Polish historians find WWII bomber with remains of Canadian, British crew

Canadian Sig · 12-01-2006, 05:42 PM

Polish historians find WWII bomber with remains of Canadian, British crew
December 1, 2006 - 0:12 pm

By: MONIKA SCISLOWSKA

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Polish historians have recovered a Royal Air Force Halifax bomber from the Second World War and the remains of its Canadian and British crew, a find yielding treasures for a Warsaw museum that could also provide closure for the families of the doomed airmen.

The badly-damaged hull of the bomber from the 148 Squadron RAF, with remains of its crew, documents and personal belongings, was recently found buried under a field near the southern town of Dabrowa Tarnowska, project manager Piotr Sliwowski told The Associated Press.

According to records, the Halifax JP-276A took off on its final flight with a crew of five Canadians and two Britons from the Italian city of Brindisi around 8 p.m. on Aug. 4, 1944. Canadian pilot Capt. A.R. Blynn was leading the mission to drop supplies of weapons and ammunition to the Polish underground as the Warsaw ghetto uprising raged.

But it was shot down by Poland's Nazi occupiers and remained buried for more than six decades until local residents revealed its location earlier this year. They alerted Warsaw's Museum of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, which started recovery work about two months ago, Sliwowski said.

All elements are now in the museum in the capital undergoing conservation and restoration, said Sliwowski, who heads the museum's history department.

"This is an extraordinary, rare find," Sliwowski said. "There are only three Halifaxes in museums around the world."

The discovery took on a human dimension with the find of the remains of the airmen.

"These were boys aged 28 or 30. Their remains were for decades in the ground; now they will be able to return to their homelands," Sliwowski said.

The historians also found documents, notes and maps and personal items like a folding knife and an well-preserved aviator's badge, "looking like new," Sliwowski said.

"It takes you back 62 years and you start thinking, what were they like, what did they look like, did they have girl friends."

The historians have contacted the British and Canadian embassies in Warsaw.

The plane was part of the Allied effort to supply Poland's resistance near the end of the Second World War. Although its mission came early on in the Warsaw uprising, the planes were banned by British Air Marshal John Slessor from flying over the capital because of the danger and ordered to drop their supplies elsewhere, Sliwowski said.

Containers of weapons and ammunition were found aboard the crashed Halifax.

There are only two restored Halifax bombers in the world, one on display on Britain's Yorkshire Air Museum and the other at the Royal Canadian Air Force Museum in Trenton, Ont. A third Halifax is on display in its "as-recovered" condition at the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Museum in London.

http://www.news1130.com/news/nationa...ntent=n120135A

Fade · 12-01-2006, 05:47 PM

Good find. Finally goin home - RIP.

Herrmannek · 12-01-2006, 05:48 PM

Great find... I'm sure everything will be done with due honors...

Korath · 12-01-2006, 05:55 PM

Quote:

on Aug. 4, 1944. Canadian pilot Capt. A.R. Blynn was leading the mission to drop supplies of weapons and ammunition to the Polish underground as the Warsaw ghetto uprising raged.

Oh please! It was the Warsaw uprising. The ghetto uprising was one year earlier.

phoilme · 12-01-2006, 06:02 PM

"It takes you back 62 years and you start thinking, what were they like, what did they look like, did they have girl friends."

Not while the American's were near. C'mon, I kid, just kidding becuase I love. Happy for the families who can put much to rest and be assured of the honorable service they gave. Some gave all. RIP

daily666 · 12-01-2006, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Korath

Oh please! It was the Warsaw uprising. The ghetto uprising was one year earlier.

Yes, journalists still have a problem distinguisihing one from another.

RIP

Dronetek · 12-01-2006, 06:05 PM

Rip

12345678

Stolly · 12-01-2006, 06:20 PM

RIP.

The pedant in me must also point out that the Halifax at Elvington is a replica built starting in the late 80's, not an original restoration.

Hypno85 · 12-01-2006, 06:41 PM

Rest In Peace.

tyovan4 · 12-01-2006, 10:34 PM

RIP to the fallen - hopefully they will be able to track some of the surviving relatives and let them know their loved ones will be coming home after so many long years away.

rhino · 12-01-2006, 10:45 PM

finally on a way home, Rest In Peace

dave81 · 12-02-2006, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoilme

"It takes you back 62 years and you start thinking, what were they like, what did they look like, did they have girl friends."

Not while the American's were near.

Funny. And you know they would have had a snappy comeback.
RIP gents.

HOLLiS · 12-02-2006, 01:11 AM

It may have been a long time ago, But!! it is giid they finally made it home. Rest In Peace.......... I pray their Family can find peace.

Kingswat · 12-02-2006, 01:15 AM

Rip .

12-01-2006, 05:42 PM	#1
Canadian Sig LAWB Classified "Protected Species" Join Date: May 2005 Location: Fu*k it...I'm outta here.... Posts: 8,444	Polish historians find WWII bomber with remains of Canadian, British crew Polish historians find WWII bomber with remains of Canadian, British crew December 1, 2006 - 0:12 pm By: MONIKA SCISLOWSKA WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Polish historians have recovered a Royal Air Force Halifax bomber from the Second World War and the remains of its Canadian and British crew, a find yielding treasures for a Warsaw museum that could also provide closure for the families of the doomed airmen. The badly-damaged hull of the bomber from the 148 Squadron RAF, with remains of its crew, documents and personal belongings, was recently found buried under a field near the southern town of Dabrowa Tarnowska, project manager Piotr Sliwowski told The Associated Press. According to records, the Halifax JP-276A took off on its final flight with a crew of five Canadians and two Britons from the Italian city of Brindisi around 8 p.m. on Aug. 4, 1944. Canadian pilot Capt. A.R. Blynn was leading the mission to drop supplies of weapons and ammunition to the Polish underground as the Warsaw ghetto uprising raged. But it was shot down by Poland's Nazi occupiers and remained buried for more than six decades until local residents revealed its location earlier this year. They alerted Warsaw's Museum of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, which started recovery work about two months ago, Sliwowski said. All elements are now in the museum in the capital undergoing conservation and restoration, said Sliwowski, who heads the museum's history department. "This is an extraordinary, rare find," Sliwowski said. "There are only three Halifaxes in museums around the world." The discovery took on a human dimension with the find of the remains of the airmen. "These were boys aged 28 or 30. Their remains were for decades in the ground; now they will be able to return to their homelands," Sliwowski said. The historians also found documents, notes and maps and personal items like a folding knife and an well-preserved aviator's badge, "looking like new," Sliwowski said. "It takes you back 62 years and you start thinking, what were they like, what did they look like, did they have girl friends." The historians have contacted the British and Canadian embassies in Warsaw. The plane was part of the Allied effort to supply Poland's resistance near the end of the Second World War. Although its mission came early on in the Warsaw uprising, the planes were banned by British Air Marshal John Slessor from flying over the capital because of the danger and ordered to drop their supplies elsewhere, Sliwowski said. Containers of weapons and ammunition were found aboard the crashed Halifax. There are only two restored Halifax bombers in the world, one on display on Britain's Yorkshire Air Museum and the other at the Royal Canadian Air Force Museum in Trenton, Ont. A third Halifax is on display in its "as-recovered" condition at the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Museum in London. http://www.news1130.com/news/nationa...ntent=n120135A

12-01-2006, 05:47 PM	#2
Fade Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In freedom, which others have died for so that I may have it. Posts: 5,896	Good find. Finally goin home - RIP.

12-01-2006, 05:48 PM	#3
Herrmannek Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Poland, Festung Breslau, Car Trunk: In the rear with the gear, tip: Never Forget Poland Age: 28 Posts: 12,153	Great find... I'm sure everything will be done with due honors...

12-01-2006, 06:02 PM	#5
phoilme Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dubuque Age: 43 Posts: 815	*"It takes you back 62 years and you start thinking, what were they like, what did they look like, did they have girl friends."* Not while the American's were near. C'mon, I kid, just kidding becuase I love. Happy for the families who can put much to rest and be assured of the honorable service they gave. Some gave all. RIP

12-01-2006, 06:05 PM	#7
Dronetek Banned user Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA Posts: 2,213	Rip 12345678

12-01-2006, 06:20 PM	#8
Stolly Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 460	RIP. The pedant in me must also point out that the Halifax at Elvington is a replica built starting in the late 80's, not an original restoration.

12-01-2006, 06:41 PM	#9
Hypno85 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: UK Age: 24 Posts: 2,555	Rest In Peace.

12-01-2006, 10:34 PM	#10
tyovan4 The Guy With the Hat Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Pittsburgh - USA Age: 22 Posts: 3,128	RIP to the fallen - hopefully they will be able to track some of the surviving relatives and let them know their loved ones will be coming home after so many long years away.

12-01-2006, 10:45 PM	#11
rhino A whitless title. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Taking the path of least resistance will only get you walking in circles Posts: 7,702	finally on a way home, Rest In Peace

12-02-2006, 01:11 AM	#13
HOLLiS Hood, Robin Hood Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Setting on top of a Mountain with a bowl of rice contemplating something really Important. Posts: 20,753	It may have been a long time ago, But!! it is giid they finally made it home. Rest In Peace.......... I pray their Family can find peace.

12-02-2006, 01:15 AM	#14
Kingswat Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 4,626	Rip .