The Airmen's Stories - P/O M Feric

Miroslav Feric was born on 17th June 1915 at Travnik, near Sarajevo in Bosnia. The family moved to Poland in 1919. He entered Cadet School in 1935 and was commissioned on 15th October 1938, when he joined 111 Eskadra in Warsaw.

In September 1939 he flew with the Pursuit Brigade and was credited with sharing in the destruction of two German aircraft, a Me110 on the 6th and a Hs126 on the 8th. In one combat he baled out of his severely damaged aircraft.

After the fall of Poland, Feric escaped to Romania and then made his way to France, where he joined l’Armée de l’Air. He converted to Morane 406 fighters and joined the fighter section, commanded by Kapt. Kazimierz Kuzius, flying from airfields at Tours, Nantes and La Rochelle.

When France collapsed in June 1940, Feric escaped to England and went to the Polish Wing at 3 School of Technical Training at Blackpool to await a posting.

He joined 303 Squadron, when it was formed at Northolt on 2nd August 1940 and he converted to Hurricanes on the squadron.

On 31st August he destroyed a Me109, on 2nd September a probable Me109, on the 6th a Me109, on the 15th a Me109 and a Me110, on the 27th a Me109 and a Me110 and on 5th October a Me110.

Feric was awarded the VM (5th Class)(gazetted 23rd December 1940) and the KW (gazetted 1st February 1941).

He destroyed a Me109 on 22nd June 1941 and was awarded a Bar to the KW (gazetted 10th September 1941) and the DFC (gazetted 30th October 1941).

Between October 1941 and January 1942 Feric was still serving with 303 squadron on non-operational
instructional duties.

Feric was killed on 14th February 1942, still serving with 303 Squadron. On a training flight his Spitfire, BL432, broke up in the air and fell on Northolt aerodrome. The cause is unknown.

Feric is buried in Northwood Cemetery. He was awarded two more Bars to the KW (gazetted 31st October 1947).

Above : Feric is also commemorated on the Polish War Memorial at Northolt