Bomber parts feature in tribute

From the archive, first published Wednesday 28th Mar 2007.

Parts scattered from a bomber when it plunged from the sky and killed seven Polish war heroes are to be included in a memorial to their memory.

The altimeter - a device which shows the height above sea level - and a section of fuel pipe will form part of the stone monument at the side of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Bradley Forge, near Skipton.

Work is progressing on constructing the memorial which contains a plaque honouring the seven airman who died when the Wellington bomber crashed near to the canal on September 23, 1943.

They had been on a training mission when one of the wings broke away and the aircraft fell to the ground.

The bronze plaque is to be unveiled at a special ceremony next month which relatives of the airmen will attend.

Among them will be 84-year-old Josephine Stebbing, whose first husband, Flight Lieutenant Jozef Wolnik, was the navigator. They had been married less than a month when he died.

Also present among the 100 guests will be relatives of the 27 year-old pilot, Franciszek Ciaston, who had flown seven missions.

The occasion will be marked by a fly-past of a Lancaster bomber from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Their story and the inspiration for the memorial is thanks to military historian and Cross Hills butcher Peter Whitaker and his friend Jim Hartley.

Mr Hartley said: "I think British Waterways who have funded this memorial have done a fantastic job. And the people who have donated the materials also deserve much credit."

The plaque, which also features the Polish Eagle and the serial number of the bomber, contains the names of all the airman.

They are pilot Franciszek Ciaston, 27, wireless operator/air gunners Boleslow Swieca, 28, and Boleslaw Rychel, 21, air gunner Jan Czyzewski, 23, flight Sergeant Sierz Kawenski, 22, and navigator Flight Lieutenant Jozef Wolnik.

British Waterways is also repairing and re-painting the pedestrian swing-footbridge which crosses the canal, allowing people to access the memorial stone.

A small shrine containing poppies, about 200 yards away, has also been erected on the towpath close to the exact spot where the aircraft crashed.

An RAF investigation into the crash reported that it was caused by failure to the lower rear main spar boom.

Witnesses believe the plane contained ammunition because they saw explosions, fire and smoke as it hit the ground.

Five of the crew were buried in York, one in Blackpool and another in Liverpool.