Meteor F.4 EE598 at Church Fenton airfield.

On 26th April 1951 this 19 Squadron aircraft was belly landed in error at Church Fenton airfield during a single engine flying pratice.

Pilot - F/Sgt Miroslaw Cempel RAF (703822).


Miroslaw Cempel was born in Zoludek, Poland on 2nd February 1922 and as a young man in Poland spent time in Siberia. He later arrived in the UK and served with 315 Squadron from August 1944 until the end of the War. He had destroyed one enemy aircraft in the UK, that of one Fw190 in February 1945. He was awarded the Polish medal; the CV and Bar. After the War he transferred to the RAF and after spending five years in RAF service. He baled out of Harvard KF666 which subsequently crashed at Nether Silton on 25th January 1949 with 612 Squadron and on 26th April 1951 he belly landed 19 Squadron Meteor EE598 at Church Fenton airfield. He was granted British citizenship in July 1953 and later moved to Canada and served in the RCAF in Canada for five years. He died on 6th March 2010 in Montreal, Canada.

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