St. Illtyd’s Church and the Story of Leading Aircraftman Leon Jan Watorowski

Early Life and Service in Poland

St Illtyd’s Church, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire

Roman Grzanka

Leading Aircraftman Leon Jan Watorowski, whose grave stands beside those of Roman Grzanka and Wacław Oyrzanowski at St Illtyd’s Church, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, represents another thread in the wider story of the Polish Air Force in exile. Born on 22 March 1920 in Chełmno, he belonged to the younger generation of Polish airmen who came of age in the tense years preceding the Second World War. Before the outbreak of hostilities he served in the Polish Air Force, part of the expanding cadre of pilots and ground crew preparing to defend the re‑established Polish state.

Escape from Occupied Poland and Journey to Britain

When Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, Watorowski—like so many of his compatriots—escaped through Romania, beginning the long and uncertain journey that took him first to France and ultimately to Britain. Once in the United Kingdom he undertook conversion training with the Royal Air Force, adapting to British aircraft, procedures, and operational methods. His abilities were quickly recognised, and he was posted to No. 317 (Polish) Squadron, a fighter unit formed in 1941 at RAF Acklington.

Operational Service with No. 317 (Polish) Squadron

By the summer of 1943 the squadron had moved to RAF Heston, from where it carried out offensive sweeps over occupied Europe in the build‑up to the Normandy landings. After D‑Day, 317 Squadron shifted to intensive ground‑attack operations, supporting the Allied advance across France and into the Low Countries. Watorowski survived these demanding operations and returned to Britain later in 1944.

Final Flight and Burial at Pembrey

Supermarine Spitfire IX

Leon Jan Watorowski
St. Illtyds church, Pembrey
credit - findagrave

On 8 December 1944, while flying a Supermarine Spitfire IX from RAF Fairwood Common, Watorowski was involved in a mid‑air collision shortly after take‑off. His aircraft crashed into the sea off Port Talbot, and he was killed. His body was later recovered and brought to St Illtyd’s Church, Pembrey, where he was laid to rest. His grave now forms part of the small but deeply significant group of Polish wartime burials that includes Grzanka and Oyrzanowski, a quiet testament to shared sacrifice and to the Polish contribution to Britain’s air war.