Spitfire BS410

[AAS]

May 2009

World War II fighter pilot is reunited with the Spitfire he was shot down in 65 years ago 

A fighter pilot shot down over France more than 65 years ago has been re-united with the Spitfire that almost became his tomb.

Piotr Kuryllowicz was serving with the RAF in 1943 when he bailed out of his blazing Spitfire Mk IX over the Somme after an attack by a Luftwaffe fighter.

The plane, which plummeted 20,000 feet into the ground, lay buried six metres deep until it was recovered in 2005 by French enthusiasts and sent for restoration.

 

 

 

Piotr Kuryllowicz surveys parts of the wreckage with Pierre Ben, the archaeologist who led the team which recovered the aircraft

 

And in May 2009, the 90-year-old who now lives in Canada, took his place back behind the controls for the first time since he was shot down. I’ll 

Remembering the last time he flew the plane with No. 315 and No317 Squadrons, he said: ‘We were always having lectures, every week it would be something different. In one they told us if you are more than 250 feet away from the enemy, don't bother firing because you will only dent the aircraft from that distance.

‘Well, we were over Somme flying close escort and I looked over my shoulder and could see someone firing at me, I think it was a Focke Wulf or a ME109. 

‘I thought they were too far away to do any damage, the next thing I know I could hear someone on the radio saying Kuryllowicz is on fire.’

Mr Kuryllowicz, who received the Polish Cross of Valour for his wartime efforts, was captured by the Germans while the plane lay wrecked in the French fields until 2005. 

He remained a POW until the end of the war, interned in the Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp made famous in The Great Escape and The Wooden Horse.

 

Sergeant Kuryllowicz is pictured second from the right in this photograph of 317 Squadron taken in 1942

 

The plane was recovered by French aviation enthusiast Pierre Ben and a team from Somme Aviation 39-45, who discovered it buried 6 metres below the ground.

Remarkably some of its original skin was intact, including the squadron insignia and markings, which helped them to identify it and trace Mr Kuryllowicz.

At a special ceremony in France in 2006, he saw the wreckage for the first time and was presented with a crowbar that could have saved his life. 

Mr Kuryllowicz used the tool, mounted on the inside of the door, to break the jammed lock of the cockpit canopy, before climbing free of the burning plane and parachuting to safety.

‘As I climbed out on to the side of the plane I remember looking at the rivets and thinking how big they looked. It is strange the things that go through your head when something like that happens,’ said Mr Kuryllowicz.

‘I make sure I have a crowbar in every car I drive now.’

This past week BS410 took to the sky’s once again. 

Mr Kuryllowicz is 103 and living in Georgtown Ontario. 

Edited May 4, 2022 by AAS
Photos

[Kip Powick]

Link or at least some screen shots, (photos), alluded to in the article please.

[AAS]

Are the photos there now?

[Kip Powick]

3 hours ago, AAS said:

Are the photos there now?

Yes, and thank you !! 

[GDR]

Sounds like he is still driving at 103. That is definitely part of my plan from now on.  

[AAS]

May 13th was the 79th anniversary of Mr. Kuryllowicz getting shot down. 

[Moon The Loon]

On 5/4/2022 at 5:55 PM, AAS said:

May 2009

World War II fighter pilot is reunited with the Spitfire he was shot down in 65 years ago 

A fighter pilot shot down over France more than 65 years ago has been re-united with the Spitfire that almost became his tomb.

Piotr Kuryllowicz was serving with the RAF in 1943 when he bailed out of his blazing Spitfire Mk IX over the Somme after an attack by a Luftwaffe fighter.

The plane, which plummeted 20,000 feet into the ground, lay buried six metres deep until it was recovered in 2005 by French enthusiasts and sent for restoration.

 

 

 

Piotr Kuryllowicz surveys parts of the wreckage with Pierre Ben, the archaeologist who led the team which recovered the aircraft

 

And in May 2009, the 90-year-old who now lives in Canada, took his place back behind the controls for the first time since he was shot down. I’ll 

Remembering the last time he flew the plane with No. 315 and No317 Squadrons, he said: ‘We were always having lectures, every week it would be something different. In one they told us if you are more than 250 feet away from the enemy, don't bother firing because you will only dent the aircraft from that distance.

‘Well, we were over Somme flying close escort and I looked over my shoulder and could see someone firing at me, I think it was a Focke Wulf or a ME109. 

‘I thought they were too far away to do any damage, the next thing I know I could hear someone on the radio saying Kuryllowicz is on fire.’

Mr Kuryllowicz, who received the Polish Cross of Valour for his wartime efforts, was captured by the Germans while the plane lay wrecked in the French fields until 2005. 

He remained a POW until the end of the war, interned in the Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp made famous in The Great Escape and The Wooden Horse.

 

Sergeant Kuryllowicz is pictured second from the right in this photograph of 317 Squadron taken in 1942

 

The plane was recovered by French aviation enthusiast Pierre Ben and a team from Somme Aviation 39-45, who discovered it buried 6 metres below the ground.

Remarkably some of its original skin was intact, including the squadron insignia and markings, which helped them to identify it and trace Mr Kuryllowicz.

At a special ceremony in France in 2006, he saw the wreckage for the first time and was presented with a crowbar that could have saved his life. 

Mr Kuryllowicz used the tool, mounted on the inside of the door, to break the jammed lock of the cockpit canopy, before climbing free of the burning plane and parachuting to safety.

‘As I climbed out on to the side of the plane I remember looking at the rivets and thinking how big they looked. It is strange the things that go through your head when something like that happens,’ said Mr Kuryllowicz.

‘I make sure I have a crowbar in every car I drive now.’

This past week BS410 took to the sky’s once again. 

Mr Kuryllowicz is 103 and living in Georgtown Ontario. 

It's usual to post the source of articles like this. The statement "...more than 65 years ago..." is technically correct but from today's year, 1943 was 79 years ago. Would you please post the source? Thanks in advance...

[AAS]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1189481/World-War-II-fighter-pilot-reunited-Spitfire-shot-65-years-ago.html

[Moon The Loon]

6 hours ago, AAS said:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1189481/World-War-II-fighter-pilot-reunited-Spitfire-shot-65-years-ago.html

THANK YOU. Article dated 2009. Why is it like pulling teeth getting a source like this to any post?

 

[IFG]

On 5/15/2022 at 8:45 PM, Moon The Loon said:

THANK YOU. Article dated 2009. Why is it like pulling teeth getting a source like this to any post?

It's OK, Moon', pour yourself another bowl of Corn Flakes .

Truly, bugs me too when cut-and-pastes are not linked. OP likely just didn't catch the ..er.. seniority .. of that piece, altho' the year references were a hint .

But, if you really want to know it, just swipe a sentence or two, place it in quotes in the Google window, and voila!

Cheers - IFG 

Edited May 17, 2022 by IFG

[AAS]

https://aircrewremembered.com/kuryllowicz-wladyslaw-piotr.html
 

It was 80 years ago that this aircraft was shot down.