WW2 Air Crash of South Stack, Trearaddur Bay

[Elliven]

  On 20th August 1942 a Wellington Mk1c bomber serial no Z1172 (NZ-V) crashed into Trearaddur Bay near South Stack on a training flight and the crew of 6 Polish airmen were all killed.  Three bodies were picked up the same day, two more were picked up separately about two weeks later and the final body washed ashore in Blackpool about 9 weeks later.  This man was an American of Polish origin who had volunteered to fight for Britain.

Does anyone have any information about this crash, please

[Ruskie]

There are manymknowlegable people on rootschat who will probably be able to help you, but if not, you could try here:
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/index.php

[dragonT]

I have some information but I'm not sure it helps you - the deaths of the five airmen found near Holyhead were registered there as follows:

Holyhead 2A P88 439: 20 Aug 1942, Dead body found off South Stack - J. Jarns, 25, Sergeant RAF No 304 Polish Squadron, (No P792047), c.o.d - Accident (due to war operations). Certificate received from D.A. Clarke P.O. for officer commanding RAF Valley.

Holyhead 2A P88 440: - Antoni Zielowski, Pilot Officer, (No P1954), other details as above.

Holyhead 2A P89 441: - Ludwick Ruszel, 28, Sergeant, (No P794191).

Holyhead 2A P89 444: 9 Sep 1942, Dead body found near Trearddur Bay - A. Tychalis, 20, Sergeant (P794730).

Holyhead 2A P90 446: 15 Sep 1942, Dead body found near Trearddur Bay - Leszer Wasilewski, 34, Flying Officer, (P0795).

I doubt whether the Polish names are transcribed correctly.

 

[Elliven]

Hello DragonT

Thank you for your response.  ALL information is useful - you never know when one little titbit will be the key to the whole puzzle.

As you rightly say, the names are not correctly spelled but they are close enough to be recognised and I have the correct spellings anyway.

This story could become international news as we are trying to re-unite the American and Polish sides of the family of one of the men.  They have not been in contact since September 1939, kept apart by the German Occupation of Poland and then by Russian domination.

It all started when a Polish visitor found that the grave of one of the men was missing.  In fact, it wasn't missing but had been vacated when his body was exhumed and taken to America in 1949.  I have managed to track that grave down and have it photographed for his Polish family.

[Elliven]

Thanks also to Ruskie,

I already have a campaign going over there and also on WW2talk.  We are determined to get a happy ending for this story.

After nine weeks in the water and drifting all the way to Blackpool, it was fortunate that his family had a body to bury.

[sarah]

Hi Elliven,

I have just moved your post over the the WW2 part of RootsChat to help with your search.

Regards

Sarah

[Elliven]

I have discovered that two of the bodies were picked up whilst the aircraft was still on the surface (a phenomenally quick response from the lifeboat service).

"At 0330hrs Lifeboat No 845 launched on the 20th August 1942 to an aircraft that had crashed South Stack and Penrhos Point in line guarter of a mile. Four crew lost and two bodies recovered by lifeboat on arrival at the port they authorities took charge of them. (R.N.). Weather force 6 S W."

The above extract from the lifeboat log is timed at 03.30 but should have been 3.30pm.  It only covers the recovery of two bodies.  Does anyone know how the other three were recovered?