This signed 10-shilling note, called a “short snorter,” belonged to an American pilot who flew with the 94th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group. The airman was Clifford D. Molzahn and the note dates between late June 1942 and late August 1942, when the squadron was based at Kirton-in-Lindsey. At this time, the famed 303 Squadron (Polish) was assigned to the airfield and contributed much to the training of the American pilots.
On the back of the note, along the margin, is Lt. Molzahn’s name. Signing down
the length of it are the following:
Richard W. McWherter (94th FS)
Robert D. Neale Jr. (94th FS)
Lewis C. Murdock (94th FS)
Donald O. Starbuck (94th FS)
William H. Wilson (94th FS)
Glen E. Hubbard (94th FS)
Earle W. Hille Jr. (94th FS)
Jack M. Ilfrey (94th FS)
James K. Smith (94th FS)
James Harman (94th FS)
Newell O. Roberts (94th FS)
Jerzy Hamankiewicz (303 Sqdn)
Bruno J Virgili (94th FS)
Eugeniusz Horbaczewski (303 Sqdn)
Zygmunt Bienkowski (303 Sqdn)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216643[/ATTACH]
Here is a close-up of the last two signatures…
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216644[/ATTACH]
On the front of the note are most of the signatures of the men from 303
Squadron…
Jan Zumbach (303 Sqdn)
R.E Williams (94th FS)
Zbigniew Wojda (303 Sqdn)
Antoni Glowacki (303 Sqdn)
Longin Majewski (303 Sqdn)
Zygmunt Wodecki (303 Sqdn)
Czeslaw Mroczyk (303 Sqdn)
Unknown (303 Sqdn?)
Tadeusz Powierza (303 Sqdn)
G. Gwizdalski (303 Sqdn)
Unknown (303 Sqdn?)
M.H. Andrews (94th FS)
Tadeusz Kolecki (303 Sqdn)
Boleslaw Drobinski (303 Sqdn)
Clarence R. Rimke (94th FS)
Unknown (diagonally along side of note)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216651[/ATTACH]
Here are the unknown or questionable signatures…
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216650[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216647[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216648[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216649[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216645[/ATTACH]
Can any of the forum members help to identify these “unknown” men and verify the others? I have thoroughly searched the Internet for lists of pilots from the squadron, looked through mission reports, and accessed photo collections. Part of my problem in searching for these men is reading the handwriting. Perhaps those members who read or write Polish can offer suggestions as to what the names might be.
Thanks.
By: dustyshelf - 22nd May 2013 at 17:04
Anyone else with input? How about best guesses? Thanks.
By: dustyshelf - 17th May 2013 at 02:35
VoyTech—
Thanks for the identification of the two signers and correction on the third. I have made the changes on the original post.
Here is something for your consideration…
Below is the signature of the pilot I believe to be Aleksander Rokitnicki. I comes from a wartime autographed copy of the 303 Squadron history. The signature below Rokitnicki is from the “short snorter.” Do you think it, too, is that of Rokitnicki? I can see similarities in many of the letters. I have already discovered that these men signed in many different styles during this time period. You would almost not recognize the signatures as being from the same person!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216718[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216719[/ATTACH]
By: Bob - 16th May 2013 at 12:32
An interesting tradition. Maybe someway linked to the tradition of challenge coins?…
By: VoyTech - 16th May 2013 at 12:01
Eugeniusz Horbaczewski above Bienkowski.
Longin Majewski between Glowacki and Wodecki.
Wodecki’s first name was Zygmunt.
Sign In
May 16, 2013 at 2:09 am