Date: 14/15th April 1942
Unit: No. 305 (Polish) Squadron
Mission: Dortmund
Date: 14/15th April 1942
Unit: No. 305 (Polish) Squadron
Type: Wellington II
Serial: Z8586
Code: SM-W
Base: Lindholme
Location: Wroot, Lincolnshire
Pilot: F/O. Stefan Sznidel K.O.W.V.M. P-0612 P.A.F. Age: 33. Killed
Fl/Eng: F/O. Kazimierz W. Konopasek K.O.W.V.M. D.F.C. P-1208 P.A.F. Survived
W/Op/Air/Gnr: F/O. Kazimierz Joszt K.O.W.V.M. P-0923 P.A.F. Survived (1)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Kazimierz Pasich K.O.W.V.M. 784835 P.A.F. Age 22. Killed
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Bronislaw Wladyslaw Sędzimir K.O.W.V.M. 780511 P.A.F. Survived (2)
Air/Gnr: Sgt. Waclaw Szmidt K.O.W.V.M. 792066 P.A.F. Survived
(1) F/O. Kazimierz Joszt K.O.W.V.M. Killed 31/01 November 1942 Wellington IV Z1279 SM-O Operation: Gardening 305 Squadron
(2) Sgt. Bronislaw Wladyslaw Sędzimir Killed 1/2nd June 1942 Wellington II Z8583 SM-Z Operation: Essen 305 Squadron
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took off at 21.44 hrs from Lindholme to attack Dortmund. 208 aircraft took part 142 Wellington's, 34 Hampden's, 20 Stirlings, 8 Halifax's and 3 Manchester's of which 9 aircraft were lost. The raid was not classed as a success with 1 Military installation severely damaged, 4 homes destroyed and a further 31 damaged. 4 people were recorded as killed on the ground and 27 injured.
The raid cost the lives of 53 aircrew and 17 being made P.O.W's. Wellington Z8586 SM-W is thought to have run out of fuel on the return leg and crash landed at Wroot, Lincolnshre, very nearly made it home!
Identity of all this flight crew is not confirmed (yet) but it is thought that they were all the crew of this flight.
Left to right: F/O. Kazimierz Joszt, F/O. Stefan Sznidel, ?, ?, Sgt. Bronislaw Wladyslaw Sędzimir, Sgt. Kazimierz Pasich
Above photograph show what we believe is the crew in front of W5573 SM-O which crashed at a later date at 05.43 hrs. on 6th May 1942 Operation: Stuttgart - none of the crew were killed and the reason for the crash has not been established. The crash happened at Blyton, North, North, East of Gainsborough Lincolnshire just a few miles from home. (Courtesy Chris Mackey)
F/O. Stefan Sznidel K.O.W.V.M. (Courtesy Wojciech Zmyslony Polish Airforce.pl)
Polish War Cemetery (C.W.G.C)
Burial details:
F/O. Stefan Sznidel. K.S.O..V.M. Polish War Graves. Newark. Grave J.308
Sgt. Kazimierz Pasich K.O.W.V.M. Polish War Graves Newark. Grave: 232
Photograph supplied by Chris Mackey.
With thanks to Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - Bomber Command War Diaries and Bill Chorley - Bomber Command Losses Vol 2
