| KLEIN LUDWIK
Born on 14 August 1918. In 1936 he joined the air force as a volunteer. He completed
a flying course in 4 Pulk Lotniczy
(4th Air Regiment) at Torun, choosing a military career. In September 1939 he
fought in 142 Eskadra Mysliwska (142nd Fighter Flight), in support of the Pomorze
Army. On 3 September 1939 he shared in destruction of Henschel Hs 126.
Via Rumania he reached France, and then went to Britain. In Britain, after
conversion training on new equipment, he was posted on 6 August 1940 to no.
234 Fighter Squadron RAF at St Eval. On 16 August 1940 he shot down a Bf 109,
and on 4 September 1940 a Bf 110. On 7 September probably destroyed a Do 17
bomber. On 5 October 1940 he transwerred to no. 152 Fighter Squadron RAF at
Warmwell. On 7 October 1940 he demage Bf 110. With these units he fought in
the Battle of Britain. On 28
November 1940 he failed to return from a combat sortie with his unit. He was
posted missing over the Channel, off Isle of Wight. He was killed in Spitfire
P9427, in the combat when German ace, major Helmut Wick (commanding officer of
Jagdgeschwader 2) was shot down. It is known that the pilot who shot down Wick
was killed immedietely by Wick's wingma. Historians usually believe that
Wick was downed by S/Ldr Cocky Dundas of no. 609 Squadron. However, Operations
Record Book of no. 609 Squadron says that it was possibly Stg Klein of 152
Squadron who brought down the German ace!
On 31 October 1947 he was posthumously
awarded Krzyz Walecznych (Cross of Valour) and bar.
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