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This aircraft, which got the (unofficial) designation Tp 11, arrived to the Air Force in an unusual way. It landed at the island of Gotland on the 14th of September 1939, two weeks after the German occupation of Poland. The pilot's name was Edmund Jereczek. He was a pilot (podporucznik - 2nd lieutenant) of Pluton Lacznikowy (Liaison Platoon) from Dowodztwo Ladowej Obrony Wybrzeza (Coastal Ground Defence Command), organized in Kepa Oksywska near Gdynia in first days of September 1939. The airmen and aircraft in this unit were from civil Aeroklub Gdanski (Gdansk Aero Club). The RWD-13 aircraft also carried a passenger, Jereczek’s fellow officer Nowacki. The two men were allowed to stay in Sweden. Jereczek, however, travelled already in October to the United Kingdom, where he served in the RAF during the whole WWII as a pilot and flying instructor.

The aircraft carried the Polish registration SP-BML (C/N 216).

The abbreviation RWD stands for Rogalski, Wigura and Drzewiecki. RWD aircraft was built in DWL (Doswiadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze – the Experimental Aviation Workshops) factory in Warsaw. These Polish engineers designed a number of aircraft together, even if the team was reduced from three to two after Stanislaw Wigura’s tragical death in a chrash with a RWD 6 in 1933. Their aircraft were designated RWD 1 to RWD 25 and were in the range from light single-engined to medium twin-engined machines.  The RWD 13 was a high-winged monoplane with STOL characteristics – in this case powered with a de Havilland Gipsy Major engine – but also PZInż and Walter engines were used. The wings were foldable backwards and were equipped with automatic slats and slatted ailerons. The material was plywood  with a fabric covering. The fuselage was constructed with a welded truss with wooden longerons and fabric covered formers  The cockpit was equipped with heating and ventilation. Long travel shock absorbers allowed some tougher landings.

On juridical grounds, the aircraft could not officially be incorporated in the Air Force. Still, it was painted with Swedish nationality markings and used as a target aircraft. Civil pilots from Svenska Aero AB flew it.  

After the war the Tp 11 got the civil Swedish registration SE-AOF. It was used until 1951, when it burned in Stockholm after a crash.

The photo at top below – unfortunately of bad quality – shows the Tp 11 in Swedish markings. Thanks to Leszek A.Wieliczko, Samoloty wojskowe świata 1935-1945, for the help.

Photo below shows RWD 13 SP-BNU c/n 283 at the Polish Aviation Museum in Crakow. This aircraft was owned by the Polish air line LOT and used as an air taxi. It is now restored in one of the hangars in the museum.
Tp 11: Length: 7,85 m. Span: 11,50 m. MTOW: 930 kg. Max.speed: 210 km/h.

© Lars Henriksson

Updated 2011-02-26