Saw this in the local paper this week……just up the road from me,wish I’d known about it!
Mustang Sally! Plane propeller uncovered after 62 years
By Anna Brett
Fragments of a Second World War fighter plane, buried for 62 years, have been unearthed in a farmer’s field.
The P-51 Mustang 111 crashed in Gould’s Farm, Duckend Green near Rayne, during a dive-bombing exercise on August 2, 1945.
Its pilot, Polish squadron leader Aleksander Pietrzac reported problems after taking off from nearby Andrewsfield airfield, Stebbing, but continued after checking his plane.
Mr Pietrzac, a respected doodlebug-destroyer, later lost control of the aircraft at around 50 ft, and was ejected as it started to climb.
He died instantly, and his place crashed after climbing to 3,000 ft, records show.
Farm owner Roger Jiggins had been trying to uncover the truth about the incident, when crash site historians from The Remembrance Society, based in Buckinghamshire, got in touch.
Volunteers from the society were joined by supporters of Redhill’s Wings Museum at the dig today (Saturday September 15).
Archeologist David King said the team, aged ten to 62, had hoped to uncover more of the 12 cylinder aircraft, but were pleased to find a propeller, exhaust and engine valve, among other parts.
He said: “We had the full report on the aircraft made at the time which indicated there would be a lot of wreckage but it appears they have done more recovery than they stated.”
Melvin Brownless, also of the society, said: “Once the propeller is cleaned up it will make a good centrepiece. The local historical society in Rayne want a report to put on their website and a few pieces to keep. It was quite exciting when we found the propeller as we thought here was a good chance there would be other ones. The engine has just shattered into a million pieces.”
Pensioner David McGregor, an eye-witness to the 1945 crash, joined them to tell of the ball of fire he saw descending on the field at the time.
The society would love to hear from anyone else who saw or knows about this crash, or any other in the country.
Contact Mr King on 01296 711177.
By: kelly - 7th October 2007 at 23:37
News articles
There are a couple of follow up stories to this event:
This is the first: http://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1734512.0.tragic_love_story_unearthed.php
This the second.
http://www.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1736641.0.emotional_visit_of_pilots_family_to_crash_site.php
Hope that you find them interesting reading.
Kelvin
By: kelly - 7th October 2007 at 23:19
Alex Pietrzak
Many thanks for that lead Adrian – I have found his contact details and emailed him this evening. You really are a helpful lot on here and anyone who would like a copy of the DVD slide show that I am putting together I would be happy to send one – once completed that is. A book may well follow as the story has many interesting items.
Thanks again.
Kelvin
By: adrian_gray - 7th October 2007 at 13:25
Thank YOU for posting the link to the recovery story!
If you search for a forum member called Pete Truman – like me, he uses his name as his screen ID – he knows of a Polish pilot still living in Essex, and MIGHT have an address. A huge coincidence if he did turn out to have known Alex, but he might know people who know people if you see what I mean.
Good luck finding out more!
Adrian
By: kelly - 6th October 2007 at 19:33
Links
Again, many thanks for the links. It really is very much appreciated. I am sure that eventually and probably through this forum I will, in time make contact with some former 309 relatives. What a great day that will be.
By: antoni - 6th October 2007 at 16:45
309 Squadron photogrpahs can be seen here as well.
By: Denis - 6th October 2007 at 16:09
You have probably seen this 309 squadron association link, but if not then click on http://www.geocities.com/skrzydla/index.html
The Sawbridgeworth Air Training Corp have adopted 309 squadron as their patron squadron.
Contact A Passfield , Flight Lieutenant RAFVR (T) – Officer Commanding
A.T.C. HQ
Cutforth Road
Sawbridgeworth
Hertfordshire
CM21 9EA
Phone: 01279 723517
email: [email]309atc@btconnect.com[/email]
Web pages: www.aircadets.org
Not a lot of help, but could be useful.
By: kelly - 6th October 2007 at 15:05
Mustang
It is with great thanks I write this message and also in the hope that someone reading this can put me in touch with Alex’s friends/relatives from any of the squadrons he served with, 302, 316 and 309 suadron’s. Or if any of you learned visitors can guide me to area’s to search – would be appreciated.
I understand that a son of a former 309 squadron pilot also lives in that area and has many photographs – be great to find him.
We hope to erect some form of memorial in the area shortly. We plan to take some of the pieces of the Mustang to the Museum in Krakow, Poland later this year. They already have his medals and logbooks that his son donated earlier in 2007.
http://www.muzeumlotnictwa.pl/indexen.php
I became interested seeing a website from a chap in Canada who had listed Alex as an V1 Ace but no details on him – so emailed what I had.
http://www.acesofww2.com/poland/pietrzak.htm
Thanks again all of you.
By: Jim C - 5th October 2007 at 17:39
Glad to be of assistance Kelly 🙂
By: kelly - 3rd October 2007 at 17:40
mustang
Amazing the outcome and most of this due to this forum – many thanks.
http://www.wingsmuseum.co.uk/mustang_fx876_recovery.htm
By: adrian_gray - 25th September 2007 at 14:27
Talk about a small world – I used to work in the Jiggins’ poultry plant! Good job I didn’t know there was a Mustang in a field, or I’d have been off with me spade!
Adrian
By: Denis - 25th September 2007 at 13:30
Right under your nose Jim!, but looks like your post has reunited a relative with the story:)
By: kelly - 24th September 2007 at 23:25
W/O Alexsander Pietrzak
What a find this article is!
My mother was Alex’s wife and my elder brother – Stefan Pietrzak – Alex’s son. We are also doing some research into Alex and would be happy to make contact with anyone within this dig / group who share the same interests as us.
By: antoni - 21st September 2007 at 23:38
On 12th July 1944 F/Sgt A. Pietrzak’s Mustang FB378 was severly damaged by an exploding V-1 (his third) and he abandoned his aircraft by parachute. On 14th October flying Mustang SZ.L FB386 W/O A.Pietrzak destroyed a Bf 109 near Duisburg when excourting bombers during a Ramrod. At this time he was with 316 Squadron. On 2nd August 1945 he had transferred to 309 Squadron. He was never a squadron leader, someone has confused him with 309’s OC Squadron Leader Henryk Pietrzak. Serial number of the Mustang was FX876, don’t know the individual letter of codes. Cause probably due to a/c malfunction. He is credited with four and a quarter V-1s destroyed.
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September 21, 2007 at 10:26 pm