Wladyslaw Jozef Zolnowski

Wellington R1443 Polish 304 Sqn. Take off 22.01 from RAF Syerston to bomb Le Havre. Some reports say R1443 was hit by Flak from ships off the Dutch coast near Texel. This would put R1443 way off its planned route.

There is a Flak boat claim in the time frame, but this is more likely to be 59 Sqn Blenheim V6311. This took off 22.18 from RAF Bircham Newton, Norfolk on anti shipping EMRO patrol between Emden and Rotterdam, failed to return with the loss of 3 crew.

Some reports say R1443 was shot down by a fighter, although there are no corresponding Luftwaffe claims for this.

The station ORB states failed to return "unknown" cause believed crashed into the North Sea with the loss of all crew. Of 16 aircraft on raid R1443 the only loss. This was 304 Squadron’s first operational loss.

Sgt Zolnowski washed ashore at St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, 24 August 1941 and was buried at Newark Cemetery 29 August 1941.

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