Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

						S/Ldr. Maksymilian Longin Brzozowski was the freshly appointed commanding officer of 301 Polish Bomber Squadron “Ziemi Pomorskiej”. In the night of July 2 on 3, 1942, he was the pilot of Wellington Z1314 on a bombing raid to Bremen. The Wimpey was intercepted by a German night fighter and crashed near Borger. Four crew members survived the crash, while the rear gunner was killed. Where these airmen descended is unclear but Brzozowski probably landed near Orvelte, some 15 kilometres to the southwest of Borger. He was also the only one who managed to evade capture for some days. It is very well possible that he came in the hands of Tuinis Bos, who lived at the Molenstraat 84 in Assen.

Shortly after the war, Bos stated in his Helper file that when he arrived in the forest near Schoonloo in the morning of July 15 [sic], he heard that English airmen were in danger in a forest near Orvelte. He went there and noticed that the area was already surrounded by the Germans. Nevertheless, he managed to find one airman and this must have been Brzozowski. Bos managed to get the pilot out of the area and hid the airman to be collected later. He then went home to fetch his only civilian suit and returned on his cargo bike. On his return to the pilot’s hide-out, he made quite some heath brooms while Brzozowski changed clothes. Bos hid the airman under a pile of heath brooms in his cargo bike and cycled home while trying to avoid German checkpoints. The trip took him four hours but he arrived home safe and sound with the Polish airman. The pilot told Bos that he wanted to go to Utrecht so he planned to take Brzozowski there.

In the evening, Bos came in contact with Durk Nijhof who belonged to the resistance. Nijhof told Bos that his organisation would help the pilot to get back to England. That very evening, Bos took the airman to the house of Nijhof at the Steendijk 167 in Assen. Brzozowski remained there for about 'three days' but was then betrayed by 'Landwachter' J. ten Brink. De ‘Landwacht’ was a pro-German para-military organisation and feared by the Dutch locals. The airman was arrested in or near Assen on July 5, 1942, but not in the house of Nijhof. Had that been the case, then Nijhoff would have been arrested as well with severe consequences. However, after the arrest of Brzozowski , the house of Nijhof was searched by twelve 'Landwachters' who took two of his bicycles and some bottled food.

After interrogation, Brzozowski was sent to Stalag Luft III Sagan where he stayed for the remainder of the war. After his liberation he returned to England and then emigrated to Canada in 1948. He passed in Simcoe, Ontario, on April 10, 2001 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.