F/O Kirste in the cockpit of his Mustang PK-M. This picture appeared on the front page of the war newspaper: "Glos Wolnosci"
May 25
According to the Intelligence, in Chateauroux area (Vichy), Luftwaffe
had an airfield, where it was training its young fighter pilots.
Objective of this mission was to disrupt its activity by strafing
it.
Section of four a/c led by F/Lt Marciniak took off around 5 p.m.
It was a beautiful evening and the weather was predicted to be
clear throughout the flight. In a close formation a/c flew over
the channel on a deck. Continuing flying very low, a/c headed for
Nevers. All the way toward the target area nothing happened;
their navigation was excellent.
Just before reaching enemy airfield near Chateauroux, F/Lt
Marciniak wobbled the wings of his Mustang giving the signal take
a line-abreast formation. Keeping a distance of 50+ feet between
them, Polish a/c forayed on a sleepy airfield.
F/O Kirste recalls: "As soon as we passed over the trees I had my sight and my guns ready. Next thing I knew, I had field kitchen lined-up with big gathering of young soldiers waiting for their chow. I could see their young faces and their still postures holding to their food dishes of some sort. I could've wiped them out in a couple of seconds.... and I did not press the trigger. Something inside me told me not to. Even today I am not sure if I did the right thing. After the flight I shared this only with my beloved commander: "Dziubek" Horbaczewski. I found it very relieving when he told me: 'Maciek, you're fighter pilot not a butcher'."
Mustangs went for a second pass strafing hangars, ordnance
vehicles and some planes lined-up on the side. All four a/c
created havoc on the ground with their action, which lasted
about 10 min. Except of the sporadic machine-gun fire, there was no
defense. Then F/Lt Marciniak called out e/a coming high from SE
at 3000 feet. They were two Arado-96*, which at this moment
separated themselves a little, and it looked like they were about
to traverse the strip getting ready to land. All four Polish
Mustangs sneaked on them from below and in their
six-o’clock. It appeared that the German pilots did not see
the coming danger. Each Mustang pilot gave them a short burst and
Arados went down immediately, trailing a little smoke.
On their way back, Poles strafed targets of opportunity: cargo
train, army truck, transformer etc.-------. Based
on the author's interview with Mr. Maciej Kirste.
* Two German a/c were shot down
around 7:15 p.m. South of Bourges. They were piloted by Uffz Otto Reinhard (or Reinhart) flying
on Ar 96B-1 (N°1124)
and Ofhr Reckhard Rother flying on Ar 96B-7 (N°450012). Both
pilots belonged to the 3/JG105. They were buried at the cemetery of Bourges.
Near Chateauroux were two airfields: La Martiniere and Deols. Little ferther
were Bourges and Avord.
F/O Kirste in
the cockpit of his Mustang PK-M. This picture appeared on the
front page of the war newspaper: "Glos Wolnosci"
And his a/c at the Coolham airfield.
F/O Kitrse (right) and fitters of his
"M".
Coolham. May 1944. From
left: Sworniowski, Calinski, Kirste and Nowosielski.