunt Szczurowski 76788 P.A.F. Age; 27, Killed (Warsaw, Poland)
Obs: F/O. Edward Kowalski P-0131 P.A.F. Age; 33, Killed (Bayonne, U.S.A.)
W/Op: Sgt. Zdzislaw Stanislaw Pieczński 780342 P.A.F. Age; 26, Killed (Sulejowie, Poland)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Stefan Ferenc 792687 P.A.F. Age; 26, Killed (Bobrujsku, Poland)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Wincentry Garbacz 781505 P.A.F. Age; 26, Killed (Kiszki, Poland)
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off from Lindholme at 21.35 hrs. Believed to have been hit by flak and crashed at Villere-La-Ville, 14 km East South East of Nivelles, Belgium. This was one of the last losses of 304 Squadron whilst operating within Bomber Command, on the 7th May they assumed duties under Coastal Command. Also lost on this raid from 304 Squadron was W5627 although all the crew survived, 1 became a POW and the remaining 4 evaded capture.
Vickers Wellington IC Z1088 NZ-D an earlier mishap - perhaps overshot the field?
Above left to right: Ryszard Zygmunt Szczurowski, Edward Kowalski, Zdzislaw Stanislaw Pieczński, Wincentry Garbacz, Stefan Ferenc
Burial Details:
Ryszard Zygmunt Szczurowski Charleroi Communal Cemetery. Grave 2. Row. B
Edward Kowalski Charleroi Communal Cemetery. Grave 3-5. Row. B
Zdzislaw Stanislaw Piecznski Charleroi Communal Cemetery. Grave 2. Row. B
Stefan Ferenc Charleroi Communal Cemetery. Grave 3-5. Row. B
Wincentry Garbacz Charleroi Communal Cemetery. Grave 3-5. Row. B
The Aircrew Remembrance Society would like to thank Robert Gretzyngier, Woitek Matusiak, Waldemar Wojcik and Josef Zielinski for the use of some photographs. We highly recommend their publications regarding the WW2 Polish Air Forces. See "here"
