Jan Gebicki

300 (Mosovian) Squadron was established at RAF Bramcote, Nottinghamshire, on 1 July 1940 as the first of Polish manned bomber squadrons of the Royal Air Force. It comprised Polish airman, including pilots, observers, air gunners and ground crew, who had escaped from Europe following the invasion of Poland. The Squadron was equipped initially with Fairey Battle light bombers and later with Vickers Wellington medium bombers and then Avro Lancaster heavy bombers. The Squadron transferred to RAF Swinderby on 22 August 1940 and was based there until July 1941 when it moved to RAF Hemswell and subsequently to RAF Ingham then RAF Faldingworth. The Squadron was disbanded after the war.

13/14 October 1940 Battle L5499, 300 (Mosovian) Squadron:
Take off 17.39 RAF Winthorpe, one of six 300 Squadron aircraft in two flights from RAF Swinderby and RAF Winthorpe to attack the harbours and shipping at Calais and Boulogne. On its return, local bases had been blacked out due to loitering intruder aircraft. Ten bombs had fallen across the runway at RAF Swinderby destroying one aircraft and damaging two more and had also severed group communications and injured one airman. L5499 became lost in foggy weather and attempted to land at RAF Hucknall. During a forced landing a wheel was lost and the aircraft hit trees near Calverton, killing all three crew.

The other members of the crew were:
Starszy Sierzant Edward Morowa (rear gunner)
Kapral Tadeusz Egierski (wireless operator)

Kapitan Jan Gebicki is buried in Nottingham Southern Cemetery (War Graves Plot Sec. T 25 Grave 62A). The two other members of his crew are buried in the same cemetery.

A memorial to the crew has been erected at Watchwood Plantation, near Calverton, Nottinghamshire, the site of the crash (public access).

All Saints Church, Faldingworth, Lincolnshire: 'There is a memorial plaque in the north aisle, dedicated on 29 April 1995 in memory of the men and women of the Polish Air Force who served at Faldingworth in 300 Sqn and 305 Sqn between 1944 and 1947.' (www.raf-lincolnshire.info/faldingworth/faldingworthmemorials)