Background info Polish Spitfire pilots 308 Squadron 1945

[Hans Nauta]

Dear all,

I'm looking for background info regarding the next Polish Spitfire pilots of 308 Squadron, on service in 1945:

F/O Kazimierz Kozak
Sgt Stanislaw Toloczko
P/O Henryk Krakowian

Unfortunately no identity numbers known.

Both editions of The Polish Air Force at War are on my shelves, but these don't reveil any additional info of above mentioned pilots.

Thanks in advance,
Hans Nauta

[Franek Grabowski]

What do you need? Krakowian wrote his memoirs which were published as Destination Belgium, ISBN 83-915921-7-0.

[VoyTech]

F/O Kazimierz Kozak
service no. P.2417, in No. 308 Sqn from 16 January 1945

Sgt Stanislaw Toloczko
service no. 703943, in No. 308 Sqn from 25 November 1944

P/O Henryk Krakowian
service no. P.2735, in No. 308 Sqn from 3 February 1945

What other info do you need?

[Hans Nauta]

Hello Franek and Voytech,

Thanks both for your useful additonal info!

Is there perhaps a publication around with details of all Polish personel in RAF service? Many of them were involved in the air war in my research area North-West Holland.
Unfortunately in most cases the Operations Record Book I've checked in London only contain last names and perhaps sometimes initials.
I'm especially looking for the first names, ages and service numbers and crew functions, secondly part of their career, just as Voytech described.

Best regards from Holland,
Hans Nauta

[B.F.M. Droog]

Adding to the question of Hans: is there something like an online register where one can find all Polish air personnel casualties?

Regards,

Bart

[Hans Nauta]

Hello Bart,

At least I can answer a part of you question: just have a look on

http://www.polishwargraves.nl/

Effort of Jan van Alphen to list all Polish casualties in The Netherlands.

Best regards,
Hans Nauta

[Franek Grabowski]

Hans
An index of all PAF airmen 1940-1947 containing last Polish and RAF rank, date of birth, date and place of death when known has been published last year in Poland. It is authored by one of groundcrew, Mr Tadeusz Krzystek. Voytech should give you details on how to acquire it.

[Hans Nauta]

Hi Franek,

Yes, such an index would be very useful. Hope Voytech can give ordering details.

Best wishes,
Hans Nauta

[VoyTech]

Originally Posted by Hans Nauta

Is there perhaps a publication around with details of all Polish personel in RAF service?

http://www.aviation-bookshop.com/asp...asp?book=11304

Note: They were not "in RAF service". Polish Air Force was an independent force (even to the point that the British Parliament had to pass special new law to allow them to be based on British soil, as before WW2 no foreign armed forces were allowed to be stationed in Britain).

[Hans Nauta]

Hi Voytech,

Yes, you're correct about the independent Polish Air Force. Should have realised that. As matter of fact Polish personel had their own system of service numbers!

Thanks for the details of the quite new publication, I've ordered it yesterday. Guess I've to learn a couple of key words Polish, but that wouldn't be too much effort.

Cheers,
Hans Nauta