Wellington “Zosia” from Bremen

First flights

The brand-new Wellington Mk IV, yet nameless, and only with the registration number (With 1407) painted on its tail, left the Vickers description in December 1941. At the end of this period it was delivered to 23 Air Supply Unit, from which it was transferred to Poland on May 26, 1942 300th Bomb Squadron "Mazowiecka Lands". Wellington's hull was marked with capital letters ‘divisional’ BH and individual letter Z – like ‘Zosia’. respective crews flew on it, but most frequently it was the crew of Lieutenant pilot Stanisław Machej, composed of: navigator Captain Bolesław Bilinski, radio operator Ensign Klemens Muszyński, gunner of the front turret Lieutenant Zbigniew Brzeziński and gunner of the rear turret elder Sergeant Józef Tomiec, who mostly arrived to 300 Squadron in April 1942. From June to September 1942, “Zosia” performed 19 flights with various crews to bomb targets in France and Germany, specified as Saint-Nazaire, Brest, Karls rue, Osnabrück, Mainz, Düsseldorf, Duisburg or Saarbrücken.

The references in the English press and 1 of the photographs propose that the black beak “Zosi” adorned a set of yellow tiny baubles painted under the chessboard, marking the combat flights performed, and under the pilot's cab there was a “mask” depicting a “girl in a short red skirt, blue blouse and beret, furry collar, transparent underwear and advanced heels shoes”. Pilot Stanisław Machej mentioned that his crew had a fortunate mascot. He wrote: “We always flew with a Polish doll – Zośka we called her – which was made by a navigator's girl, in a Polish outfit, with braids – she was so beautiful.” But on the night of their flight to Bremen, they didn't have one.

With bombs over Bremen

Another 20th combat mission “Zosi” fell overnight from 4 to 5 September 1942, erstwhile RAF Bomb Air Command planned a bomb expedition to Bremen. It featured 251 aircraft (98 Wellingtons, 76 Lancasters, 41 Halifaxes, 36 Stirlings). In this number there were 7 Polish Wellingtons from the 300th Bomb Division – among them “Zosia” with the crew of Lieutenant Stanisław Machej. The airmen knew the intent of the raid at the briefing, collected the equipment. The planes were prepared to fly and loaded with bombs. ‘Zosia’ took off at 23.50 from Ingham Airport. The weather was clear and the visibility was perfect. Stanislaw Machej, mentioning this flight in 1995, wrote that they had to be careful, due to the fact that there were many another aircraft flying from surrounding airports in the air. They shortly reached the shore of England. Before them was the sea – they had a long flight in full darkness, far into the North Sea. Only after any time did they turn southeast, taking a course consecutive over Bremen. They got there around 2:00 a.m. They saw Bremen from a distance – the city was well lit with flares and first incendiary bombs. They dropped their bombload at 02.27 from about 5,000 m. They saw after the flashes of the detonation that they had fallen in a built-up area close the Bremenn old town.

For RAF, the raid was effective – nearly 10,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged and 6,000 houses lost windows. The shipyard “Atlas” and the airline “Weser” were besides hit. The losses were small: only 12 aircraft, or 4.8% of the full force. 7 Polish Wellingtons It returned happily to the base, but 1 of them, “Zosia”, was hit hard over Bremen.

Wellington in flames

During the raid, the German anti-aircraft defence was not idle. Just after the bomb was dropped, “Zosia” was hit by a large caliber anti-aircraft rocket (probably 88 mm with a 8.8 cm Flak 18 cannon), which burst into the right side of the hull: where it connects to the edge of the wing drain. Pilot Stanislaw Machej recalled this event in 1995: “I am sweating on my forehead and I want to change the position of the oxygen mask. abruptly the explosion. “Zosia” thrown violently, and I almost lost the handle on the rudders. Józek [back shooter st. Sgt. Joseph Tomec] in the tail reports that we are on fire. “Zosis” loses the dress in flames, but the rudders are besides covered with the same material. If they burn, our flight is over."

The aircraft saved the geodetic construction of Wellington's hull – a spatial grating from dural profiles designed by the celebrated engineer Barnes Wallis, covered with a tight, impregnated canvas. The energy of the rocket explosion, with the direct hit of a completely metallic bomb plane, would be devastating and could origin a hull breach, or demolition of the aircraft along with the crew. In the case of Wellington covered with canvas, it turned out that the shrapnels only somewhat damaged the dural hull profiles and somewhat battered the right wing, rudders and landing flaps. The energy of the projectile detonation broke the canvas cover of the hull here, but could not origin another harm – it went further, somewhere “to heaven”. The hull structure was inactive strong. More dangerous was the fire of his canvas cover. The air rush of the flying aircraft lit the flames and directed them towards the tail. In the most hard position was elder Sergeant Joseph Tomec, who sat in the tail turret of the hull surrounded by flames and hundreds of rushing sparks. The nearest radio operator, Klemens Muszyński, tried to extinguish the fire: “We are inactive struck by a abrupt shock and a blow to the side of the plane. Shout. It's on fire. A gap in the hull right by the wing. Fire. Brezents on fire – plane fire spreads. I am the closest, extinguishing the fire extinguisher, grabbing the tarp, tearing it up and extinguishing it.” It didn't do much good. Not only did Muszyński neglect to extinguish the flames, he broke the burning canvas, burned his hands, fortunately harmless.

Loading torpedo on Wellington, May 5, 1942.

Flight to the Earth

The only way to put out the fire was in a steep dive to the ground. Bomber pilots saved themselves in the event of an engine fire. A strong air rush at a much higher velocity rushing towards the ground of the aircraft allowed to dampen the flames, and it was mostly effective. Pilot Stanislaw Machej maintained communication via intercom with rear shooter elder sergeant Józef Tomc, sitting all the time in the tail turret. He later recalled: “The only hope is to break this burning hull skin with speed. Józek reports that he's already surrounded by flames, and these skreis are right next to him. I'm squeaking "Stain" to the ground. Józek reports that the cover goes distant and the fire goes out.”

So it was not so much about quelling the flames, but about breaking the burning canvas from the tail of the plane. And it worked. Pilot Stanislaw Machej yet removed the plane from the dive. He wrote: “We have already lost about 1,000 metres, and we must pull “Zoja” out of the peak. If the rudders are damaged, you'll gotta jump right into the burning city. I've already checked the intercom with the remainder of the crew, all responded and warned them. I pull mildly by the rudders and “Zosia” responds and slow raises his nose to the horizon, shaking and losing speed. On the plane quietly beyond the different sound of the bare hull. Checking the crew again. They are all alive.”

Other reports indicate that the pilot was helped by the shooter of the front turret, Lieutenant Zbigniew Brzeziński – they most likely both pulled for the willow. All of this was inactive happening over Bremen. The burning plane was a target. They were caught “to say goodbye” by the anti-aircraft defence headlights, and the flying “Stay” was rather well shot. They escaped due to their evasive ways.

Saved

After these dramatic experiences, the crew rapidly reviewed the damage. They were serious. In the right side of the hull, where a German rocket exploded, there was a large hole. The hull ‘lost’ canvas cover from the bomb chamber to a horizontal defect on the tail. Pilot Stanislaw Machej recalled: “Everyone is alive, no 1 is injured, but the equipment in the hull and the navigator compartment is destroyed. Bolek is not worried. We see the North Star cheering us up with his blinking. Engines work, force and temperatures are O.K. too. That's good, due to the fact that I request to increase their strength, due to the fact that our velocity is down. Fuel's normal, but we request to check him out for leaks and how fast. Clement [radiooper Clement Muszyński] spotted a gap behind the right engine, where our lifeboat should be. It means that returning to the sea is excluded. We must fly straight to the West. The plane's quiet, but we're alive. “Zosia” shakes and sways but flies.”

There was quite a few damage. Fragments of a torn bullet have holed wings and landing flaps. The radio station was damaged, but there was hope for it to start. During the dive all navigational instruments fell off the plane. The directional control, which enables a change of direction of flight, worked, but with large resistance. During the dive, a gap in the gondola behind the right engine opened and a blow-up rubber dinghy dinghy fell out of it. Without him, there was no way to save the boating. In addition, a night fighter attacked them. Messerschmitt Bf 110, but someway we lost him.

“Zosia” is coming home

They wondered whether to take the hazard of flying by the sea, or parachute over the Netherlands, which would be equivalent to getting into captivity. "Zosia" was slow losing altitude, but fuel was adequate to fly to England. The plane's velocity has dropped to 150 km/h, alternatively of 250 km/h. However, they decided to take a chance and turn to the North Sea. Fortunately they reached the English coast. Here's another dilemma: hazard landing in specified a damaged plane or jump out with parachutes, sacrificing the plane? They decided to land, and not at the nearest abroad airport, but they reached the parent Ingham. Pilot Stanislaw Machej recalled: “The chassis goes down and we approach the landing. The flaps are halfway down, the radio's not working, so I can't check in. There's another device coming up ahead, and the controller fires red rockets, but I know there's adequate space between us and I land. “Zosia” sat like a soft chair. Thank you, “Zosiu”!’

Damaged Wellington belonging to the 428th RCAF Squadron, 9 April 1943.

They landed happily at dawn at 5.44. The flight of the damaged bomber from Bremen to Ingham, England so lasted over 3.5 hours.

The plane was very curious erstwhile it landed. It was admired that "something like this" had succeeded in returning from Germany to the base. Machej mentioned that erstwhile the “Zoście” was carefully examined, serious harm was detected that could have caused the plane to crash. It turned out that erstwhile the plane was on fire and entered diving, a dense oxygen tank fell out of the hatch behind the engine to fill the dinghy boat and hit a malfunction. As a result, the rudder of tallness fell off the bearings and was barely holding. If he had gone, they wouldn't have returned to the base.

Journalists besides visited Ingham. Short press notes about Poles' actions were created. The plane was taken with pleasure. Private photos were taken by Polish squadron staff. In 1992, 50 years since that event, veterans estimated that the celebrated return of “Zosi” from Bremen was “a feat of the aircraft possible only thanks to crew skills with pilot Stanisław Machey behind the rudders.”

Further destiny of the crew

After completing the first flight of operational flights, the pilots' routes from the ‘Zosi’ crew departed. Lieutenant pilot Stanislaw Machej after carrying out 30 combat flights in the 300th Bomb Squadron volunteered for the 138th RAF peculiar Destiny Division. He made another 23 flights with discharges for treatment to occupied countries. He ended the war as captain as an teacher at the 16th SFTS (School of Primary Pilot) in Newton. He was awarded the Silver Virtuti Militari Cross, the Combat Cross (four times) and the British DFC (The Honorable Air Cross) – given to him on 12 May 1943 for the flight “Zosią” over Bremen. After the war, he remained in England. He accepted British citizenship in 1948, so that could have served in the RAFWhat he did for 13 years. He flew in the transport aviation and then was a flight pilot. He served the rank of Major. In 1959, he retired from proceeding failure preventing him from continuing to fly. He later worked as manager at the Mansfield Shoe Company. In the mid-1960s, he graduated from polytechnical studies and gained the qualifications of a discipline teacher. He taught physics and general cognition at Nottingham advanced School for 14 years. 1 of his students stated years later: “In the late 1960s, a fresh Polish discipline teacher, late retired from the RAF, arrived at my school. Although I had many conversations with him about airplanes, he never erstwhile mentioned bringing in half of Wellington from Bremen." He lived in Wilford, UK. He had a boy and grandchildren. In 1992, for the first time after the war, he visited Poland and his hometowns. He died on July 9, 2008 at the age of 88.

Navigator captain observer Bolesław Bilinski after completing his combat flight tour was an adjutant in the PSP command and then an officer of personnel records at Bomber Command RAF. He served the rank of Major. He was decorated with the Silver Cross Virtuti Militari and DFC. After the war, he changed his name to Townsend and remained on emigration in Britain, where he died on September 13, 2005 at the age of 89.

Onboard gunner/radiooperator Ensign Klemens Muszyński served the rank of elder Sergeant. He was decorated with the Silver Virtuti Military Cross. After completing his first flight tour, he later flew at Ferry Command, Canada, delivering aircraft. He emigrated to Canada in 1946. He lived in Montreal. His further destiny is unknown.

The gunner front lieutenant Zbigniew Brzeziński served the rank of lieutenant. He was decorated with the Silver Virtuti Military Cross. After the war, he remained on emigration in Britain. In the 1970s, he lived in Cambridge. His further destiny is unknown.

The most tragic were the destiny of elder Sergeant Shooter Joseph Tomc. He was decorated with the Silver Virtuti Military Cross. At the age of 27, he died tragically with the full crew of Lancaster BH-D (LM 488) during the raid on Cologne on July 24, 1944. His Lancaster hit by anti-aircraft artillery crashed and exploded during a forced landing effort close Neumünster, Germany. The fallen crew rests at the British military cemetery in Hamburg.

The destiny of Wellington BH-Z called “Zosia” and its crew is simply a distant communicative over 80 years ago. Only a fewer amazing photographs of this aircraft remained after her and our memory of Polish airmen forming its crew.