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Witold Urbanowicz
(1908 - 1996)

Date of Birth: 30/03/1908
Nationality: Polish
Nickname: 'Cobra'
Career Rank: Squadron Leader
BoB Kills: 15
Total Kills: 28

Witold Urbanowicz was born in Olszanka, Poland on the 30th March 1908. In 1930 he learnt to fly at the Szkola Podchorazych Lotnictwa flying school. He was then posted to the 1st Air Regiment night bomber squadron as a 2nd Lieutenant Observer.

Witold completed an advanced pilot course to become a fighter pilot and when the training was completed he was then posted to the 113th and 111th "Kosciuszko" Squadron.

During August 1936 a Soviet reconnaissance aircraft strayed into Polish airspace and Urbanowicz, flying a PZL P.11a fughter, shot it down. Urbanowicz was reprimanded for this act for political reasons but secretly congratulated and transferred to a training school in October 1936.

In 1939, during the invasion of Poland, Urbanowicz was a member of a Ulez Group flying old PZL P.7a fighters attempting to defend Deblin and Ulez airfields from enemy aircraft. Due to the antiquated aircraft they were not able to shoot down any enemy bombers and they were evacuated on the 8th September 1939.

Urbanowicz along with cadets were sent to Romania to await for replacement aircraft but none arrived so he returned to Poland to carry on fighting. He was captured by a Soviet unit but managed to escape across the Romanian border and on to France where a Polish army was forming.

Whilst in France, Urbanowicz and other Polish pilots were invited to travel to England and join the Royal Air Force and after initial training he was posted to 6 Operational Training Unit in July 1940 for further training on fighters. He was then posted to 145 Squadron becoming operational 4th August 1940.

Whilst unofficially flying with 601 Squadron, Urbanowicz shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110 on the 8th of August and on the 12th August 1940 he shot down a Junkers Ju 88.

He was transferred to 303 Squadron as 'A' flight commander on the 21st of August, which was manned by Polish pilots flying Hawker Hurricanes. He shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 on the 6th of September and became Squadron Leader on the following day. Urbanowicz also shot down 2 Dornier Do 17's on the 15th of September 1940.

Urbanowicz was awarded the Silver Cross of the Virtuti Militari and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on the 24th October 1940. On the 27th of September he shot down 2 Junkers Ju 88's, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and a Messerschmitt Bf 110 and on the 30th of September he shot down 3 Messerschmitt Bf 109's and a Dornier Do 17. Despite his success Urbanowicz was not popular with the other Polish Pilots and he was replaced as Commanding Officer. During the Battle of Britain he had shot down 15 confirmed kills.

Urbanowicz commanded the 1st Polish Fighter Wing at RAF Northolt between 15th April and the 1st June 1941 and was then posted to the 2nd Air Attaché of the Polish Embassy in the U.S.

September 1943, Urbanowicz joined the USAAF and on 23rd October he was posted to 75th Fighter Squadron in China flying a P-40 Warhawk. On the 11th December he shot down 2 Mitsubishi Zeros. He was awarded the US Air Medal and Chinese Flying Cross. In December 1943 he returned to England.

In 1946 Urbanowicz returned to Poland but despite all his heroics he was arrested on trumped up charges of being a spy due to the fact that he had been in Great Britain and the United States for five years. He was imprisoned and then released prompting him to leave Poland and live in America where he worked at various airlines.

Upon the fall of communism in Poland, Urbanowicz visited his homeland and was given the honorary rank of General to recognise his achievements during the Battle of Britain. Witold Urbanowicz died on August 1996 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Manhattan, New York, at the age of 88 years.




"Lest we forget"

Robert Francis Thomas Doe
(1920 - 2010)

Date of Birth: 10/03/1920
Nationality: English
Nickname: 'Bob'
Career Rank: Wing Commander
BoB Kills: 14
Total Kills: 14

Robert Francis Thomas Doe was born in Reigate, Surrey on the 10th March 1920. In 1938 Doe joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve flying solo for the first time on the 4th June 1938.

In January 1939, Doe joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission and trained with the Elementary & Reserve Flying Training School (E&RFTS) based at RAF Redhill and with 6 Flying Training School based at RAF Little Rissington.

On the 6th November 1939, Bob Doe was posted To 234 Squadron based at RAF Leconfield equipped with Supermarine Spitfires. On the 15th August Bob scored his first kills by shooting down 2 Messerschmitt Bf 110's and then the next day on the 16th he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and a Dornier Do 18.

Bob shot down 2 more Messerschmitt Bf 109's, one on the 18th and one on the 26th of August 1940 and he furthered his kills by shooting down 3 Messerschmitt Bf 110's on the 4th, a Messerschmitt Bf 109 on the 6th and a Heinkel He 111 on the 7th of September 1940.

Doe was posted to 238 Squadron on the 27th of September 1940 based at RAF Middle Wallop flying Hawker Hurricanes. On the 30th September he shot down a Heinkel He 111 and in October he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110 on the 1st and a Junkers Ju 88 on the 7th, the latter being his last kill of the Battle of Britain and indeed the war.

During combat on the 10th of October 1940 with some Messerschmitt Bf 109's, Doe's Hurricane was severely damaged and he was wounded forcing him to bail out. For his heroism and success, Doe was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on the 22nd of October and a Bar on the 26th November 1940. Doe spent three months in Poole hospital recovering from his wounds until he re-joined 238 Squadron in December 1940.

Bob Doe was flying a night sortie during January 1941 when due to the cold temperature the oil through the oil cooler froze resulting in a seized engine. Having to make a forced landing his Hurricane's landing carriage dug in to a rut covered by snow bringing the aircraft to a sudden stop throwing Bob forward and breaking his harness resulting in his face smashing in to the reflector sight. His nose and part of his face was severely damaged and he also broke his arm, he was admitted to Park Prewett Hospital and had to undergo 22 operations.

Due to the ordeal that Bob had been through coupled with the need for experience pilots to train new fighter pilots, Doe was posted to 66 Squadron on the 15th May 1941 as Flight Commander, joined 130 Squadron on the 18th of August and was then posted to 57 Operational Training Unit (OTU) on the 22nd October 1941 as an instructor.

Doe was sent to the Flight Leaders School based at RAF Milfield on the 9th June 1943, joining 118 Squadron in July and 613 Squadron in August 1943.

As the war progressed, Doe was sent to Burma in October 1943 in advance of Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. In December 1943 Doe was responsible for forming Indian Air Force No. 10 Squadron, which he commanded until April 1945. He then joined the Indian Army Staff College and later during August he joined the planning staff based in Delhi. Doe was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on the 2nd of October 1945.

After the war, Doe stayed in the RAF and in September 1946 he returned to England holding various staff positions until retiring on the 1st of April 1966 holding the rank of Wing Commander. In his retirement, Bob was the proprietor of a Garage and he also wrote his autobiography "Bob Doe, Fighter Pilot". Bob Doe died at the age of 89 years on the 21st of February 2010.



"Lest we forget"

Paterson Clarence Hughes
(1917 - 1940)

Date of Birth: 19/09/1917
Nationality: Australian
Nickname: -
Career Rank: Flight Lieutenant
BoB Kills: 13
Total Kills: 14

Paterson Clarence Hughes was born in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia on the 19th of September 1917. After leaving school at the age of 17, Hughes applied to join the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and was accepted to be trained as a pilot. Once qualified, Hughes applied for a transfer to the Royal Air Force and was accepted under a Short Service Commission and set off for England in January 1937.

After two years training as a fighter pilot, Paterson joined 64 Squadron based at RAF Church Fenton. Shortly after, Hughes joined 234 Squadron based at RAF Leconfield and on the 6th of November 1939 he was promoted to acting Flight Lieutenant.

234 Squadron was equipped with Fairey Battles, Bristol Blenheims and Gloster Gauntlets which were replaced in March 1940 with Supermarine Spitfires. Hughes was sent to 247 Squadron based at Plymouth to help organise the Squadron and then he re-joined 234 Squadron in June 1940 as it was relocated to RAF St Eval in Cornwall.

On the 8th of July 1940 during the Battle of Britain, Paterson shot down his first kill, a Junkers Ju 88. On August 1940, 234 Squadron relocated to RAF Middle Wallop and on the 15th August he shot down 2 Messerschmitt Bf 110's. Paterson had two more 'double kills' on the 18th and 26th of August bringing his total kills to Seven officially making him an Ace for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

Paterson had three more double kills on the 4th, 5th and 6th of September which gave him a total of 13 kills which were all achieved during the Battle of Britain. Due to his aggressive tactics Paterson had become a successful fighter pilot in a short space of time and was seen as the embodiment of 234 Squadrons' success.

On the 7th September 1940, 234 Squadron intercepted a large formation of German aircraft consisting of Dornier Do 17's and Messerschmitt Bf 109's. Paterson attacked the enemy formation in his Spitfire and focused on a Dornier Do 17 which he hit at close quarters, unfortunately a piece of the bomber broke away and hit Paterson's Spitfire. The damage to his Spitfire was extensive and he was forced to bail out but tragically his parachute did not open and he was killed.

Paterson's Spitfire, X4009, crashed in a village named Bessels Green in Kent and his body was found nearby. Paterson was buried with full military honours at St. James' Church, Sutton-on-hill on the 13th September 1940.

"Lest we forget"