Some of you may be aware of the tragedy that occurred in Long Ashton on November 21, 1944, when a Halifax bomber piloted by a Polish aircrew crashed into a field behind All Saints Church in Long Ashton to avoid densely populated areas. Unfortunately, all seven airmen perished.

To this day, the residents of Long Ashton commemorate the sacrifice of these brave airmen, whose names are engraved on the village war memorial and on plaques at the church cemetery.

Text on the memorial:

In remembrance of the Polish airmen who lost their lives
when their Halifax bomber crashed in a field adjoining this
churchyard in the night of the 21st November 1944

The plaque lists also the names of the crew as:

Jerzy Kisielewicz,

Jan Małkowski,

Witold Ruciński,

Jan Radoński,

Franciszek Kruszczak,

Stanisław Jurka,

Stanisław Jaguszczak.

The men are buried in the Polish Air Force Cemetery in Newark-upon-Trent in Nottinghamshire.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Halifax LL126 bomber crash in a field behind All Saints Church in Long Ashton. Their evasive action preserved lives at the cost of their own.

On Thursday, 21 November, 2024, at 10:50 AM, a brief ceremony will be held at the monument dedicated to Polish Airmen at the cemetery by All Saints Church in Long Ashton (Church Ln, Long Ashton, Bristol BS41 9LU).

Lest we forget!

Photos: The Anglo Polish Society