UZ-Z of No. 306 Squadron, Northolt
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BS456 was usually flown by F/Lt Józef Żulikowski. Close examination of the photo reveals a round dot over the individual letter "Z" - this was no coincidence, but conformed with Polish spelling of Żulikowski's name. It is known from other photographs from that day that the same letter was repreated in black on the aircraft's lower nose under the spinner.
BS456 subsequently served with another Polish squadron, No. 316. On 22 August 1943, the unit flew a Ramrod mission over the Channel. In the vicinity of Rouen the Spitfire formation was attacked by a group of Fw 190s. Two Spitfires were lost, one of them being BS456 piloted by F/Lt Kurylowicz. Kurylowicz parachuted into the Channel and spent five days in his dinghy before being rescued by an RAF launch. [copyright unknown]
Labels: Spitfire Mk. IX
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posted by
Anonymous on 23-Apr-2008 20:35:00
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BS456 is a typical early Supermarine built Spitfire Mk F.IX Fuel cooler intake in the port wing root, absence of gun camera, tear-drop shaped fairing immediately aft of the propeller, small streamlined protrusion at the top of the cowling between the last exhaust section and air compressor scoop and headrest that was probably removed later (only fitted on the earliest Spitfires). From photographs it appears to be fitted with two 20mm cannon but only one machine gun in each wing. The gentleman in the cockpit is P/O Józef Jeka, Inother photographs in the series the name Jeka can been seen on the his goggle strap.
Built by Supermarine (maker’s no. 3401), flown Eastleigh on 18th Sept 1942 and delivered to 306 Squadron the day after. Demand was so high for new Mk IXs that they did not pass through storage units. There it was coded UZ*Ż as F/Lt Józef Żulikowski had chosen it as his mount. On 9th October 1942 Żulikowski scored a Fw 190 probably destroyed with BS456. In mid-march 1943 it was sent to an overhaul centre where a gun camera system was installed. Soon after all 306 Squadron’s Spitfires were transferred to 316 Squadron and BS456 was recoded SZ*Z (or perhaps Z*Ż?) On 17th May 1943 S/Ldr Janusz Żurakowski (RAF Northolt Sector Gunnery Instructor) used it on a mission with 3i6 Squadron to damage a Bf 109 but it was shot at and damaged ion error by F/O Zdzisław Przygodzki in BS463 SZ*G. Damage was cat. AC and it was sent away for repair. It returned in mid-July and was recoded SZ*N. On 22nd August 1943 Lew Kuryłowicz used the Spitfire to destroy a Fw 190 but had to bale out several dozen miles of the English coast. He was rescued 85 hours later.
Żulikowski probably had other Spitfires also coded Ż. It is known from photographs that, later, when he came 306 Squadron CO, he had a Mustang III coded UZ.*Ż. Another Polish pilot that used the letter Ż was W/Cdr Walerian Żak. Again it is known from photographs that his personal Mustang III, FB217, was coded with his initials ŻW. He is also said to have had a Spitfire coded ZW so that was probably ŻW as well.