F/Sgt Prochera was Polish airman who made it to England via Romania and the Middle East after his Squadron had been over run in 1939, he was an air gunner and he joined 156 Squadron in July 1943 after a tour with 100 Squadron. In both squadrons his pilot was F/Lt McGrath.

F/Sgt Prochera flew a total of 93 missions in all for Bomber Command (plus 5 at the start of the war in Poland) and was awarded Poland's highest award, the Virtuti Militari for the sheer volume of missions flown

Ops prior to joining 156 Squadron:

100 Squadron       Aircraft - Lancaster,    Pilot - F/L McGrath: 
 4/3/43      Mine Laying           - Bay of Biscay
 7/3/43      NUREMBERG       - Good Trip   
11/3/43     STUTTGART         - One motor and two turrets unserviceable.
26/3/43     DUISBERG             - Good Show
27/7/43     BERLIN                   - Good Show
 3/4/43      ESSEN                     - Intense Flak and Searchlights   
 4/4/43      KIEL                         - Circled for 20 mins.  10/10  Cloud.  Intense Flak
 9/4/43      DUISBERG             - Electrical fires during takeoff and bombing run         
14/4/43     SPEZIA                   - Diverted to Wing
18/4/43     SPEZIA                   - Bombed at 7000 feet.  Good Show
20/4/43     STETTIN                - Low Level,  shot up ships, villages, & Searchlights. Coned over  target.
26/4/43     DUISBERG            - Good visibility.  Target ablaze.
30/4/43     ESSEN                    - 10/10 Cloud.  Flak very accurate.
12/5/43     DUISBERG            - Did not Complete
13/5/43     BOCHUM             - Hit by Flak
23/5/43     DORTMUND      - Heaviest raid to date
25/5/43     DUSSELDORF    - Fires scattered
27/5/43     ESSEN                   - Night Fighters very active
11/6/43     DUSSELDORF    - Flak heavy,  four holes. Gee burnt out.
 

All of the material displayed on this page was donated by F/Sgt  Prochera's family.