The Airmen's Stories - F/O B Groszewski

Bernard Groszewski was born on 9th October 1909 in Grudziadz, on the Vistula in northern Poland.

He graduated from the Polish Fighter Academy in 1933 and was posted to the 3rd Fighter Regiment in Poznan. In the autumn of 1937 he took command of 162 Flight of III/6 Fighter Squadron at Lodz.

In the campaign of September 1939 he flew in support of the Lodz Army.

His journey to England is currently undocumented, the first reference to him is in August 1940.

Groszewski was posted to 307 Squadron at Kirton-in-Lindsey on 10th September 1940. After a spell at Old Sarum, he joined 43 Squadron at Usworth on 26th October 1940.

He was then posted to 315 Squadron at Acklington at its formation on 21st January 1941. He then went to 61 OTU Heston on 8th September 1941 as an instructor but moved to 58 OTU Grangemouth on the 29th.

He returned to 315 Squadron, then at Northolt, on 2nd November 1941.

The squadron was flying high cover near the French coast on 12th December. Groszewski, in Spitfire BL323, was shot down near Le Touquet and Berck. He was seen in the water but drowned before help arrived.

His body was washed up on the beach and buried in Boulogne-sur-Mer Cemetery.

Groszewski was awarded the KW (gazetted 20th August 1942).

He is also commemorated on the Polish War Memorial at Northolt.