During the morning of 20th November 1942 the pilot of this 65 Squadron aircraft took off from Drem airfield at 09.45hrs to fly to Squires Gate airfield at Blackpool as part of a cross country training exercise. On the flight south, the aircraft was plotted as flying into the "Cumberland Hills" though nothing more was then heard or seen of the aircraft and it was assumed to have crashed at around 10.30hrs. The aircraft and the pilot must have been initially recorded as missing when they failed to reach their destination. Either later the same day or the following day the badly damaged aircraft was located in the Howtown area and the pilot was found to have been killed in the crash. The accident investigation deemed that the pilot was flying low in misty conditions and while flying at around a thousand feet, the aircraft crashd into the top of Swarth Fell. The aircraft broke up and the pilot received fatal injuries. I have found an additional reference that the crash site was guarded by members of the 35th Tank Brigade based at Lowther Castle but no other information.
Pilot - F/O Ryszard Josef Strozak PAF (P.1498), aged 26. Buried Silloth Cemetery, Cumbria.
Ryszard Strozak was born in Lviv, Poland on 21st July 1916 (now Ukraine). He was posted from 58 OTU to 316 Squadron on 18th August 1942 and flew operationally with them throughout September and October 1942. He was posted to 65 Squadron on 31st October 1942 and had been flying operationally with them since 1st November 1942 until his death. His death is was recorded in the 65 Squadron record book but also recorded in 316 Squadron's ORB stating that they were "somewhat grieved to learn of his death in a flying accident". His gravestone states that he was serving with 222 Squadron but upon searching through the free-to-view squadron ORB's on the National Archives website I have no yet found any record of him flying with 222 Squadron (in 1942).
The 49th Royal Tank Regiment / 35th Tank Brigade undertook a secretive role as a night fighting tank battalion equipped with Canal Defence Lights involving Matilda tanks fitted with this powerful searchlight. During the time at Lowther Castle the 49th Royal Tank Regiment joined the 35th Army Tank Brigade, which later formed part of 79th Armoured Division. Where they took their tanks to is not yet known but it could well be that there was a tank range somewhere on the hills surrounding Martindale. I would like to learn more of their work at Lowther Castle.
The crash site is believed to have been on the tops of Swarth Fell, near the summit top of Bonscale Pike. This photograph shows where Swarth Beck comes down from the fells above.
The location of where this incident occurred has not yet been found. If you can assist please contact me HERE. Thank you.