Polish fighter pilots remembered

Polish fighter pilots remembered.

The New Romney Branch of the Royal British Legion is holding a service for two 303 Squadron pilots P/O Bogusław Mierzwa and P/O Mieczyslaw Waszkiewicz, who were both shot down over Dungeness in the early evening of 16 April 1941.

They were attacked by German fighters when returning from escorting Blenheim bombers on a raid to Berck-sur Mer airfield near Boulogne. P/O Bogusław Mierzwa, flying Spitfire P7819 RF-S, went down into the sea. His body was recovered and is buried in Northwood Cemetery grave H290. But P/O Mieczyslaw Waszkiewicz, flying Spitfire P8039 RF-R, also went into the sea, but his body was never found. The memorial plaque to both pilots is on Dungeness beach close to where P/O Bogusław Mierzwa was killed.

The service will be at St Peter’s Church, Baldwin Road, Greatstone, TN28 8RG, on Sunday 16 April, starting at 15.00. Refreshments will be available after the service in the hall next to the church.

For those attending please contact David Harris nr.drh1@yahoo.co.uk to ensure sufficient refreshments.

Later in the afternoon wreaths will be laid at the memorial on the Dungeness estate.