Date: 17th March 1942 (Tuesday)

Unit: No. 315 Squadron (Polish)

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BM140

Code: PK-H

Base: R.A.F. Northolt, Middlesex.

Location: Over Hayes, Middlesex.

Pilot: Fl/Sgt. Tadeusz Adam Krieger P-783252 P.A.F. Age 21. Killed

2nd fatality:

Unit: No. 61 O.T.U. (Operational Training Unit)

Type: Spitfire II

Serial: P7307

Base R.A.F. Heston, Middlesex. 

Pilot: P/O. David Edward Lloyd 115061 R.A.F.V.R. Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a low level training flight Fl/Sgt. Krieger was flying with two new pilots P/O. Bruno Semmerling and Sgt. Tadeusz Jankowski (1). 

The instructor from that flight, flying Spitfire P7307, P/O. David Lloyd, collided head on with the 315 Squadron BM140. Both pilots were killed instantly. 

The other four aircraft managed to avoid the collision and landed shortly afterwards.

Earlier on on the 8th September 1941 Fl/Sgt. Krieger escaped with burns from a fire that totally wrecked Spitfire AB820 PK-M during an oxygen test.

(1) Understood to have been shot down and killed flying a Mustang III FB367 PK-V on 20th September 1944 over Leerdam, Holland.

Left: Fl/Sgt. Tadeusz Adam Krieger

Burial Details:

Fl/Sgt. Tadeusz Adam Krieger. Northwood Cemetery. Section H. Grave 223. Born 28th April 1920. From Krakow, Poland.

P/O. David Edward Lloyd. Wanstead (St. Mary) Churchyard. Son of Thomas Edward and Frances Ann Lloyd of Wanstead, London, England

With thanks to Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński – “Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945”, Peter Sikora, Norman L.R. Franks “Fighter Command Losses” Vol. 3. Commonwealth Graves Commission.