Search on for relatives of missing pilot

I am the Chudek and Czudek family historian and have been tracing lineage during the past 15 years.

I have known about Aleksander Chudek because of various records posted on the internet although I have not found any related family members during my research. He also does not fit into my direct lineage, where our Chudek surname originated as Czudek in the Polish and Czech Republic border, along the Olza River.

This news article has renewed my curiosity and interest for additional follow-up. During the past year I have gathered over 50 people with the Chudek or Czudek surname from around the world. I created a special group on the social network "Facebook" for that purpose.

Today I posted this newspaper article and links to the air memorial website on this Facebook account. I have also asked these members to discuss this topic with their older family members who may have fresh leads to follow.

I have also been in direct contact with researcher Laurent Taveau. Like Mr Taveau, I am interested in discovering more information about Aleksander Chudek, although my overall goal has a broader scope of linking the separated families into a genealogy tree.

Chudek Alexander was born on 17 August 1914 in a village in the Lublin Stoczek, halfway between Lubartowa and Radzyn Podlaski (parents, Felix and Louis home Cymerman). He grew up in a large family of prosperous farmers. He had seven brothers and two sisters. He attended elementary school in Stoczek, then in nearby Czemiernikach. With a lack of willingness to work on the role of the aged about 16 years, he joined the Bench and mechanical works of his uncle. Teaching profession continued in Warsaw. He joined the army as a conscript in the presumed age of 21, or about 1935, is well known that in 1 Air Regiment in Warsaw, graduated from pilot training. Before the war, also went hunting course at the College of Flying in Grudziadz, perhaps as an NCO nadterminowy. Then for a time he served in the 114 fighter squadron, flying the PZL P.11 machines. Before the outbreak of World War II, his total flight time was 180 hours.
The September campaign was not involved as a pilot. Like most Polish airmen after September 17, 1939, escaped to Romania and then through Italy to France. It also did not receive a combat assignment. Presumably he was in the Aviation Training Center in Lyon, waiting for his turn to training on the equipment of the French allies. Unfortunately, the rapid German victory over France in May and June 1940 led to the second time in less than a year had to evacuate - this time to Britain.
Liverpool Chudek arrived June 27, 1940, on board the ship "Arandora Star" (the ship sailed three days earlier from a small Atlantic port of St.. Jean de Luz). Even during the Battle of Britain had to get to 302 Fighter Squadron "Poznanski", but the allocation was withdrawn and sent to Chudka Aviation Depot Center in Blackpool. Training (or rather a short course in verification) began April 7, 1941, the pilot in the Polish school in Hucknall 1 PFTS. In preparation for flight combat equipment in the UK there are familiar with Magistrami and Battle'ami. April 25, 1941 he was sent to the distributor 4 FPP stationed at Kemble. Nominally, his work there had to rely on the transportation of newly manufactured and refurbished to squadronów combat aircraft stationed throughout England. Chudka activity in Kemble, however, only limited training on the twin-engined Harvardach and Oxfordach and Ansonach.
June 18, 1941 was sent to 55 OTU at Usworth, where he began training for hunting Hurricane'ach. July 28, 1941, he graduated and it was assigned to Fighter Squadron 315 "Dęblińskiego. The squadron trained at Spitfire'ach II (the first copies hit the "Dębliniaków" 14 July), and already a dozen or so days after his arrival on August 14, in the region Andres one Bf 109 shot down for sure, and one damaged (he too was taken to the viewfinder by Messerschmitt and brought in Spitfirze three holes). Two weeks later, on August 29, Chudek won another success: In-flight combat over the Channel Tunnel has been separated from 315 squadron in search of his colleagues flew along the coast of France. In the area of Hazebrouck single Bf 109 shot down, and then put yourself on the forehead Guines predominantly Germans, also destroying one of them. Sam was hit by anti-aircraft fire and damaged radio, plumbing and wounded in the left leg fragments flew to England, landing finally on gasoline fumes in Wattisham, near Ipswich.
September 16, 1941 in St. area. Omer with Sgt. Michael CWYNAR fought another battle with Messerschmitt, suggesting the likely shooting down one German (at the time of shooting the enemy he went into a spin and lost consciousness, regained it more than 5 kilometers below). September 27 reported shot down over Abbeville, some of the radial engine aircraft, which recognized a Macchi C.200 (this was of course the latest German fighter, the Focke-Wulf FW 190). It was shot down for the fifth Chudka individual machine of the enemy, giving him an honorary fighter ace.
October 21, 1941, on the east of St.. Omer shot down another FW 190 (German pilot jumped out of a parachute) and it was his last shot down in the 315 Squadron. November 3, 1942, the rest went to the mandatory battle. Was assigned to 58 OTU at Grangemouth, where he led instruction for future fighter pilots. May 13, 1943, he returned to 315 Squadron, but after two months - July 16 - was moved to 303 Fighter Squadron them. Thaddeus Kosciuszko. As "Kościuszkowiec" expanded his account for three additional planes downed: August 17, 1943, south of Antwerp shot down two Focke-Wulfy, 6 September 1943, near Amiens, one and 23 September 1943 near Le Treport as one.
November 9, 1943, the third time in career was assigned to 315 Squadron. March 13, 1944, the squadron retired from the Air Force Base in Blackpool, where he stayed a little over three months. On June 15, 1944 was sent to 303 Squadron. 23 June 1944 started on a routine patrol over Normandy and returned to base (for him it was a lot of fire 76, before it made 22 flights operating). The squadron was suspected that he was captured, but when after the war did not return to England, was considered to be fallen.
For many years, assumed that a Spitfire VB with signs RF-F (AB271) with Chudkiem the controls fell into the sea. In 2009, the study of French aviation historian Laurent Taveau supported by archaeological work has shown, however, with certainty, that the machine fell in Normandy, between the towns of Roucamps and Le Plessis-Grimoult. 23 June 1944 in the garden of one of the farmers burning plane crashed into the mortally wounded, unfamiliar with the names of the pilot. Based on the registration number to the wreck was found that it was a Spitfire Chudka. The body of an airman initially been wrapped in a parachute at the local cemetery, then it may be exhumed. 23 June 2009 in Roucamps commemorative plaque was unveiled in his honor. Symbolic grave of aviator (and its missing in September 1939, his brother Stanislaus) is located in the parish cemetery Czemiernikach.
Merit battle Warrant (Warrant Officer) Alexander Chudek he was awarded the Silver Cross of the Order of Military Virtuti Military (No. 9345), four times the Cross of Valor, Medal of Pilot Field and the British Distinguished Flying Medal. He was married to Lillian, WAAF NCO, had two sons - one posthumous.
Data Airplane Unit Destroyed
certainly Destroyed
prawdo-
similarly Damaged
14/08/1941 Spitfire II, PK-E (P8563) 315 Squadron Bf 109
14/08/1941 Spitfire II, PK-E (P8563) 315 Squadron Bf 109
29/08/1941 Spitfire II, PK-E (P8563) 315 Squadron Bf 109
29/08/1941 Spitfire II, PK-E (P8563) 315 Squadron Bf 109
16/09/1941 Spitfire V, PK-H (AB892) 315 Squadron Bf 109
27/09/1941 Spitfire V, PK-B (AB913) 315 Squadron FW 190
21/10/1941 Spitfire V, PK-K (AD134) 315 Squadron FW 190
17/08/1943 Spitfire IX, RF-M (BS451) 303 Squadron FW 190
17/08/1943 Spitfire IX, RF-M (BS451) 303 Squadron FW 190
06/09/1943 Spitfire IX, RF-[?] (MA299) 303 Squadron FW 190
23/09/1943 Spitfire IX, RF-[?] (MA299) 303 Squadron FW 190

Together
9 + 1 + 1 { 11 air victory }