Ouston's only wartime 'kill'

Designed and built as an RAF fighter airfield, but by the time Ouston accepted its first operational fighter squadron in 1941 the large enemy raids of the 1940 'Battle of Britain' had ceased. Enemy action had changed to night raids on industrial targets and cities, plus individual attacks on shipping and aerial minelaying at ports. Day fighter squadrons continued to be based at Ouston, but they were ill-equipped to fight at night and had no successful interceptions. They mounted constant patrols to protect shipping, but these patrols were monotonous and frustrating for the pilots, although probably effective in discouraging enemy attacks.

Squadrons were therefore changed frequently, using Ouston to work up to full operational efficiency before generally moving south, nearer to the action. While at Ouston they nevertheless were at constant readiness, and a flight was always on standby waiting to be 'scrambled' to intercept any enemy aircraft picked up by radar, or spotted by the Observer Corps. The following photograph from the Imperial War Museum collection in London is a marvellous illustration of pilots of the first squadron at Ouston, taken in the Operations Room on 22nd April 1941. These are the Polish pilots of 317 (Wilenski) Squadron, who had just moved in from nearby RAF Acklington .

The IWM caption to the photograph states;

Pilots of No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron enjoying a break in the Operation Room of RAF Ouston, 27 April 1941. The score board in the background displays several names of the pilots - S/Ldr Henryk Szczesny, S/Ldr Piotr Ozyra, F/Lt Pawel Niemiec, F/Lt Tadeusz Koc, F/O Tadeusz Szumowski, F/O Andrzej Malarowski, F/O Stanislaw Lukaszewicz, Sgt Tadeusz Baranowski, Sgt Stanislaw Brzeski, Sgt Bronislaw Koscik, Sgt Jan Malinowski.

Some of them are present in the photograph. Left to right - F/O Tadeusz Szumowski (reading a book in the left background); F/O Tadeusz Stabrowski (in the left foreground, in the chair); S/Ldr Piotr Ozyra (seated, with a pipe in his mouth); Sgt Tadeusz Baranowski (also reading in the background); Sgt Stanislaw Brzeski (reading a book); F/O Stanislaw Lukaszewicz; Sgt Jan Malinowski; F/O Andrzej Malarowski; F/Lt Tadeusz Koc (reading a book).

There is much else of interest in the photograph, including the pilot's initials painted on their 'Mae West' life jackets. On the wall behind are some obligatory glamour 'pin ups', but also three mascots in the form of a toy bear, a dog, and possibly a monkey. Painted above the 'scoreboard' is the official crest of the Polish Air Force with its red & white chequered symbol. There is an aircraft recognition poster, and an Air Gunnery notice on the door. A large map of northern England and southern Scotland adorns the wall, and illustrates their area of operation. The pilot Koc seated on the right appears to be studying another 'glamour' publication, and his shoulder flash is also of interest, reading 'Poland', as do the other shoulder flashes that are visible. Otherwise they are wearing standard RAF uniform. Many are Sergeant pilots, which was the standard rank for a qualified non-commissioned pilot.

Historically the most significant object is the 'scoreboard' on the wall behind. It can be seen that 317 Squadron was split into three flights or sections; Blue, Green, and Black; these would become their radio call signs once airbourne. The date 27th April (IV) 1941 is chalked above. Each section has two pilots, numbered '1' and '2', thus the radio call sign "Black 2". Alongside is the allocated pilot's name, and the frequent daily changes mean that the chalk dust here is thick and smeared, but some of the names can just about be discerned. So there are eight pilots on standby in the photo, all kitted up and ready to go. The ninth pilot, Squadron Leader Ozyra, seated smoking a pipe, is not wearing a Mae West so is not flying.

The next column contains the single letters X, S, F, L, Y, and Z. These are the individual aircraft code letters painted on each Hawker Hurricane fighter, and show which aircraft is allocated to each pilot that day. The next, broader column also appears to list aircraft code letters, and probably indicates aircraft that are also serviceable (one group), and aircraft that are not serviceable or being maintained (second group).

The main block of the 'scoreboard' to the right is taken up with a list of the pilot's surnames, followed by their normal allocated aircraft (individual aircraft code letter), and the serial number of the aircraft (this stays with the aircraft throughout its service life). Thus Squadron Leader Ozyra can be seen to have aircraft 'Z' (full squadron code 'JH-Z'), serial probably being V7123*. Other aircraft can be identified as W9183* 'F' no pilot name; W9272 (?) 'S' Szczesny; V6567 (?) 'Y' Niemiec; V7559 'X' Koc; V7217 (?) 'W' Szumowski. Some of the code letters seem to correspond to the pilot's initial e.g. 'S' for Szczesny, and 'Z' for Ozyra. [*Note; V7123 'JH-Z' and W9183 'JH-F' were the two Hurricane aircraft subsequently responsible for the first 'kill'.]

The intervening column contains numbers that all appear to be in the range 30 to 39, but their significance is not known, unless they refer to the pilot's records in the squadron.

To the top lefthand of the scoreboard is a smaller board with small objects mounted vertically on it. A bit of a puzzle at first, but probably nothing more significant than various coloured sticks of chalk? It may even be a snooker table fitting for cues and scoring, in which case the large blanket covered table in the foreground may be the actual snooker table?

The architecture of the Operations Room itself seems to be standard wartime utility with green panelled door, plasterboard (asbestos) type walls and sloping ceiling, with metal window frame with six or eight glass panes. This does not seem to match the 'permanent' construction standard for RAF Ouston buildings, and neither does the style conform to that of a 1941 Watch Office (Control Tower) interior. The location is therefore most likely that of a wartime wooden hut, and if it was not part of the well built permanent RAF Ouston camp, then it may be located on the airfield perimeter, close to the dispersed aircraft. Such a building would have been removed after the war, although the concrete base may remain. The furniture is a mix of locally obtained items, and the 'table cloths' are probably standard military issue blankets. The pen knife and (non-flying) gloves on the near table may belong to the Squadron Leader, the knife to clean his pipe bowl.

2nd June 1941

For all of these pilots there followed frustrating weeks of convoy patrols and fruitless 'scrambles', all without contact with the enemy. This monotony was finally broken on the late evening of 2nd June 1941, when the patrolling 'Black Section' was vectored to intercept a German raider. This is the official Combat Report of their action, as written at the time, including some mistakes such as the wrong number for the squadron;

SECRET FORM FCCR/271/41

FIGHTER COMMAND COMBAT REPORT FORM "F"

(typed from the original document)

From: Headquarters, No. 1 Group

To: Headquarters, Fighter Command

A) Sector serial no. Ous/1/41

B) Serial No. of order detailing

Flight or Squadron to patrol

N I L

C) Date 2nd June 1941

D) Flight / Squadron 2 Hurricanes I 315 (Polish) Black (8 .303 Brownings)

E) No. of e/a One

F) Type of e/a Ju88

G) Time of attack Approx. 2229 hours

H) Place of attack 4 to 5 miles E.NE of Tynemouth

J) Height of e/a 1200 feet

K) Enemy casualties 1 Ju.88 destroyed

L) Our casualties - a/c 1 bullet hole in starboard wing, 1 strike tip of port wing Black 2

M) " " - personnel Nil

N) Searchlights (i) Did they illuminate enemy, if not, were they in front or behind target?

A.A. Guns. (ii) Did shell bursts assist pilot in intercepting the enemy?

A.A. fire from ships of Tyne assisted sighting e/a.

P) Range at which the fire was opened in each attack delivered on the enemy, with estimated length of burst.

Cine gun not used Black 1, first attack 2-3 seconds burst three quarter attack from port above and astern 250-200 yards, Black 2 first attack three quarter attack starboard above and astern firing all rounds 110-30 yards. Black 1, second attack 4-5 seconds burst three quarter attack from above and astern, 250-150 at 300 ft. Total round fired:

Black 1 - 550

Black 2 - 2640

F) General report

BLACK SECTION TOOK OFF OUSTON 2200 HOURS TO PATROL CONVOY BETWEEN HARTLEPOOL AND TYNE, BUT WERE VECTORED ACROSS TYNE GUN ZONE TO RAID 625 WHICH HAD ENTERED SECTOR FROM TEES AND WAS FLYING ALONG COAST REPORTED AT 2000 FEET. SECTION CROSSED 7 MILES SECTION CROSSED COAST S OF TYNEMOUTH AND WERE VECTORED AFTER RAID AND ABOUT 7 MILES BEHIND. NEAR BLYTH E/A TURNED S AND BLACK SECTION WERE VECTORED 180 AT GATE. AT SEAHAM E/A TURNED N AND SECTION FOLLOWED SIGHTING E/A AT 2226 HOURS OFF TYNE.

THROUGHOUT THIS APPROACH R.O.S. PROVIDED A COMMENTARY ON RELATIVE POSITIONS WHICH GREATLY ASSISTED CONTROLLER.

SECTION APPROACHED IN LINE ASTERN BELOW AND CLIMBED ABOVE, BLACK 1 ATTACKING FROM ABOVE AND ASTERN AND BLACK 2 FROM STARBOARD ABOVE AND ASTERN. FIRE FROM UPPER REAR POSITION EXPERIENCED WHICH CEASED DURING ATTACK BY BLACK 2.

E/A THEN BEGAN TO LOOSE HEIGHT AND SMOKE APPARED FROM BOTH MOTORS. BLACK 1 ATTACKED AGAIN TO MAKE SURE AND E/A PLUNGED INTO THE SEA NEAR A SHIP OFF TYNE. A/C TRIED TO ESCAPE CLIMBING TO CLOUD BUT ALTHOUGH MOMENTARILY LOST BY BLACK 1 WAS ENGAGED BY BLACK 2 CASUALTY CONFIRMED BY 72 BLUE, SOME SEARCHLIGHT SITES AND POLICE WHO SAW E/A ENTER SEA.

E/A WAS A JU.88 CAMOUFLAGED DARK GREEN, LIGHT BLUISH GREEN UNDERSURFACES.

AT FIRST E/A APPEARED TO BE FOUR ENGINE BECAUSE OF BOMB RACK BLISTERS UNDER WINGS.

WEATHER CLOUD BASE 1000 FEET TO 2000 FEET. 6 TO 10 TENTHS VARYING IN THICKNESS. VISIBILTY 1 TO 3 MILES.

BLACK 1 F/O NIEMIEC (POLISH)

BLACK 2 SGT. BARANOWSKI (POLISH)

QQQQ+

CC/N1/NA+ CC WA AT 2000. :- SECTION CROSSED COAST S OF +

TAA B1+

CC WA BLACK 1 F/O. NIEMIEC (POLISH)

TAA B+

OUSTON INTEL RO149/3/6 KWH KKK +++

The Enemy Aircraft - Junkers Ju88 A-5

Below is a Bundesarchiv photograph of a Junkers Ju 88 A-5 twin engined bomber, of the same unit as the aircraft coded M2+DL werk nummer 3422 shot down by Niemiec and Baranowski. The aircraft was probably based at Amsterdam Schipol airfield in the occupied Netherlands. The Junkers was piloted by Oberfeldwebel Bernard Winse of Flugzeugführer 3. / Küstenfliegergruppe 106. Winse managed to ditch his aircraft successfully, but he and another crew member Obergefreiter H. Forstbach were killed. The two other crew members, Oberleutnant zur See H. Borger and Obergefreiter K. Schummers were rescued by a fishing boat and taken prisoner of war.

Also shown below, is the emblem of Küstenfliegergruppe 106 on the left, and 3 Staffel of KFG 106 on the right.

The Junkers Ju 88 shown in the photograph above (M2+AK) probably corresponds closely in appearance to the sister aircraft M2+DL shot down by Niemiec and Baranowski. The code 'M2' signifies KFG 106 (the Wing or Geschwader), and the third letter 'A' is coloured (perhaps red) and is the individual aircraft letter within the squadron (Staffel), usually painted in the Staffel colour. This individual letter may be repeated under the wings. The fourth letter 'K' signifies the Staffel or Gruppe within the Geschwader. The overall paint finish for the aircraft is two shades of dark and mid green on the upper surface, in a 'splinter' (angular) pattern, with pale blue undersurfaces. It can also be seen that the black and white Luftwaffe iron crosses (Balkenkreuz) have been roughly overpainted to make them less visible. This also applies, moreso, to the two large Balkenkreuz on the upper wing surfaces.

The large single tail fin of this Junkers is not visible in the photograph, but on it would be a large swastika insignia (Hakenkreuz), again probably roughly overpainted to make the white less visible. Other parts of the aircraft that are not visible in the photo may be decorated, such as the propellor spinners painted in the Staffel colour. Each Staffel also had a badge and this, or the Geschwader badge, was often painted on the nose of the aircraft, or on the engine cowlings. The badge of 3 staffel of Geschwader 106 consisted of a winged dagger on a black shield, as illustrated above.

The ground crew are loading two large 500kg anti-shipping bombs under the wings, on racks between the engines and the fuselage. These correspond to the 'objects' mentioned in the Combat Report (above), which were initially thought to be part of a four engined aircraft.

Air Ministry News Release

Subsequently the Air Ministry issued a news release, as follows;

Photographs were taken at Ouston shortly after the event. The first shows Flying Officer Pawel Niemiec being congratulated by Squadron Leader Brzezina after the unit's first success;

The second photo (below) is of Sergeant Tadeusz Baranowski, probably taken around the same time in the Summer of 1941; In place of the usual RAF Pilot's Wings on the left breast of his tunic, he wears the Polish 'Eagle Wings' higher up on the tunic. Note also that in the first photo his top tunic button is undone, this being the unofficial 'trademark' of a fighter pilot.

This was Baranowski's only successful action of the War, for on 30th December 1941, after 317 Squadron had moved south from Ouston, he was shot down into the English Channel. Incredibly he then survived for 16 hours in the December sea, before being rescued by a German float plane. Presumably he was able to deploy his one-man rubber dingy, but this would invariably involve getting soaked before climbing into it. He became a Prisoner of War and was not released until 1945. Polish POWs were not well treated by the Germans.

His remarkable life story then took another twist, for on his return to England he married Beryl Boswell (aged 25), one of the (then) well-known Boswell Twins music hall dancing sisters. Their image dated 12th July 1945 can be found on the Getty Images website, and by now Tadeusz Baranowski (aged 32) had become a Warrant Officer, and awarded the Polish Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). On her right lapel, Beryl appears to be wearing a 'sweetheart broach' in the form of the Polish Eagle's Wings. Tadeusz's top tunic button is still undone, in true fighter pilot style.

It is possible that they had first met earlier in the war, before Tadeusz was taken POW, and this would explain their rapid marraige after he returned, and also her 'sweetheart broach'. It is recorded that the Baranowskis settled in England, but nothing further has been found of their life.

Pawel Niemiec was born in Cieszyn, southern Poland on 25th November 1913. He later became one of 'The Few', fighting in the Battle of Britain, and the following details of his life and career can be found on the 'Battle of Britain Memorial London Monument' website, which source is gratefully acknowledged here;

After graduating in 1933 he went into the army but went on to successfully take the entrance exam for the Air Force Academy. Entering the academy on 15th October 1934, Niemiec was trained as a fighter pilot and assigned to Fighter Squadron 123 of the 2nd Regiment at Krakow in late 1937.

By September 1939 he was instructing at Deblin. Like many Polish airmen he escaped through Romania to France after the German attack. He did not enlist in the French forces but went on to England, arriving in late 1939.

He was commissioned in the RAFVR at RAF Eastchurch in January 1940 and sent to the Polish Wing of 3 Sschool of Technical Training at Blackpool on 1st June to await a posting. On 18th July Niemiec went to 15 EFTS Redhill for grading and testing. He went on to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge on 1st August 1940.

After he had converted to Hurricanes he joined 17 Squadron at Debden on 1st September. Operating from Tangmere after 19th August, Niemiec damaged a Do17 on 15th September, damaged another on 27th October, destroyed a Ju87 on 8th November and shared in the destruction of a Me110 on the 17th.

He was posted to 317 Squadrons Operations Room on 26th February 1941 and later began flying with the squadron. During the night of 2nd/3rd June 1941 Niemiec shared in the destruction of a Ju88 with a pilot of 317 Squadron.

Awarded the KW (gazetted 1st April 1941) and Bar (gazetted 10th September 1941), Niemiec was appointed a Flight Commander with 317 on 1st March 1942. He was off operations for some weeks recovering from a landing accident where he sustained facial injuries.

He was given command of 308 Squadron at Northolt on 5th March 1943 and led it until 15th May. He was posted to 316 Squadron, also at Northolt, on 17th August and took command on 15th September.

Niemiec was awarded a second Bar to the KW (gazetted 20th October 1943).

He took command of 306 Squadron on 26th June 1944 and on 26th July he shared in destroying a V1 flying bomb.

He was posted away to HQ PAF on 25th September and attached to 13 Group [based in Newcastle upon Tyne]. On 11th March 1945 Niemiec was attached to the School of Air Support at Old Sarum for a course and then joined 84 GSU on 18th April for flying duties. He took command of 317 Squadron at Warelbusch, Germany on 17th May 1945.

Awarded the VM (5th Class)(gazetted 1st June 1945), Niemiec returned to 316 Squadron, then at Andrews Field, on 12th October 1945 to take command.

He was released from the Polish Air Force in December 1946 as a Squadron Leader.

Niemiec later settled in Argentina. He died on 11th May 1985 in Buenos Aires.

Acknowledgement

Although most of the material used above is in the public domain, I am indebted to the the website "Polish Airmen Remembered.com" for having previously collated the various sources to produce a comprehensive history of the Polish squadrons in the RAF, and their pilots.