Sergeant Albin Socha DFM 300 Squadron

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Kingsnorth36, Apr 30, 2022.

  1. Kingsnorth36

    Kingsnorth36 Member

    I wonder if anyone can help, I am researching Sergeant Socha of the 300 Masovian Squadron. He was a Gunner who started on Fairey Battles before graduating to heavy bombers. I cannot find any clue to the circumstances on the award of his DFM. He was awarded the Polish War Order of Virtuti Militari, and Cross of Valour, but Im stumped, any help appreciated.
    Regards
    Richard
     
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  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Kingsnorth36,

    Welcome aboard. There are experts here on the RAF, who commanded the Free Polish Air Force, hence being allocated RAF squadron numbers. His DFM should be in the London Gazette. Do you have his full name, date of birth and Service Number?

    You can apply online for his RAF record. See a detailed explanation on Post 261 by our expert RAF Commands on: Service Records application - MOD response timescale

    PM in a moment with research tips.

    There is no thread here with Masovian in, nor Socha. There are eight threads on the squadron id'd by using "300 Squadron" + "ww2talk.com" site:ww2talk.com
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2022
  3. Kingsnorth36

    Kingsnorth36 Member

    Thanks David

    780353, Sergeant Albin Socha. I am normally OK on the Gazette but found nothing, also tried Find My Past, Fold3.
    Regards
    Richard
     
  4. RAFCommands

    RAFCommands Senior Member

    This was classed as an Honorary Award and these were not published in the London Gazette, unless with specific exception, in either citation or name format. This was mostly to protect any relatives still living under enemy control.

    This is why being not in the OCR version of the Gazette none of the partner/pay for view sites normally pick these records up as awarded.

    Usually - but not always - you will find the recommendation in AIR2

    Socha Albin - Krzystek's List - Polish Air Force in Great Britain 1940-1947

    You will not get his full service record until 2030.

    If you do not have his Naturalisation Certificate - extending your research beyond WWII
    Naturalisation Certificate: Albin Socha. From Poland. Resident in Lincoln. Certificate... | The National Archives

    Ross
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2022
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  5. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Sgt Albin Socha was a gunner on the raid to Bremen on 29 June 1941.Up at 2212 out of Swinderby, Wellington 1C Serial R 1640 (BH-M) ditched in the North Sea,40 miles east of Grimsby. All the crew were rescued and may have had a trainee on board for the crew lists 6 rather then the normal 5.

    On 18 July 1941,the squadron moved to RAF Hemswell, the squadron being initially formed at Bramcote with Battles on 1 July 1940.Apart from Bramcote, its wartime operational bases were in Lincolnshire...Swinderby, Hemswell, Ingham all with Wellingtons and Faldingworth which was an airfield solely dedicated to the PAF and the only paved airfield to be experienced by the squadron. At Faldingworth from 1 March 1944 ,they received Lancasters Marks 1 and 111 from early April 1944.
     
  6. Kingsnorth36

    Kingsnorth36 Member

    Thanks so much everyone
    Really appreciated
    Regards
    Richard
     
  7. SPoyntz

    SPoyntz New Member

     
  8. SPoyntz

    SPoyntz New Member

  9. Kingsnorth36

    Kingsnorth36 Member

    Yes saw that, it really peaked my interest. I have already translated some docs from Polish to English
    Thanks
     
  10. SPoyntz

    SPoyntz New Member

    I just did a search and couldn't find any relatives for him. Sad really, you would think the Sikorski Institute may be interested
     
  11. Quarterfinal

    Quarterfinal Well-Known Member

    Hi Richard,
    I’m never quite sure what members already have, but just in case, there is a photo of the crew of the Fairey Battle BH-I - Sgt Albin Socha (left), Sgt Henryk Kudelko and Sgt. Walerian Sosinski at:
    No 300 Polish Squadron Photo Gallery
    He might even be the gunner in the adjacent uncredited staged image, or in the Summer 41 medal parade below. Anyway, the other names listed may give context to some of your research.

    Afternote: Albert Socha evidently died on 2 March 2005 in the Lincoln County Hospital. It would appear he stayed local after the War.
     
    Last edited: May 3, 2022
  12. Kingsnorth36

    Kingsnorth36 Member

    Thanks for that, great to put the face to the name.
    Regards
    Richard
     

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