Spring 1944. S/Ldr Horbaczewski (squatting) with a group of newly arrived NCO pilots. Second from right is Tamowicz. (Courtesy of K. Tyszka)
Jun 22
During one of the strafing runs, two unit's aircraft were hit. In result
Mustang piloted by P/O Stefankiewicz (FB398, PK-A) crashed burying the
pilot, while W/O Tamowicz's a/c was severely damaged by several 20-mm shells hitting engine and fuselage. He
R/T his condition and managed to crash-land his Mustang in the wide area of a
marsh, which was separating fighting forces. Being
wounded in both legs, the pilot crawled out of the cockpit and
to the clump of the nearest bushes. S/Ldr Horbaczewski observed
this scene while circling low over his downed pilot. Tamowicz
recognized the a/c of his leader and waved his hands to indicate
that he is alive and relatively all right. He took off his wet
clothes and used his shirt to dress his bleeding legs. The day
was sunny and at least he wasn’t cold.
Meantime, Horbaczewski found a short strip a few kilometers away, where a group of Americans was preparing
an advanced airfield. "Dziubek" circled it and decided to land. Among the Americans were
few of Polish descend and they showed a lot of enthusiasm to his plan to rescue
another Polish
flyer. Horbaczewski borrowed a Jeep from them, and went in the
direction of Tomowicz’s belly-landed a/c. He reached the
area after about 30 minutes. Last 500 yd he had to flounder
through, calling his wounded colleague. Tamowicz was very
surprised by this unexpected rescue and still in shock. He was
preoccupied mostly with his plane, which by that time sunk
completely in the mud. They waded their way through to the Jeep
and soon reached "Dziubek’s" Mustang where
Americans greeted them with loud cheering. Tamowicz sat first in
the cockpit with Horbaczewski on his lap. Moaning and biting on a
scrap of his shirt, Tamowicz served as seat for his commander who
fortunately, was of a rather small stature.
His Mustang’s engine was still warm and it started
without any problem. "Dziubek" taxied to the end of the
strip and took off with the audience of still loudly cheering
Americans. Soon they landed in Coolham where they were cheered
again, this time by their own squadron personnel. Some of those who
witnessed this return were deeply moved by Horbaczewski’s
action. There were some grumble on British side at his undisciplined move,
especially sine he was a Squadron Leader and Tamowicz
only a NCO, both employed by the R.A.F.!
Spring 1944. S/Ldr Horbaczewski (squatting) with a
group of newly arrived NCO pilots. Second from right is Tamowicz. (Courtesy of K.
Tyszka)
Page from W/O Tamowicz's log book, where at the date of
22 (June) is a very unusual entry made. In the column Pilot or First Pilot, name
Horbaczewski is clearly visible and his a/c (G) is marked. In the Duty
column: Return with C/O. France. On the opposite page a note says: shot
down and crashed landing South of Cherbourg. Ack.Ack.
(Courtesy of K. Tyszka)
This publicity photo taken at Ford, shows Horbaczewski re-enacting the events of 22 June.
The passenger is Sgt Slon, who replaced injured Sgt Tamowicz. It looks like this aircraft is fitted with the K14 Gyro
gun sight. (IWM)
The squadron moving to Homsley South.
June 24, 1944. RAF Homsley South, interrogation room.
F/Sgt Bargielowski explaining his action to the squadron's IO.