Hurricane P3934 near Leconfield.
On 21st August 1940 this 302 Squadron aircraft was scrambled to intercept an enemy aircraft off Bridlington, this turned out to be a Junker Ju88. He attacked it and claimed it as shot down but the Hurricane was damaged by return fire damaging the engine. On the return to base of Leconfield the Hurricane suffered engine failure and the pilot attempted to glide back to Leconfield as he had suffient height on his side. The aircraft was force-landed in a field near Leconfield at 16.30hrs without injury to the pilot. The Squadron ORB adds further information, it reads.. "Whilst on patrol with blue section, P/O Chalupa attacked and shot down a Ju88, previously another Ju88 had been shot down by the Section. On returning to base P/O Chalupa noticed white smoke pouring from his engine. He tried to glide in but wind prevented his reaching drome. Forced landed in ploughed field adjacent. Pilot uninjured. Aircraft Cat.3. Aircraft P3934."
Pilot - P/O Stanislaw Jozef Chalupa PAF (P/1300). Minor injuries.
P/O Chalupa was born on 14th January 1915 and flew in Poland prior to the outbreak of the War, he destroyed one enemy aircraft while in Poland. He escaped to France and
flew in France claiming shares in at least six enemy aircraft. He arrived in the UK after France fell and arrived at 302 Squadron in July 1940. He was awarded the Virtuti
Militari on 1st February 1941, and remained with 302 Squadron until July 1942 before being posted away. In June 1944 he became an instructor with 16 SFTS before being
transferred to 3 (O)AFU as an instructor in June 1945. He left the RAF in 1946 and was awarded the Polish medal, the Cross of Valor the following year. After the War
he moved to Canada.
Hurricane P3934 was built to contract 962371/38 by the Hawker Aircraft Co. Ltd. at one of any of the Kingston/Brooklands/Langley factories. It was awaiting collection
on 5th July 1940 and taken on charge by 302 Squadron at Leconfield when the unit formed there on 13th July 1940. Following the landing on 21st August 1940 Cat.R(b) was recorded
and it was dismantled and removed to Hawker Aircraft Co. Ltd., at Kingston for repair. In November 1940 it was taken on charge by 312 Squadron at Speke. On 3rd March 1941
it moved with this unit to Valley and on 29th May 1941 with the unit to Jurby. It was later transferred to 56 OTU at Sutton Bridge and then on an unknown date transferred
to the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit at Speke for training purposes but on 2nd June 1942 it was reported as lost at sea and Cat.E(m) damage was recorded. The date of 24th
August 1940 has been quoted elsewhere for the damage at Leconfield but this is believed to have been an error.