Vickers Wellington N2848
0.0 miles away
North Yorkshire
Buckden Pike N.2848 Memorial
Buckden Pike, North Yorkshire
Comprehensive Record
The Memorial
This memorial cross on buckden pike with bronze fox head at base; incorporates duralumin from wellington geodetic framework was dedicated on 08/08/1973 (built by survivor Jozef Fusniak). Memorial cross on National Trust land. Originally erected by sole survivor Jozef Fusniak in 1973.
Type
Memorial cross on Buckden Pike with bronze fox head at base; incorporates duralumin from Wellington geodetic framework
Dedication Date
08/08/1973 (built by survivor Jozef Fusniak)
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationVerified Location
Buckden Pike, North Yorkshire, North Yorkshire
what3words: ///courage.drawn.snipped
What Happened
Tasked with a training exercise from Bramcote, Wellington Mk.IC N2848 of 18 OTU (Polish) encountered a severe blizzard over the Yorkshire Dales. Straying east of its intended route after passing over Skipton, the aircraft flown by Flight Lieutenant Czeslaw Kujawa struck the hillside of Buckden Pike. Five Polish airmen were killed; Sergeant Jan Sadowski, the wireless operator, subsequently died of his injuries. The one survivor, Sergeant Jozef Fusniak, found his way to safety by following fox tracks through the snow. Among those lost were Second Pilot Jerzy Polczyk, Observer Tadeusz Jan Bieganski, and Air Gunner Jan Andrzej Tokarzewski.
Community Connection
Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.
Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
Do you know of any commemorative events or annual services held at this memorial? We would love to hear from local communities who remember.
Share remembrance informationAircraft & Operation Details
With courage and faithAircraft Type
Wellington Mk.IC
Serial Number
N2848
Squadron
18 OTU (Polish)
Station
Bramcote
Date of Loss
1942-01-30
Operation Type
Training
Cause of Loss
Flew into hillside in blizzard conditions; strayed east of intended route after passing over Skipton
Crew (7 members)
About the Crew
F/Lt Czeslaw KujawaPilot
Killed on impact when the Wellington struck a dry-stone wall on Starbotton Fell. Buried in the Polish War Graves section of Newark Cemetery.
Flight Lieutenant Kujawa was an experienced Polish pilot who had escaped occupied Poland to continue fighting with the RAF.
P/O Jerzy Polczyk2nd Pilot
Killed on impact. Buried in the Polish War Graves section of Newark Cemetery.
F/O Tadeusz Jan BieganskiObserver
Killed on impact. Buried in the Polish War Graves section of Newark Cemetery.
Sgt Jan SadowskiWireless Operator
Survived the initial crash but died of his injuries before help could reach him. Fellow survivor Fusniak built him a shelter before setting off for help. Buried in the Polish War Graves section of Newark Cemetery.
Sgt Jan Andrzej TokarzewskiAir Gunner
Killed on impact. Buried in the Polish War Graves section of Newark Cemetery.
Sgt Jozef FusniakAir Gunner
Sole survivor. His rear turret snapped off the fuselage on impact, saving his life. Despite a broken ankle, he followed fox tracks through the blizzard to the village of Cray. After recovering, he returned to flying but was shot down on 22/23 July 1942 with 301 Squadron and captured near the Dutch/German border. He spent the rest of the war as a POW at Stalag Luft Lamsdorf and survived the infamous Lamsdorf death march. In 1973 he returned to build the memorial cross on Buckden Pike. He died in July 2017 in Cambridge aged 95.
After the war, Fusniak settled in England. In 1973 he returned to Buckden Pike to build the memorial cross with help from local residents. The bronze fox's head at the base honours the fox whose tracks saved his life. He died in Cambridge in July 2017 at age 95.
Memorial Care
national trust
Organisation
National Trust
Website
Memorial cross on National Trust land. Originally erected by sole survivor Jozef Fusniak in 1973.
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Skipton Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Further Reading
National TrustRetrieved 2026-03-23
The National Trust maintains a walking trail to the Polish memorial cross on Buckden Pike. The memorial was built by sole survivor Jozef Fusniak in 1973 and incorporates a bronze fox's head at its base, honouring the fox whose tracks led Fusniak to safety through a blizzard.
What you'll find: Polish Memorial Cross on Buckden Pike: A National Trust Trail Leading to a WWII Survivor's Tribute.
National Trust walking trail from Buckden villageApproximately 2-hour walk to summit at 2,303 ft
IWM War Memorials RegisterRetrieved 2026-03-23
IWM records the memorial to the Polish RAF Air Crew of Wellington N2848 crash site on Buckden Pike, North Yorkshire. The memorial was dedicated on 8 August 1973.
What you'll find: Official War Memorial Register Entry with Detailed Location Details, Crew Biographies, and Memorial Photographs.
IWM reference: memorial/30083
Peak District Air CrashesRetrieved 2026-03-23
Detailed crash site analysis documenting Wellington N2848 of 18 OTU from RAF Bramcote. The crew strayed east of their intended route and the aircraft clipped a dry-stone wall on Starbotton Fell. The memorial cross incorporates duralumin fragments from the Wellington's geodetic framework concreted into its base.
What you'll find: Detailed crash site analysis, incorporating duralumin fragments from Wellington N2848.
Aircraft clipped dry-stone wall on Starbotton FellDuralumin from geodetic framework incorporated into memorial base
WikipediaRetrieved 2026-03-23
Wikipedia's entry on Buckden Pike documents the 1942 Wellington crash and the memorial cross erected by survivor Jozef Fusniak. The article notes the fox tracks legend and the memorial's significance as a popular walking destination.
What you'll find: Detailed account of WWII Wellington bomber crash, survivor's memorial, and its enduring local significance.
Memorial is a well-known landmark on Buckden Pike summit
Nearby Memorials
Sources
National Trust (retrieved 2026-03-23)
IWM War Memorials Register (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Peak District Air Crashes (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Peak District Air Accident Research (website)
Wikipedia - Buckden Pike (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-04-09
Do you have additional information, photographs, or corrections for this record? We welcome contributions from researchers, families, and local communities.
Suggest a correction or addition