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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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222 squadron crest
25.05.1942 No. 222 Squadron Spitfire Vb AD233 ZD-F Sq/Ldr. Jankiewicz VM DFC KW

Operation: Ramrod 51

Date: 25th May 1942

Unit: No. 222 Squadron

Type: Supermarine Spitfire VB

Serial: AD233

Code: ZD-F

Location: English Channel. West of Dunkirk, France.

Pilot: Sq/Ldr. Jerzy Jankiewicz VM DFC KW 83698 PAF Age 28. Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

Sq/Ldr Jankiewicz started his flying as a P/O Observer in a Polish Bomber squadron but soon transferred to fighter aircraft and also as a test pilot of prototypes within the Polish Air Force.


When this plan broke down he fled to France in October 1939 and then on to Great Britain. Joined No. 6 OTU and then joined 601 Squadron in August 1940.

Previously wounded whilst flying a Hurricane I R4214 with 601 squadron after combat with an Me110 - managed to fly the aircraft home and the aircraft was repaired.

Following that he served with 303 squadron from October 1940 then went on to serve in the operations room until his appointment as A Flight Commander on April 13th, 1941.

On May 15th 1941 he was then appointed B Flight Commander. Following the death of Sq/Ldr Lapkowski, Jerzy Jankiewicz took over 303 Squadron Leader on the 9th July 1941. On November 20th he went off operations as Flying Control Officer.

Killed on a Rodeo west of Dunkirk during the morning of 25th May. Another 222 squadron pilot, P/O. G.F. Morgan was also shot down, although he managed to survive, becoming a PoW.

Both victims were attacked by units from JG26. Two other Spitfires from the squadron were damaged but we have no further details on these that came back to base.

Gen Wladyslaw Sikorski presenting Virtuti Militari (VM) to Sq/Ldr. Jerzy Jankiewicz

He had received the Virtuti Militari V class, Krzyz Walecznych KW : Cross of Valour) with three bars, Medal Lotniczy (Pilots Air Medal) and the DFC. - he is credited with 2½ destroyed, 1⅓ probables and several damaged.

Above French ID Card and below RAF

Above: Polish War Memorial, Northolt, Middlesex. Right Warsaw Memorial to the Missing

(taken by Aircrew Remembered 2012)

Burial Details:


None, he is still classed as missing. Sq/Ldr. Jerzy Jankiewicz VM DFC KW

Commemorated on the Warsaw Memorial to missing airman in Poland also on the Polish Memorial at Northolt. Born 5th July 1913. Son of Andrew and Elizabeth of Kiev, Ukraine.

Researched for Dr. Simon Ellinas with assistance and information from Mark Thomson. Further details from our own archives and Peter Sikora.


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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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