Jerzy Kwiecinski

© Polish Wargraves

Traces of War describes how Wellington IV BH-L (Z1269) took off from RAF Hemswell at 7.40 am on March 26, 1942 for a mission against Essen. The aircraft was intercepted above Den Helder by a night fighter of Oberleutnant Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld of 5./NJG 2.

During the attack, which took place shortly before half past ten, the crew released the bombs in an attempt to escape. In vain, the aircraft crashed burning to the (south) east of De Kooy airport at 10.27 pm in the Balgzand Wadden area. Two crew members managed to leave the plane with a parachute, but later washed ashore lifeless. The entire Polish crew perrished:

• Flight lieutenant Jakubowski
• Leading aircrafman Kwiecinski
• Sergeant Niemeczek
• Gunner Stachurski
• Pilot officer Uszpolewicz
• FLying officer Żelakinski

Further details can be found on ZZ-airwar.