Kris D

This does appear to be a WWII uniform button.

Regards

Kris

Hi Kris,

Could I ask you to post any information you may have on:

ZENKER, P/O. P. 76714, and

LUKASZEWICZ, F/O. K. 76761

I am researching Pilots who died while based at RAF Gravesend in Kent. I understand that both were in 501 Sqdn and believe that they were both were shot down over the English Channel in August 1940. I am particularly interested in information regarding burials/memorials, although I would be grateful for any information you can provide.

Many thanks in advance.

Name: Pawel Zenker

D.O.B.: 25/12/1914

Service No.: P.76714

Polish Rank: Poruczenik Pilot

RAF Rank: Pilot Officer

Awards: NA

Duties: Pilot

Squadron: 501 Squadron

RAF Station: R.A.F. Gravesend

Service Details: No 5 Operational Training Unit, 501 Squadron 07/08/1940 - 2 1/4 kills, 1 damaged.

Aircraft Type: Hawker Hurricane

Mark: I

Serial Number: P3141

Squadron Code: SD-W

Date of Death: 24/08/1940

Cause of Death: KIA

Details of Death: Missing presumed KIA

Operation: Patrol - Lost during combat with Do 1

Buried: No Known Grave

Memorial: Commemorated on Polish Air Force Memorial, Northolt, Middlesex (Panel 80).

************************************************************************************

Name: Kazimierz Lukaszewicz

D.O.B.: 25/03/1913

Service No.: NOT LISTED*

Polish Rank: Poruczenik Pilot

RAF Rank: Flying Officer

Awards: NA

Duties: Pilot

Squadron: 501 Squadron

RAF Station: R.A.F. Gravesend

Service Details: No.6 Operational Training Unit, 303 Squadron 26/07/1940, 501 Squadron 07/08/1940

Aircraft Type: Hawker Hurricane

Mark: I

Serial Number: P3803

Squadron Code: SD-Z

Date of Death: 12/08/1940

Cause of Death: KIA

Details of Death: Missing presumed KIA

Operation: Patrol - Shot down by German fighter

Buried: No Known Grave

Memorial: Commemorated on Polish Air Force Memorial, Northolt, Middlesex (Panel 40).

* For service number or further details contact:

APC Polish Enquiries

RAF Northholt

Building 28B

Westend Road

Ruislip

Middlesex

HA4 6NG

0208 8338603

(Records of all Polish airmen in the UK during the war)

Regards

Kris

The list does exist at the Sikorski. In speaking with them last month I was told that there will be books of the entire list printed and available to the public by the end of the year. I was not made aware of the cost associated with this tome but I was told that the print run will be fairly limited.

Cheers,

Greg

That's great news Greg, did they indicate if it was possible to reserve / pre-order copies?.

Beats me why they don't just publish the list in pdf on their website along with the other documents available there.

Gentlemen,

I've heard that the story that Polish Monte Cassino Commemorative crosses were issued in blocks and that the numbers are not attributable to individual recipients. I've also heard (and read) - not least in this forum - of collectors finding out or "looking up" to whom these crosses were issued. Could anybody please share with me the source of these individual attributions. I've searched previous threads to see if this has been discussed previously but could find nothing that answered the question directly. Any hints, clues, suggestions or rumours are welcome!

Ah yes, the mythical (or maybe not) Monte Cassino list. Some say partial lists exist, others that the list exists in the archives of the Sikorski Institute in London.

From time to time when these crosses are listed on eBay a user called "Andrzejku" pops up and provides details of the recipient. If contacted to supply details of his sources he never responds.

The mystery continues………

Hi Nancy,

You might try the Essex Regiment museum. The address is as follows:

Essex Regiment Museum

Oaklands Park,

Moulsham Street,

Chelmsford,

Essex,

CM2 9AQ

Tel: 01245 605700

http://www.armymuseums.org.uk/museums/0000000031-Essex-Regiment-Museum.htm

Regards

Kris

Hi

Please excuse me, because i'm way out of my depth here, but i'm trying to trace some information about my Granddad. I'm pretty sure he fits the criteria of the details you have, so would you be able to have a look for the name Piotr Bartys for me? The s in Bartys may be a special character and he was later known as Peter Bartys, but i'd be grateful if you could have a little look for me

Thanks so much

Sam

Hi Sam,

The name Piotr Bartys is not listed on the "Roll of Honour" or the Polish War Memorial at Northolt. Can you confirm that he was KIA or died in an accident during the period 1940 - 47? If not can you provide any details of his service ie: squadron, rank etc. and I'll try to find out further info for you.

If you prefer to pursue your own enquiries the following three addresses should prove useful:

Ministry of Defense

CS (RM) 2c

Bourne Avenue

Hayes Middlesex

UB3 1RF

England

(Records of all Polish servicemen in the UK during the war)

The Sikorski Institute

20 Princes Gate

London SW7

APC Polish Enquiries

RAF Northholt

Building 28B

Westend Road

Ruislip

Middlesex

HA4 6NG

0208 8338603

(Records of all Polish airmen in the UK during the war)

Regards

Kris

Hello.

I'm Polish Air Force collector.

I have several air Force groups. can you let me know of citation for VM and CV fo W/O Jakub Bargielowski

Regards

Kristof

Hi Kristof

The "Roll of Honour" only lists those KIA and their service details as described in my initial post. Decorations are listed but not their actual citations. W/O Bargielowski is not listed on the roll, this would indicate that either he was not KIA or that his name is omitted.

Regards

Kris

Many thanks for the info Kris. I shall update my files accordingly.

Any date for the use of the field police badge?

Regards,

Pete

Hi Pete,

Post 10 - Field Military Police, Type I. = 1916 - 1921

Regards

Kris

Hi Pete,

Nice collection of badges.

Post 1 - 2nd Rifle Division 1940 - 1945.

Post 2 - Polish 2nd Corps Reserve Artillery Warrant Officers School.

Post 10 - Field Military Police, Type I.

Post 12 - Podholanian Rifle Battalion 1946

Regards

Kris

Bought direct from family together with a shield etc, would appreciate some idea of value. He served with the Grenadier company of the POLISH PARACHUTE BRIGADE, i am aware most of these paras were Special Forces .

thanks !!

Steve

Hi Steve,

Prof Wesolowski (http://www.polishmilitaria.com) has three badges of this period at $500 each.

Regards

Kris

Inside.

By the way I havn't a clue what it says!

Hi,

The Legitymacja indicates that flight sergant Aldridge was awarded the plain parachutist badge, the blank side opposite is for the award of the combat parachutist badge.

Regards

Kris

Kris,

I have to apologize!Mea culpa! But sometimes I can't hold me back.....To find a start-I know the makers list at Tonys page,but doesn't matter what he has listed the maker "KO" is to the day unknown.

I know the majority of the imperial collectors name them "königliches Münzamt Berlin".But you must know that there are no dies or documents left over who could confirm the production of iron crosses there.When I got Mike(RAO) right the biggest part of the dies have survived the war and are in the museum there!No traces that the berliener Münze ever made EKs!So much about "KO".

"KMST"was misinterpreted for a long time as "Kriegsministerium Abteilung Standesamt"......Doesn't make really sense.Uwe Bretzendorfer (the most of you might know his shop)has done a research in the Stuttgart archives and came out with the information that a) "KMST" is definitely the "königliches Münzamt Stuttgart and b)that theyve produced something around 6000 1st classes(from my memory,he's written that in the SDA)

What will be next-We all remember the lucky find of a 2nd class "CD 800",wrapped in the original paper with the name of the company on it-----Carl Dillenius! Otherwise we wouldn't know who has made these wonderful EKs.

For me are nerly all makers pure speculation-"WS" for example-Sounds simple,must be Wagner&Sohn. But why had Wagner used a simple scratchmark at the REOs and other orders? Just a simple "W"? And why do we find the "WS" in two totally different variations(both,the marking and the hardware)? Why are the irom cosses with the name plate at the backside different again? Why are there a few more variations in the 2nd class? "S-W" is Sy & Wagner....I belive it,but I can't confirm it.The types would match..What about "Fr"? Friedländer has used "FR"...so simply a mistake or a 2nd stamping tool?

Ups...different cores and frames-and,what about the "Fr W"?Qestions,questions and more qestions......

Again an apologize to Kris-the User Papsak at that bogus forum named the "KO"= Königliches Münzamt, Abteilung Orden, Wien

The link...for all of you who can read german

http://www.militaria...c.php?f=2&t=586

And a link where you can purchase the book(I would invest my money better in one or two crates of beer for my garden...)

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...0902153001r2535

Micha

Hi Micha,

Apology accepted.

Regarding the book - German Medal Makers and Their Marks 1813 - 1957, as a novice Imperial Germany collector, in an effort to improve my knowledge I purchased this book some time ago. I feel it would be helpful to myself and others trying to improve their knowledge if you would consider posting a detailed critique of the book.

Regards

Kris

Hi Kris,

when I write Münzamt, it is the same that Muenzamt. The only difference is the umlaut on the u. About the other KMST I have no more information in my database. Sorry

It's probably the same house.

Christophe

Hi Christophe,

My references indicate that the two marks refer to seperate locations - "KO" = Berlin, KMST = Stuttgart.

Regards

Kris

hi,

KO is a known hallmark :

K : Kgl . Münzamt

O : Orden Stuttgart

Christophe

Hi Deruelle,

Can you clarify, I understood that "KO" = Königliches Münzamt Orden, Berlin and K.M.S.T. = Königliche Muenzamt Stuttgart ?

Regards

Kris

Kris......."I'm no expert but they look good to me.

The "K" makers mark on the Iron Cross indicates - A. E. Kachert, Vienna." It makes my angry to read such a XXXXshit! That's a textbook "KO" Ek,stamped under the catch! Unidentified maker so far!

A.E.Kachert...Vienna.Well,I'm sure you can tell where you've got this name from...You are not the user "Papsack" from the Militaria321 forum? Who is providing a new book?

You are quite right, it is marked "KO". I was mistaken, not everybody is blessed with 20/20 vision!!

With regard to "KO" being unknown - not according to this post on the http://www.kaisersbu..._EK1_makers.htm & other sources.

No I am not "Papsack" whoever he is and no I have not published a book.

In conclusion, I found the tone of your response offensive and ungentlemanly. It should be possible to point out an error without descending into a vitriolic rant.

Regards

Kris

I'm no expert but they look good to me.

The "K" makers mark on the Iron Cross indicates - A. E. Kachert, Vienna.

Regards

Kris

Hi Kris

I have an early Polish pilot/observer badge made by the company J Knedler, it has the number 435 engraved on the back. Does this happen to correspond with any serial number or squadron? Thanks

Colin

Hi Colin,

435 does not correspond to any serial no. There is one Polish casualty (a staff officer) passenger who died aboard a 435 Squadron R.C.A.F. aircraft which crashed. I have no doubt there is no connection to your badge.

The number on the badge is probably a series number engraved at time of manufacture.

Regards

Kris

It's not just Russian ones, here's a Polish set currently up on ebay.

Nice collection

Amazing detail, really impressive paint jobs. How long on average to produce a single figure?

....another gentleman who gave me details concerning serial numbers & recipents of the Monte Cassino Star - not information concerning block numbers of award but individual serial numbers & individuals servicemen.....

I am intrigued by the part of your post quoted above. I assume you refer to the Monte Cassino Cross.

Do you have any information concerning the source of the individual serial numbers & individuals? I have several Monte Cassino Crosses in my collection and would be interested in finding out.

I have always understood that these records where not kept apart from block numbers. There is an individual who pops up from time to time on Ebay when these crosses are sold and provides this information. The vendors usually say that he refuses to disclose his source.

That sounds like it could be very useful.

I only have a couple of combat reports documents to pilots of 303 Squadron who survived (I missed out on one of Josef Frantiseks reports as I could'nt afford it - I knew the vendor had bought it shortly before along with a batch of other 303 Squadron reports for half the price or less than he was selling it at I wish I'd got it though).

I have a grouping of documents to a Polish airman training n Canada, I must dig those out & see what the name was.

In fact I've just remembered that one of my 2 combat reports is by Zdzislaw Hennebeg, who drowned in the Channel in 1941, after being hit by flak whilst strafing ground targets in the area of Le Touquet-Abbeville.

Name: Zdzislaw Karol Henneberg

D.O.B.:11/05/1911

Service No.: P.1393

Polish Rank: Kaptain Pilot

RAF Rank: Squadron Leader

Awards: D.F.C.

Duties: Pilot

Squadron: 303 Squadron

RAF Station: R.A.F. Northolt

Service Details: 303 Squadron 2 August 1940; 303 Squadron 7 September 1940 (Flt Lieut); 303 Squadron 20 February 1941 (Squadron Leader)

Aircraft Type: Supermarine Spitfire

Mark: II

Serial Number: P8029

Squadron Code: RF-P

Date of Death: 12/04/1941

Cause of Death: KIA

Details of Death: Shot down by flak from Berck-sur-Mer airfield, France.

Operation: Rhubarb - Fighters Sweep over France.

Buried: No Known Grave

Memorial: Commemorated on Polish Air Force Memorial, Northolt, Middlesex (Panel 22).

Several photo's of Squadron Leader Henneberg at http://www.polishairforce.pl/dyw303zdj.html or for translated version with English captions http://66.102.9.132/translate_c?hl=en&...cSbGts89cvblewQ

Regards

Kris

I recently obtained the Polish air force in the west roll of honour.

The listing includes Service Numbers, Surnames, Initials, First Names, Unit, Date of Death , Cause of Death, Where Commemorated and also where buried (if Known). Aircraft types, serial number and crew details have been recorded, so it is generally possible to establish the type of aircraft being flown and fellow crew members. 2293 names recorded.

Any members who wish to check out a name, please do not hesitate to ask.

Regards

Kris

Here's mine - magnetic

Chris,

on the bottom of following link there is an alphabetical name-index - these are the same names?

http://home.foni.net/~adelsforschung/schlacht00.htm

Best regards,

Jens

Hi Jens,

Am I right that they only supply the archive details where the records are located ? If so, how does one obtain copies of the records ?

Sorry to sound stupid but I had to use translation software.

Regards

Kris