Defiant L6973 near Church Fenton.
On 19th April 1941 this 54 Operational Training Unit aircraft took off from Church Fenton for its crew to undertake a training flight but it flew into the ground at 23.45hrs
near Fenton Lodge, just off the airfield, while returning to base. It broke up on impact and the pilot escaped with only slight injuries. The
air gunner was seriously injured and he sadly died two day later but rarely he was buried away from Church Fenton's regular burial plot at Kirby
Wharfe but in a Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Pilot - Sgt Josef Murzyn PAF (P/780493). Injured.
Air Gunner - Sgt Erwin Szkandera PAF (P/780711). Aged 20, of Zevrzydowice, Poland. Died of injuries. Buried St.Edward’s R.C.Churchyard, Clifford, Wetherby, Yorkshire.
Research carried out by air historian Mr Brian Lunn and shared to this account adds alot of information about Erwin Szkandera's life. He was born in the town
of Zevrzydowice in Poland on 24th October 1920 and enlisted to the Polish Air Force in 1938 at the age of seventeen. He begun flying training but left Poland
in September 1939 and reached France before arriving in the UK and joined up continuing his training. After being selected for wireless operator / air gunner
he arrived at 54 OTU at Church Fenton in September 1940. Mr Lunn contacted his sister in Poland during the research and I thank both for their input in this
account and to Mr Lunn for supplying the black and white photographs shown here.
Erwin Szkandera's original grave marker and the plaque attached to it (photograph from Mr Brian Lunn).
Historians Albert Pritchard, Eric Barton and Ken Reast tracked down witnesses to this incident and then sought permission to search for the fragments of the aircraft from the landowner. They located a handful of items on the surface in 2005 to confirm the location as being around 100 yards east of Grange Farm, Little Fenton although they could not decide if the site was Defiant L6973 or Defiant N1573. I am firmly in the belief that this site is Defiant L6973.
Jozef Murzyn later recovered from his injuries and would later serve with 307 Squadron and 316 Squadron. He was possibly from Prokocim, Poland.
Defiant L6973 was built to contract 622849/37 by Boulton & Paul Ltd. at Wolverhampton and was awaiting collection in October 1939. After
a short period of MU storage it was taken on charge by 264 Squadron at Martlesham Heath in December 1939 when the unit reformed after a twenty
year period of absence from the RAF. On 10th May 1940 it moved with the unit to Duxford and 264 Squadron saw action on 13th May 1940 when six
of the squadron's aircraft were lost or damaged over Belgium. On 28th May 1940 they again suffered four aircraft lost or damaged over Dunkirk
flying out of Manston and on 31st May 1940 a further six aircraft were lost or damaged over Dunkirk. In all cases L6973 came through unscathed.
On 23rd July 1940 it moved with the unit to Kirton in Lindsey, then on 22nd August 1940 it moved with the unit to Hornchurch and on 27th August
1940 it moved with the unit to Rochford. During the Battle of Britain it came through unscathed dispite, on 24th August 1940 264 Squadron suffered
seven aircraft lost or damaged in combat in the Hornchurch area, a further four aircraft were lost or damaged on 26th August 1940 and on 28th
August 1940 a further six aircraft were lost or damaged in what turned out to be the last daylight operation flown by the type. 264 Squadron were
withdrawn the same day, moving to Kirton in Lindsey. In October 1940 the aircraft was placed into MU storage but on 25th November 1940 it was taken
on charge by the newly formed 54 OTU at Church Fenton. As a result of the damage sustained in the crash on 19th April 1941 Cat.E2/FA damage was recorded.
