拍品專文
INDENTD.F.M. London Gazette 23.9.1941, Sgt., No. 10 Squadron. The recommendation states -- "Sorties 28, Flying hours 178, Air Observer. A first class Observer who, throughout his operational career, has never slackened his keeness and efficiency. His cheerful enthusiasm has been an inspiration to all who have worked with him and his courage and determination in face of strong enemy opposition has contributed largely to the success of the crews with whom he has operated"
Warrant Officer Louis (Label) Zalzberg, D.F.M., a refugee from eastern Europe, joined the R.A.F.V.R. before the outbreak of war; he served with 10 Squadron (Whitleys) and from 14 March to July 19 took part in bombing operations which included Rotterdam, Kiel, Brest, Bremen, Cologne, Mannheim, Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Duisberg, Essen, Munster, Hamm and on the Scharnhorst at La Pallice; he subsequently served in Transport Command with 511 Squadron (Liberators) and was employed mainly on the Lyneham -- Gibraltar -- Cairo West run.
The Sikorski Aircrash
General Wladyslaw Sikorski, Premier of the Polish Government in exile and Commander in Chief of the Free Polish Forces from 1939 was the only Polish leader who had sufficient stature and skill to secure the confidence of his people and to achieve the close relations with both Churchill and Stalin necessary to maintain a united and effective Polish government with a substantial influence in Allied planning.
The Polish leader after a tour of the Middle East which included his review of the Polish troops in that theatre, was advised to relax for a few days, and on June 29 was invited to the excavations at Luxor and Aswan; however the invitation was not taken up as a telegram from Churchill the following day was interpreted as a recall to London.
General Sikorski had previously asked through the Polish Consul that the R.A.F. pilot (Flt. Lt. E. M. Prchal) that had flown him out from England be allowed to fly him back as he was greatly impressed with his skill and experience. His request was granted -- Prchal and his crew (Sqdn. Ldr. W. S. Herring D.S.O., D.F.M.; W/O L. Zalzberg D.F.M.; Sgt. F. S. Kelly and Flt. Sgts. Gerrie D.F.M. and Hunter) had arrived in Cairo June 28 -- they were in place for the final act of the tragedy.
1 July 1943: Liberator 'AL 523: departed from Cairo West to Gibraltar 0406 hrs. -- General Sikorski, his staff and daughter on board (12) passengers), -- arrived 1437 hrs.
4 July 1943: Liberator 'AL523' took off from Gibraltar 2307 hrs -- the pilot (Flt. Lt. Prchal) pushed the control forward at 130 m.p.h. to gather speed to 165 m.p.h. -- he tried to pull the column back but it locked -- the aircraft hit the sea and sank within six to eight minutes in five fathoms of water. Flt. Lt. Prchal, the only survivor, was picked up within six minutes of the crash suffering from a fractured ankle, lacerations and shock and all but three bodies were recovered; those of Zalzberg and Kelly were found the following day. The aircraft was later raised and the cause of the accident was found to be jamming of the elevator controls shortly after take off.
In his book The Death of General Sikorski, David Irving states "To mark his esteem of Prchal, General Sikorski procured a silver cigarette case in Cairo and had it inscribed and presented to the officer" -- it seems more likely that Sikorski presented each member of the crew with a similar mark of esteem - Zalzberg's gift is a case in point!
Warrant Officer Louis (Label) Zalzberg, D.F.M., a refugee from eastern Europe, joined the R.A.F.V.R. before the outbreak of war; he served with 10 Squadron (Whitleys) and from 14 March to July 19 took part in bombing operations which included Rotterdam, Kiel, Brest, Bremen, Cologne, Mannheim, Dusseldorf, Dortmund, Duisberg, Essen, Munster, Hamm and on the Scharnhorst at La Pallice; he subsequently served in Transport Command with 511 Squadron (Liberators) and was employed mainly on the Lyneham -- Gibraltar -- Cairo West run.
The Sikorski Aircrash
General Wladyslaw Sikorski, Premier of the Polish Government in exile and Commander in Chief of the Free Polish Forces from 1939 was the only Polish leader who had sufficient stature and skill to secure the confidence of his people and to achieve the close relations with both Churchill and Stalin necessary to maintain a united and effective Polish government with a substantial influence in Allied planning.
The Polish leader after a tour of the Middle East which included his review of the Polish troops in that theatre, was advised to relax for a few days, and on June 29 was invited to the excavations at Luxor and Aswan; however the invitation was not taken up as a telegram from Churchill the following day was interpreted as a recall to London.
General Sikorski had previously asked through the Polish Consul that the R.A.F. pilot (Flt. Lt. E. M. Prchal) that had flown him out from England be allowed to fly him back as he was greatly impressed with his skill and experience. His request was granted -- Prchal and his crew (Sqdn. Ldr. W. S. Herring D.S.O., D.F.M.; W/O L. Zalzberg D.F.M.; Sgt. F. S. Kelly and Flt. Sgts. Gerrie D.F.M. and Hunter) had arrived in Cairo June 28 -- they were in place for the final act of the tragedy.
1 July 1943: Liberator 'AL 523: departed from Cairo West to Gibraltar 0406 hrs. -- General Sikorski, his staff and daughter on board (12) passengers), -- arrived 1437 hrs.
4 July 1943: Liberator 'AL523' took off from Gibraltar 2307 hrs -- the pilot (Flt. Lt. Prchal) pushed the control forward at 130 m.p.h. to gather speed to 165 m.p.h. -- he tried to pull the column back but it locked -- the aircraft hit the sea and sank within six to eight minutes in five fathoms of water. Flt. Lt. Prchal, the only survivor, was picked up within six minutes of the crash suffering from a fractured ankle, lacerations and shock and all but three bodies were recovered; those of Zalzberg and Kelly were found the following day. The aircraft was later raised and the cause of the accident was found to be jamming of the elevator controls shortly after take off.
In his book The Death of General Sikorski, David Irving states "To mark his esteem of Prchal, General Sikorski procured a silver cigarette case in Cairo and had it inscribed and presented to the officer" -- it seems more likely that Sikorski presented each member of the crew with a similar mark of esteem - Zalzberg's gift is a case in point!