Crash Site Wellington Mk.IC R1214, code SM-T

No. 304 (Polish) Squadron - Vickers Wellington Mk.IC R1214 / code name SM-T

The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s. The Wellington was used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, performing as one of the principal bombers used by Bomber Command. During 1943, it started to be superseded as a bomber by the larger four-engined "heavies" such as the Avro Lancaster. The Wellington continued to serve throughout the war in other duties, particularly as an anti-submarine aircraft (key in the Battle for the Atlantic).

The Vickers Wellington Mk 1C, R 1214 (code SM-T) belonging to 305 Sqdn, left Syerston airbase, Nottingham at 21.40 hrs on May 3, 1041. Its destination was a bomb raid over Emden, Germany.

It was shot down that same day by a German hightfighter (claimed by Lt Reinhold Knacke 2/NJG1) over Budel, the Netherlands

Buried at Eindhoven:
mjr. obs. Malak Wacław Józef Navigator
mjr. obs. strz. Ryszkiewicz Mieczysław Józef Tail gunner
An unknown airman, connected with Wellington R 1214.

The remarkable story about this flight also has to do with the survivors. As this was the first Polish manned bomber squad taken prisoner. There was great interest: how would the Germans treat Polish Air Force PoWs? Would their families in occupied Poland suffer reprisals?

Prisoners of War:
por. obs. Jastrzębski Aleksander P 0082
por. pil. Nogal Józef P 0065
plut. pil. Kasprzyk 782331
kpr. r/op. Żuk Tadeusz 782265

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Source

• Text: Bart Verhulst
• Photos: RAF
• WELLINGTON Mk 1C, R 1214, code SM-T, 305 Sqdn.nl