Hurricane P3217 at Leconfield airfield.
On 29th July 1940 this 302 Squadron aircraft was landing at Leconfield in a cross wind following the pilot's first familiarization flight on the Hurricane type. Although this was his first
flight in a Hurricane he was a reasonably experienced pilot having served in Poland as far back as 1936. The aircraft sustained some damage but the pilot was uninjured. The
squadron ORB makes mention of this incident and states that the pilot "was sent away for further training". By following the pilot's service history I would suggest that this never
happened as will be seen. He was simply posted to another squadron.
Pilot - F/O Kazimierz Lukaszewicz PAF (76761), aged 27.
Kazimierz Lukaszewicz was born on 25th March 1913. He graduated from pilot training in Poland and appointed to the rank of Second
Lieutenant on 15th October 1936. On the outbreak of war he was an instructor with CWL-1 in Deblin. Nothing is currently known prior
to him being posted to 302 Squadron at Leconfield on 26th July 1940 but it seems likely his route was similar to his other countrymen and
had fought in France. His mishap at Leconfield took place three days later on his first Hurricane flight. On 7th August 1940 he arrived
at 501 Squadron based at Gravesend who were fighting in the thick of the Battle of Britain at the time. I would therefore suggest that
501 Squadron were short of available aircrew and he was simply posted there to make up numbers and, as such, he received no additional
"training" to which the 302 Squadron ORB suggests. As was the case during height of the Battle of Britain many of the novice pilots
were put straight into the defence of the south of England, Lukaszewicz was one of these pilots. On 12th August 1940 flying in
Hurricane P3803 he was scrambled to intercept Messerschmitts Me-110's, escorted by Me-109's off Manston. In combat over the Channel
his Hurricane was shot down off Ramsgate at 12.55hrs and sadly his body was never found. This loss was 501 Squadron's first of the month
and is an example of the sacrifice that these pilots made during this difficult part of the War and the losses sustained should never be forgotten.
F/O Lukaszewicz's surname is spelt incorrectly in a number of modern internet-based publications. I believe that
I show the correct version of his name (excepting the flick through the "L" which the English Windows computer keyboard will not allow).
Hurricane P3217 was built to contract 962371/38/C.23a by the Gloster Aircraft Co. Ltd. at the Brockworth factory and was
awaiting collection in March 1940. After a period of MU storage it was issued to 302 Squadron at Leconfield on 13th July 1940
when the unit formed. It sustained Cat.M(c)/FA damage in the incident detailed above and was repaired on site. On completion
of the repair and on an unknown date in August 1940 it transferred to 79 Squadron at Acklington. On 27th August 1940 it moved
with this unit to Biggin Hill before, on an unknown date in September 1940, it transferred to 303 Squadron
at Northolt. On 6th October 1940 it sustained Cat.R/FB damage when Northolt was bombed by a lone raider just after midnight.
From here it was deemed badly damaged but repairable and was taken away to be repaired in works. After a period of MU storage it was then
issued to 8 TFS at Montrose on an unknown date in 1941 for communication duties. It was later struck off charge on 14th January 1942.