大象传媒

I was born in Lodz in Poland on 6 June 1909. I am now a British Citizen and have lived in Great Britain since 1939.
My daughter has asked me to record my story. "I am not hero, just one of many thousands doing their duty".
As a regular NVC Radio Airgunner wuth the rank of corporal, I took part in the war campaign in Poland from 01.09.1939 to 17.09.1939. I together with part of my squadoran was evacuated to Rumania on the 18.09.1939. We managed to reach France with difficulty, thanks with organised help, and despite the Germans creating further difficulties. After a delay we boarded a cargo ship on 20.09.1939 which had a capacity of 200 passengers plus a cargo of coal. We were accumulated group of military personnel of 1,000 and we had to use every inch of space - everywhere - including the hatches. The journey to Malta via the Black Sea, The Bosphorous, The Sea of Marma and the Agean through to the Mediterrenean was hair raising with the constant fear of capsizing. The Governor of Malta was horrified by our condition and ordered to split the passenger load. All flying personnel were transferred to the British liner Franconia, which was in dock for repairs. From Malta, via Marseilles, I found myself in Lyons on 20.11.1939, which in turn became our base for the duration. After Christmas, a Royal Airforce panel of officers arrived at our base to select personnel. On 05.01.1940 I arrived at RAF airfield Eastchurch in Kent. On 12.01.1940 I was sworn with a group of others to alligiance of King George VI and the the Polish President Raczkiewicz. So I became Royal Airforce Voluntary Reserve and began intensive learning including English language. On 29.01.1940 we were moved to Blackpool and it became our main base. On 07.06.1940 a group of us, Radio Operators, were transferred to the operational unit in Hucknal near Coventry to learn about radio equipment onboard aircraft in service, the Fairley Battle. The Polish 300 Bomber Squadron was formed on 01.07.1940 and in August it was moved to operational airfield at Swinderby, Lincolnshire. My first bombing trip was on the night of 13.09.1940 - target invasion fleet in the Port of Bologne. A further two operations on Calais and Oostend closed the active service for the Fairley Battles. With great joy we recieved twin engine bombers Wellington Mark 1. I must mention an incident when we had finished our training on the Fairleys in August 1940 in Bramcote. We had an unexpected visit by King George VI and the Queen. 300 and 301 Squadrons dispatched three aircraft each to display flying capabilities for the visitors. fter landing we were lined up and presented to the King. Each of shook hands with the King and got a "How do you do".
On the Wellingtons the crew was enlarged to six under command of Captain Jasinski. We incorporated a second pilot - Pilot Officer Boczkowski, Front Gunner Sargeant Kraus, Tail Rear Gunner Sargeant Szczepanski and me Radio Airgunner Sargeant Lapot.
Our first bombing operation on the Wellington was on 28.12.1940 - target Antwerp. We began intensive operations from end of February 1941 with targets Dusseldorf, Brest, Hamburg, Bremen, Frankfurt, Hannover and repitition of all of the above. I fly 28 operations until 26 September when I was posted to Bramcote under protest to improve standards of operational capability new crews. My commanding officer called me in and told me that anybody can go and not come back - we were having losses up to 50%. So new replacement crews were totally green, and needed polishing up from expereinced crews to mould them for successful operational experience urgently needed (NOW!). We created a true operation in simulated conditions - code name "Harmonising the Crew"
On 30 May 1942 RAF organised 1000 bomber on Cologne, we the OTU were included in the operation with our clapped out Wellingtons. We managed to produce 24 crews made up from instructors. My captain was Flight Leutinent Boczkowski, new second pilot (can't remember his name ) and the rest of the crew was the same.
T he failure of internal radio communications forced us to turn back. as it was essential for the captain to know what was happening on his tail, he therefore had to be in communication with the rear gunner. But we went again the following night - target Essen, making it 30 ops for me.

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