Flying Officer W. Szulkwoski (76749)

[alanatabz]

At 19:00 hours on Tuesday the 26th of November 1940, Spitfire R6987 was being flown by a Polish Flying Officer W. Szulkwoski (76749) of no.65 East India Squadron.

He was based at RAF Leuchars, and diverted to RAf Dyce where he proceeded to hit Telegraph wires (earlier reports stated a house) before damaging 2 further houses.

Anybody any information on the pilot (first name) and how he faired in the war or what happened to the aircraft?

[Frank Olynyk]

I have a Wladyslaw Skulkowski serving in 65 Sqn, claiming a Bf 109 on August 22, 1940 (FC3; CR: Air 50/25-299&300). He was KIA on March 27, 1941 while serving with 315 Sqn. However, his service number is given as 76747, both in my files, and in the CWGC website.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[alanatabz]

Thanks Frank

76747 - is the correct no. Apologies.


Regards

Alan

[Alain57]

Hello ,

F/L Szulkowski Władysław
76747
06.11.1909 Goworowo Ostrołęka Polanddate of birthplace of birthcountycountry
27.03.1941 Liverpool
65, 315 Sqdn

[alanatabz]

Cheers

Anybody got any info on the aircraft

Spitfire R6987

[Alain57]

Hello ,

R6987
Mk Ia EA
FF
20-7-40
8MU
23-7-40 65S
11-8-40 undershot landing struck house
26-11-40 Scottish Aviation 132S
17-7-41 FACB 19-9-41 ros 215MU
23-9-42 City of Lancaster 7-9-43
Portugal 20-11-43

Regards
Alain57

[alanatabz]

Thanks Alain57

Was the aircraft lost on Portugal 20-11-43?

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The format used by Alain seems to me the same that is used by the Spitfire production list available online.

In this case, City of Lancaster is not the name of a presentation aircraft but the name of the ship that brought the Spitfire to Portugal. It left UK as part of the convoy KMS7 going to North Africa, and his destination was Lisbon. See https://www.warsailors.com/convoys/kmsconvoys.html

Edited: Col was faster than me !

[Stig Jarlevik]

Col

Doh....so it was the vessel....
Unfortunately the Spitfire Int'l book gives only very general details about this aircraft in Portuguese service. What I did forget to mention was that Escadrille XZ moved to Tancos soon after they received their first Spitfires.

Laurent

Fully possible, but what is on that web site is a straight copy from the book with possibly added small details.

Cheers
Stig

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Laurent

Fully possible, but what is on that web site is a straight copy from the book with possibly added small details.

Cheers
Stig

I don't have the book, but from what I have seen on forums, yes it is the same content, just the fact that it is online means it is available to anyone, and Alan may be interested.

One problem with this production list, and AFAIK the similar book, or for that matter the original RAF documents used to write them, is that it is heavily UK-centric. You have a lot of details on what happens in UK but once the Spitfire moves to Africa, Italy, India or Australia, or is sold to another country, you often have nothing.