The “Wilga” site, situated in the area of the Sącz Beskids and the Gorce Mountains near the village of Szczawa, was actively used during drops in the autumn of 1944. The drop zone (Ref. No. 5847/43) was located 23 km northeast of Nowy Targ. In the records of Section VI of the Commander-in-Chief’s Staff, this site was not assigned any call numbers. Contact addresses are known in Szczawa (Jan Wasiak — manager of the joinery at the sawmill) and in Słopnice Królewskie (Lisowski — forester).
It is not possible to precisely determine when Polanki above Szczawa was designated as a drop zone. The first drop on the “Wilga” bastion in the Gorce Mountains at the foot of Kiczora as the target site was to take place on the night of November 18–19, 1944. At that time, Polish Liberator KG834 “U” from the 1586th Special Duty Squadron, piloted by W/O Cholewa, was to drop a six-person team of parachutists led by Major Kazimierz Raszplewicz, code name “Tatar 2,” as well as 15 containers and three packages, as part of Operation “Kazik 1.” That night, two Polish Halifaxes, piloted by W/O Sobol and W/O Laskowski, each loaded with nine containers and 12 packages, also flew from Italy to “Wilga.”
The mission was not completed because the Liberator encountered clouds over the Tatras, and in the vicinity of the site the crew could not see signals from the ground. On the return flight, due to icing, the aircraft went into a spin, and the parachutists suffered minor injuries. Eventually, the crew with the parachutists on board landed safely at Campo Cassale after 8 hours and 20 minutes of flight, having previously jettisoned 15 containers at the drop zone.
W/O Sobol’s Halifax reached Slovakia in the Zvolen area, where it encountered complete cloud cover and the aircraft began to ice up. At 21:46, they turned back to base, where the pilot — having jettisoned the containers — landed after 6 hours and 50 minutes of flight. The crew of the second Halifax also encountered difficulties. After passing Budapest, W/O Laskowski had to reduce altitude to 900 meters trying to get below the clouds — their base was even lower, and therefore the aircraft turned back to base from above the Hungarian-Slovak border. Landing in Italy took place after 7 hours and 10 minutes of flight.
On the night of November 22–23, the “Wilga” site was alerted by the so-called “duck 233” broadcast after the Polish program on BBC radio. In Operation “Kazik 1,” Captain Pilot Reymer-Krzywicki flew with the six-person team of Silent Unseen along with fifteen containers and three packages. The commander of Liberator KG994 “R” from the 301st Bomber Squadron was navigator F/O Jarynicz. When the Liberator arrived over the site, the ground — after an exchange of light signals — laid out the light pattern, and the drop was made from an altitude of 1,800 m. One of the packages caught on the aircraft’s rear spur and was brought back to Italy, landing at Grottaglie at 04:35 after 10 hours and 45 minutes of flight.
An event that could have ended tragically is connected with Lieutenant Bystrzycki’s jump. Major of Armored Forces Adam Mackus, code name “Prosty,” jumping in his team, had his parachute harness come undone after leaving the aircraft. At the moment when Lieutenant Bystrzycki was already gathering the collapsed canopy of his parachute, Mackus landed next to him. Here is how Second Lieutenant Przemysław Bystrzycki, code name “Grzbiet,” described that jump to the homeland into the Beskid Mountains years later:
“…The engines quieted. We descended slightly. Suddenly the aircraft lurched, I barely kept my footing. Containers with equipment for the units shot out of the bomb bays. The canisters went. I look out the window. I can’t see any canopies. They must have drifted behind us, below the tail… I take the catch in my bare hand. It’s cool, heavy. I nod my head: ‘okay’… I take half a step, sit down. As in training jumps, with the jump command in mind, I push off with both hands. Whistling in my ears, heart in my throat, the speed imparted by the aircraft throws me on my back. For a fraction of a second I see the black outline of the Liberator, even the lights on the wings. The outline recedes, falls silent. A violent jerk in my shoulders. I look up — a white dome above my head. Air rings in my ears — such silence all around. I’ve stopped in place, I’m not descending. I know it’s an illusion, but the impression returns. Every time equally strong. The white sheet sways lazily. I dampen the slight oscillations, adjust the straps on my thighs. The dark mass of forest becomes clearer. Higher up, a clearing where lights still glow pink; below, some treeless patch, rough terrain. Patches of sparse snow in the gullies. I’ve drifted a bit. Anything but landing in the trees. At night it’s hard to calculate distance. That’s why I pull up my legs early, grasp the straps as high as possible, my palms almost reaching the lines. I wait a second, pull myself up, tuck my head, ready to roll. My feet still swing in the air. I release the lines, lean my head out from behind my elbows, wanting to calmly look down, to see how many meters remain. I slam my whole body against our dear mother earth — and sit down on my backside. Amazingly! Completely soft. Of course, I’m camped on a patch of snow. So this is Poland. I unfasten the straps, walk to the collapsed canopy that has enlarged the whiteness around. I slide down the jumpsuit for easier access to my weapon. Now I need to get out the shovel, attach the blade to the handle, dig a hole to hide the parachute. Above my head, a sudden rushing and flapping. Someone crashes down next to me. Instinctively I draw my pistol. It’s the captain — he lies there, gasping. He’s healthy and whole. He curses immediately: — Damn it, the buckle let go. I could feel in the air how the straps-scoundrels were slipping out from under my arms. Son of a — he corrects himself — I was riding on my hands the whole time.”
Second Lieutenant Przemysław Bystrzycki was sworn in on January 19, 1944. On the night of November 22–23, 1944, he made a combat jump into occupied Poland and, in accordance with established rules, received a promotion of one rank upon landing. Although he was neither the group commander nor the highest-ranking member, he is a key figure in research because he was the only one to record his memoirs about “Wilga.” After a stay in the USSR and completing the Cadet School of the 8th Infantry Division, he underwent training in Great Britain in communications. He was then assigned to Base No. 11 in Italy.
In his memoirs, the “Wilga” drop zone is described as a “featherbed” — a site in a completely safe location due to the area having been under Home Army control for an extended period. Landing at “Wilga,” Lieutenant Przemysław Bystrzycki was assigned to a forest unit — he was not required to undergo the “acclimatization” necessary in the case of urban service. After exchanging passwords at the drop zone, the entire team reached a hut at the top of the hill. After exchanging courtesies and unpacking, a patrol from the site’s security group went back to the drop zone to find an MP-40 submachine gun lost during the jump, captured at Monte Cassino. The German MP-40 belonged to Communications Second Lieutenant Stanisław Mazur, code name “Limba.” That same night, with the help of a peasant horse-drawn cart, the containers were collected from the drop zone. One of them contained a radio station, from which the first report was sent the following day at noon from “game point” Wanda 06. Together with the parachutists, “Wilga” received equipment and uniforms that transformed the forest-based 1st Podhale Rifles Regiment of the Home Army into a uniformly outfitted army. British battle dresses and, above all, British boots became the proverbial manna from heaven — literally and figuratively.
Many years after these events, in 2002, during his visit to the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków for the opening of the exhibition titled “By the Shortest Route — Polish Parachute Units in World War II,” Lieutenant Bystrzycki warmly recalled the Gorce site in conversation:
“The site sent a patch of snow to meet me in a Gorce hollow, while the beautiful, splendid spruces on the southwestern slopes of Mogielica it kept at a restrained distance…”
To the same bastion flew Liberator KG834 “U” of Captain Pilot Mielecki with navigator Captain Włosiński, carrying on board as part of the drop operation “Staszek 2” a six-person Silent Unseen team (plus 15 containers and 3 packages belonging to the parachutists, and 9 containers and 12 packages for the site). Captain Pilot Mielecki took off from Campo Cassale at 18:10, but during the flight navigational difficulties arose due to clouds, which would have meant the site would be reached after midnight. Therefore, the pilot turned back to base, jettisoned the cargo at the drop zone, and with the parachutist team landed at the Italian base at 01:20.
The third Polish aircraft making a drop on “Wilga” that night was Halifax JP242 “E,” piloted by F/S Mioduchowski with navigator F/S Krzemiński, from the airfield at Grottaglie. The Halifax reached Poland without incident and at 21:40 was near Bielsko, where it encountered a German night fighter Ju 88, but the Polish pilot hid in the fog, appearing over the drop site around 22:30. Through ground-level fog, the pilot could barely see the drop zone lights, losing sight of them every few moments. In several runs over the course of 20 minutes, the entire cargo was dropped, and the crew landed at Grottaglie base after 10 hours and 15 minutes of flight.
The next drop night for the “Wilga” site was the night of December 25–26, when Captain Pilot Reymer-Krzywicki flew from Italy to the homeland in Liberator BZ965 “V,” having on board as navigators Major Arciuszkiewicz and Captain Jarynicz, as well as a six-person Silent Unseen team flying as part of Operation “Staszek 2” (plus 12 containers and 4 packages for the team and 9 containers and 6 packages for the Home Army). At 17:02, an order to return was received from the Italian base, and at 18:00 the aircraft landed at the home base with the parachutists and cargo. Meanwhile, Halifax JP242 “E,” piloted by F/S Mioduchowski with navigator F/S Krzemiński, reached the bastion area at 20:45. The site’s lights were spotted at 21:50 — the drop was made in two passes. After 9 hours and 15 minutes of flight over occupied Europe, Halifax JP242 “E” returned to the departure airfield. A cable dated December 30, sent from the homeland, confirmed receipt of the drop.
On the night of December 26–27, Captain Pilot Reymer-Krzywicki again flew over the “Wilga” site, carrying on board the Silent Unseen group of Staff Lieutenant Stanisław Dmowski, code name “Podlasiak,” which was flying to the homeland for the third time, along with 15 containers and 5 packages. The drop over the site was made in six passes. The return to Campo Cassale was uneventful, and landing took place after 8 hours and 55 minutes of flight. The aforementioned cable of December 30 also confirmed receipt of this drop (five containers broke on the ground and one package was not found). That same night, Liberator KG834 “U” of Captain Pilot Mielecki appeared over the drop zone on its return flight to Italy; he had not completed the drop at the “Kilim” site and attempted to do so at “Wilga” — unfortunately, the valleys in the mountains were covered in fog, and therefore the mission was not completed.
On the night of December 27–28, “Wilga” was on the list of reserve drop zones, and yet Halifax JP242 “E” of F/S Mioduchowski flew over it and made a drop (9 containers and 12 packages were dropped in four passes).
The last drop night for “Wilga” was the night of December 28–29, when four Liberators and six Halifaxes from the Polish 1586th Special Duty Squadron were dispatched from Italy to the homeland. For the bastion, it was an extraordinary night, as no fewer than eight aircraft appeared above it.
Halifax LL118 “C” of F/S Tomiczek did not reach the “Lewkonia” drop zone, and navigator Second Lieutenant Schedlin-Czarliński directed the aircraft to the “Wilga” bastion. Just before finding the drop zone, the airmen spotted a foreign aircraft, but despite this, after making contact with the drop zone, at 20:50 nine containers and 12 packages were dropped in four passes over the course of 12 minutes (a cable dated January 4, 1945, confirms receipt of the drop, but without five packages).
Liberator KG994 “R” of Captain Pilot Ladro did not find the “Bambus” drop zone and, directed by navigator Captain Chmiel, flew to the bastion site in the Gorce Mountains. The site did not display its lights, but the navigator spotted three rows of lights 2.5 km to the southwest of the drop zone and dropped 11 packages there (receipt was confirmed on January 4, 1945).
In similar circumstances — having not reached “Bambus” — Liberator KH151 “S,” piloted by W/O Cholewa, found itself over “Wilga.” At 21:15, light signals were exchanged between the aircraft and the drop zone crew — the light signal was correct, and navigator Captain Gułyn began the drop. After the third pass, the site extinguished its lights (only 15 containers and 5 packages were dropped — seven packages remained on board). During the flight over Slovakia, the aircraft was fired upon by enemy anti-aircraft artillery.
W/O Kalfas, flying Halifax JP252 “L,” arrived over “Wilga” at 21:54 due to difficult weather conditions en route — navigator Lieutenant Kalaciński efficiently guided the aircraft over the target, and the entire cargo was dropped in three passes (9 containers and 10 packages — the parachute of one package did not open). During the drop, they encountered a night fighter, which however did not attack the Polish crew.
Lieutenant Pilot Stephani, flying Halifax LL465 “J,” did not reach the “Lewkonia” site, and navigator Captain Błaszak directed the aircraft to “Wilga.” They circled over the drop zone for half an hour, but the navigator, seeing only three lights in a row 2.5 km west of the target, did not make the drop. On the return to base, in the Miskolc area, the aircraft crew engaged in a duel with a Ju 88 night fighter. They landed at Campo Cassale after 9 hours and 10 minutes of flight with nine containers and 12 packages still on board.
Of the ten aircraft that took off from the Italian base that night, no fewer than eight reached “Wilga,” of which four made drops (one unauthorized) — the remaining aircraft did not receive an acceptance signal from the site. Lieutenant Bystrzycki does not give the reasons why the drops were not received.
On January 19, 1945, by order of the Commander-in-Chief, the Home Army was dissolved. A week later — on January 26 — the Italian Base No. 11 was liquidated, from which aircraft had taken off for flights bringing aid to the Home Army fighting in isolation. The Silent Unseen received by “Wilga,” however, continued to operate. The “Wilga” site ceased its activities as the last one in Poland. During a skirmish with the Germans, the enemy seized the “pelicans'” hut and part of the drop zone area, which was the direct cause of the abandonment of “Wilga.”
Why did “Wilga” function for so long? Why did the last drop at this site take place on the night of December 28–29, 1944 — when containers were received, and two days earlier — the last six parachutists? Among other things, six money belts were delivered — approximately $75,000. What for? The front was very close. A little light is shed on this by a book by Lieutenant Przemysław Bystrzycki titled “Oddanie broni” (Surrender of Arms). Lieutenant Bystrzycki was trained in rapid radio communications — was he and his teams sent with a future uprising in mind? Or the second underground? More questions than answers. Although the book concerns the postwar military career of the late Reserve Communications Lieutenant Przemysław Bystrzycki, it is a kind of sad confession — and despite the passage of years, the author was apparently still concealing something.
What happened to the materials dropped at “Wilga”? One of the dropped radio stations was taken from Lieutenant Bystrzycki much later by a patrol from “Ogień’s” unit. Some of the weapons are now in the collection of the tradition room at a school in Nowy Targ. At exhibitions in the Nowy Targ Municipal Cultural Center, British trousers from a drop battle dress are displayed. Some radio stations were seized after the war, some disappeared. Where? Where are the drop zone funds? What are the witnesses of those days still unwilling to say to this day? “Wilga,” Polanki above Szczawa, endure to this day in the tradition of the White Highlanders. This place, with all its tradition and undeniable merits, should be commemorated for future generations. A monument should stand in this place, commemorating those people and this site.
“Wilga 1”
The drop zone (Ref. No. 12166/44 and 10352/44) was located 26 km northeast of Nowy Targ. The “Wilga 1” bastion was considered by the Home Army Headquarters during the preparation of Operation “Most V” (Bridge V). In a cable dated January 15, 1945, Lieutenant Colonel Utnik informed the Home Army Commander-in-Chief, General Leopold Okulicki, about Operation “Most V”:
“Near ‘Wilga,’ 33 Polish, American, and British airmen downed during operations to you have been gathered. They have prepared a bajor (improvised airfield — author’s note). Mewa (radio station in Italy — author’s note) is in constant contact with radio station 83 and will send a bridge to pick them up at the earliest opportunity. Operation entirely independent of Świetlik and Pająk (improvised airfields for ‘Most IV’ — author’s note) within the ongoing operations of the 10th American Tactical Fleet…”
Lieutenant Colonel Hańcza wrote in a cable to the Kraków Home Army District on January 17, 1945:
“…We are ready for the bridge at Mucha. We will send three Dakotas at half-hour intervals.”
Unfortunately, Operations “Most IV” and “Most V” did not take place, as Soviet forces liberated the Podhale area in January 1945, and the aforementioned Allied airmen were transported to Italy via Lwów, Kyiv, and Odessa in the spring of 1945.
