Mosquito HK231 at Church Fenton airfield.
On 22nd October 1944 the crew of this 307 Squadron aircraft were undertaking a training flight involving practicing single engine landings at Church Fenton airfield. During one of the landings the aircraft appears to have swung off the runway. In order to stop the aircraft from overshooting the pilot raised the undercarriage to stop the aircraft but it came to rest damaged. After assessment it was deemed beyond economic repair and was written off. The 307 Squadron records do not mention this incident.
Pilot - F/Lt Zbigniew Kleniewski PAF (P.1721).
Navigator / Radar Operator - F/O Andrzej Radwanski PAF (P.2357).
Zbigniew Kleniewski was born in July 1917 in Kluczkowice, Poland. He earlier served with 302 Squadron before receiving a commission (P.781414). He appears to have been doing some form of ferry work in early 1941 (possibly with 24 M.U.) as there are referenced to him being involved in two forced landings, one on 1st January 1941 when he crash landed a Defiant on a ferry flight and another on 28th February 1941 he crash landed Spitfire P7929 near Ternhill also on a ferry flight. He was posted to 307 Squadron from 54 OTU on 29th August 1944. On 7th November 1944 he was the pilot of 307 Squadron Mosquito HK159 that crashed at Church Fenton on take off. After the war he moved to Canada and died in July 2004.
It is worthwhile noting on this webpage that 22nd October 1944 was the date that Halifax LL505 crashed in the Lake District. Two 307 Squadron aircraft was asked to assist because these aircraft carried the latest night flying and radar interception equipment. As their records state, Mosquito "A-165" of 307 Squadron was ordered to "scrambled to assist bomber in distress, unfortunately the bomber was seen to force landed before any assistance could be given. Weather conditions were deplorable at the time." This first Mosquito took off at 19.50hrs and landed at 21.10hrs at Church Fenton having witnessed the Halifax fly into Great Carrs. A second Mosquito "N-113", took off at 22.05hrs and landed at 22.55hrs which the squadron records was for the same purpose but by that time the Halifax had already crashed, but possibly at that time they were not aware of the full situation. Sadly all on board Halifax LL505 were killed.