The Final Flight of Grzanka and Oyrzanowski – Mosquito DD644, 27 June 1943

St Illtyd’s Church, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire

St Illtyd’s Church, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, holds a quiet but significant place in the story of the Polish Air Force in Britain. Within its churchyard lie several Polish servicemen who died while serving with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, their graves forming a small enclave of wartime remembrance far from their homeland. Among them are Flying Officer Roman Grzanka and Flight Sergeant Wacław Oyrzanowski, who were killed in the crash of Mosquito DD644 in June 1943, and Leon Jan Watorowski, another Polish airman whose resting place adds to the churchyard’s poignant connection with the Polish contribution to Britain’s defence.

Flying Officer Roman Grzanka

Roman Grzanka

Roman Grzanka was born on 8 February 1903 in Ujma Duża, Poland. He entered the Polish Air Force in 1925, training at the Aviation Officers’ School in Grudziądz, where he graduated two years later. His early postings included the 14th Destructive Squadron of the 1st Air Regiment, followed by advanced pilot training at the Aviation Officer Training Centre in Dęblin, after which he joined the 113th Fighter Squadron. During his Polish service he suffered a serious flying accident in which he lost a foot, an injury that ended his frontline flying but not his military career. After recovering, he continued to serve within the Polish Army, demonstrating a determination that would define his wartime life.

Following the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, Grzanka escaped through Europe to France, and after France fell in 1940 he was evacuated to Britain. The RAF accepted him despite his disability, recognising both his experience and his resolve. He was posted to No. 307 (Polish) Squadron, the Lwów Eagle Owls, serving at RAF Kirton‑in‑Lindsey, RAF Jurby on the Isle of Man, and RAF Clyst Honiton in Devon. In April 1943, the squadron moved to RAF Fairwood Common, where it continued its night‑fighter duties while adapting to the capabilities of the de Havilland Mosquito. It was during this period, while based at Fairwood Common, that Grzanka undertook the flight that would claim his life.

Flight Sergeant Wacław Oyrzanowski

Wacław Oyrzanowski

Wacław Oyrzanowski was born on 1 June 1903, part of the same generation of Polish airmen who helped build the country’s air force in the interwar years. By 1939 he was serving as a skilled aircraft engineer within the Polish Air Force, responsible for the maintenance and readiness of frontline aircraft. When Germany invaded Poland, he joined the long and hazardous escape route taken by many Polish servicemen, travelling through Romania and France before reaching Britain. His technical expertise was quickly recognised, and he was accepted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, where he was posted to No. 307 (Polish) Squadron.

At 307 Squadron, Oyrzanowski became one of the unit’s most trusted ground crew specialists. As chief mechanic of ‘C’ Flight, he oversaw the servicing, inspection, and performance of the squadron’s aircraft, ensuring that their engines and systems met the demanding standards required for night‑fighting operations. His reputation for precision and reliability made him indispensable to the squadron’s work. When the unit moved to RAF Fairwood Common in April 1943, Oyrzanowski continued his duties there, supporting the squadron’s transition to Mosquito operations. Another Polish airman, Leon Jan Watorowski, is also buried at St Illtyd’s Church, Pembrey, forming a small but poignant cluster of Polish wartime graves on the Carmarthenshire coast.

Background to the Flight

de Haviland Mosquito

On 27 June 1943, while No. 307 Squadron was stationed at RAF Fairwood Common, Mosquito DD644 was scheduled for a routine air test following a major overhaul, having recently reached its 240‑hour engine‑inspection threshold. At the controls was F/O Roman Grzanka, accompanied by F/Sgt Wacław Oyrzanowski, who flew as an observer to assess the performance of the newly serviced engines. The flight was intended simply to confirm that the aircraft was once again fit for operational duty.

The Squadron Record

The squadron’s operations record book for that day described an otherwise uneventful routine. The weather was fine, training flights continued, and four night patrols were completed, totalling eight hours in the air. Against this backdrop of normality, the entry that followed was stark in its brevity. It recorded that F/Lt Grzanka had been conducting an engine test with F/Sgt Oyrzanowski aboard when the aircraft, flying low, crashed a mile south of the airfield. The cause, it noted, was unknown at the time. Grzanka had been killed instantly, and Oyrzanowski died the following day in hospital.

Cause of the Crash

Subsequent investigation revealed that the accident had been caused by a fire in the port engine shortly after take‑off. Realising the severity of the situation, Grzanka attempted to return to base, turning toward the airfield and approaching from the sea. Witnesses saw the Mosquito at 15:20, losing height with the port engine ablaze as it crossed the coastline near Pwll Ddu. Despite the pilot’s efforts to maintain control, the aircraft continued to descend. At 15:25, just five minutes after the fire was first observed, DD644 struck the ground and crashed into a hedgerow on the outskirts of Pennard, bringing the attempted emergency landing to a tragic end.

Aftermath and Burial

Roman Grzanka St Illtyd’s Church, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire

Wacław Oyrzanowski St Illtyd’s Church, Pembrey, Carmarthenshire

Both men suffered fatal injuries. F/O Roman Grzanka died at the scene, while F/Sgt Wacław Oyrzanowski succumbed to his injuries the following day. Their service and sacrifice were honoured with burial at St Illtyd’s Church, Pembrey, where they lie side by side. Their graves, maintained with care, stand as a testament to the courage, skill, and unwavering commitment of the Polish airmen who served in Britain’s defence during the Second World War.