308 Squadron Spitfire V W3774 ZF-X F/O. Habela, RAF Church Fenton, accident, Kirkby Wharfe

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Archive Report: Allied Forces

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14.05.1943 No. 308 Squadron Spitfire V W3774 ZF-X F/O. Habela

Operation: Training

Date: 14th May 1943 (Friday)

Unit: No. 308 Squadron (Polish - City of Kraków)

Type: Spitfire V

Serial: W3774 (Presentation Spitfire 'Samson' - donated by A. McAlpine and Son

Code: ZF-X

Base: RAF Church Fenton

Location: Stockwell Stud Farm, Kirkby Wharfe

Pilot: F/O. Adam Tadeusz Habela 783464 (P/1642) PAF Age 26. Killed

Pilot: Sgt. Jan Osoba 780747 PAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

During a formation training exercise these two Spitfires collided at 16:45 hrs. over Kirkby Wharfe in Yorkshire. Both pilots were killed when they fell on outbuildings at Stockwell Stud Farm.

Sgt. Obela was flying Spitfire V P8746 ZF-N.

58 Operational Training Unit, Grangemouth, Scotland, Course 21:

Front row: Sgt. Werner Ryszard Kirchner 783095, P/O. Adam Tadeusz Habela 783464 kia, P/O. Zdzisław Uchwat 783580, P/O. Zygmunt Jan Nentwich 793933, P/O. Czesław Jan Mroczyk 784807, P/O. Bronisław Jerzy Skibinski P-0289, Sgt. Tadeusz Lubicz-Lisowski 781410 kia.

Centre Row: Sgt. Wacław Korwel 783144, Sgt. Stanisław Domanski 782357 kia, Sgt. Jan Paweł Gajewski 793793, Sgt. Janusz Stanisław Marian Bzowski 781616, Sgt. Wacław Fraczek 792124 kia, Sgt. Aleksander Kwasniewski 793827

Back Row: Sgt. Kazimierz Benzinski 792134, Sgt. Wiktor Piotr Karasinski 793871, Sgt. Jaroslav Slepica, Sgt. Franciszek Stanisław Malczewski 780950, Sgt. Josef Blaha AFM 788010 kia, Sgt. Leon Zygarlicki 783220 kia, Wiktor Piotr Karasinski 793871.

Burial details:

F/O. Adam Tadeusz Habela. Northwood Cemetery. Service Section H. Grave 385. Born 18th November 1916 at Krakow, Poland.

Sgt. Jan Osoba. Blackpool Cemetery (Leyton) Section BB Grave 473. Born 11th November 1920 at Brezinka, Poland.

Researched and dedicated to the relatives of this pilot with thanks to Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', other sources as quoted below:

KTY 26.11.2019

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.

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