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The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was formed to commemorate for the public benefit the achievements of the Polish Air Force in the Second World War; to honour fallen Polish Airmen by the creation and maintenance of public memorials. LATEST NEWS The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Komitet Pamięci Lotników Polskich Mission Statement The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was formed to commemorate for the public benefit the achievements of the Polish Air Force in the Second World War; to honour fallen Polish Airmen by the creation and maintenance of public memorials; and to educate and inform the public about the Polish Air Force and its history, including the operation of Polish Air Force Museums.

Skrzydla We hope to index a number of back issues of Skrzydła (Wings) magazine. Coming soon.... Constitution Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees (‘Foundation’ model constitution) Date of constitution (last amended): 9th December 2019 1. Name The name of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“the CIO”) is: THE POLISH AIR FORCE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE 2. National location of principal office The principal office of the CIO is in England: 15 Kings Avenue Ealing London W5 2SJ 3. Objectives The objectives of the CIO are: To commemorate for the public benefit the achievements of the Polish Air Force in the Second World War and to honour fallen Polish Airmen by the creation and maintenance of public memorials; To educate and inform the public about the Polish Air Force and its history including by operating the Polish Air Force Museum; Nothing in this constitution shall authorise an application of the property of the CIO for purposes which are not charitable. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Constitution is available in full DOWNLOAD Trustees LINK

Notification of deaths Lieutenant Jan Stangryciuk-Black Air Gunner 18.04.1922 – 22.10.2023 Jan Stangryciuk was born on 18 April 1922 in Chełm, Poland south east of Lublin near the border with Ukraine. At the age of 12 he emigrated to Argentina with his family. When war broke out in 1939 and the subsequent fall of France, he volunteered to come to Britain and joined the Polish Air Force and trained as an air gunner. During a nighttime training flight his Wellington bomber suffered an engine failure shortly after take off and crashed and burst into flames. He valiantly tried to save his crewmates but in vain and was the only survivor. He suffered severe burns to his face and hands and spent many years of treatment under the care of the renowned and innovative plastic surgeon Archibald McIndoe. He subsequently joined 300 Squadron and flew on four operations before undergoing further treatment. Jan was believed to be the last survivor of 300 Squadron and the last survivor of the Guinea Pig Club, which was formed by recovering airmen to support aircrew undergoing reconstructive plastic surgery. He was also the only Polish serviceman to take part in the Victory parade of 1946 where he laid a wreath on behalf of the Guinea Pig Club. Jan left the Polish Air Force in 1948 and married Evelyn Black and took on her surname. His last public appearance was on 2 September 2023 at the ceremony of Homage to fallen Polish Airmen at the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt. Although visibly frail he laid a wreath on behalf of his former 300 Squadron and received a standing ovation from the attending congregation. Jan is survived by his second wife Jadwiga who, with her family, kept him company in his last years. LAC Eugeniusz Borysiuk Instrument Repairer 03.11.1927 – 30.03.2023 Eugeniusz Borysiuk was born on 3rd November 1927 and was 11 when the war broke out. He was deported to Siberia by the Soviets and worked as slave labour in a logging camp in desperate winter cold. In 1941, when Poles were released by the Soviets, he made his way via Tehran to Palestine, and was one of those who volunteered for training as engineering apprentices. Travelling via the Cape, he reached RAF Halton in Aug 1943 and completed his training in 1947. He then served for 5 yrs in the RAF before joining Marconi and eventually becoming Company Quality Manager. He was the last Chairman of the Polish Air Force Association before its dissolution at the end of 2011 when the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was established to continue the commemorative work, with Eugeniusz among its founding members. He was among the few surviving veterans who was presented to HRH the Duke of Kent at the Polish Air Force Memorial in 2018 and to the Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło and to Teresa May when they visited the Memorial in 2016, joining them for a reception at 10 Downing Street. In 2020, accompanied by his wife Mira, he was guest of honour at RAF Halton staying in the Officers' Mess for their Battle of Britain Dinner - a long journey from his days as a Polish Air Force apprentice on the Station during the war. Eugeniusz was among that breed of modest and dignified Polish Air Force veterans who worked quietly for the memory of all they had served with and spoke little about themselves. He is remembered with admiration and affection in equal measure. W/O Jan Tadeusz Baxter (Zabłocki) 300Sqn Pilot 03.04.1920 - 12.03.2021 Jan Tadeusz Baxter, one of the last surviving pilots of the wartime Polish Air Force, died on 12th of March, just short of his 101st birthday. Born in 1920 with the surname Zabłocki, he was selected for pilot training in Poland but did not complete his training before the outbreak of war. He escaped through central Europe to France, and from there to Britain where he was initially stationed at RAF Swinderby on ground duties with 300 Squadron of the Polish Air Force. After pilot training in Britain and Canada, in 1943 he was posted back to 300 Squadron, now at RAF Ingham, flying Wellingtons mainly on mine-laying duties. He converted to the Halifax and then served in 1586 Special Duties Flight at Brindisi. Between March and May 1944 he flew 27 operational night sorties, 11 of which were to Poland, dropping supplies for the Home Army. He described how "Flying low over the DZ [Drop Zone] during the Drop, I opened the side window and felt a rush of clear Polish air ... The flights to Poland were exhilarating and, if the missions were accomplished, they gave a lot of satisfaction to myself and the crew. More than once I had the moving experience of seeing the lights of my home town, Kraków, in the distance." After his tour at Brindisi, he returned to England to serve as an instructor. He stayed in Britain after the war, flying commercially, including making 242 flights during the Berlin Airlift. In 1951 he joined the RAF and served in flying roles in Aden and Malaysia as well as home postings. He is survived by his widow and two sons by his first wife. Col Mieczysław J Stachiewicz 301Sqn Pilot 21.05.1917 - 30.04.2020 W/O Jerzy E Główczewski 308Sqn Pilot 19.11.1922 - 13.04.2020 Following the German and Soviet invasions he was forced to head south to Romania. A year later he had to flee again and made his way to Haifa in Palestine. Here he initially joined the Independent Carpathian Brigade but then volunteered for pilot training in the Polish Air Force and arrived in Britain in 1942. In late 1944 he joined 308 City of Krakow Squadron. After the war he returned to Poland and worked on the rebuilding of Warsaw followed by lecturing in the US and the modernisation and reconstruction of the ancient city of Aswan in Egypt. He settled in New York as an architect and lectured at the Pratt Institute and was the author of several books. W/O Roman M Golicz 300Sqn Air Gunner 06.12.1925 - 06.04.2020 W/O Julian Michalski 304Sqn Navigator 05.02.1919 - 03.04.2020 He joined the Polish army in 1937 and on the Russian invasion his unit moved into Hungary. Disarmed, they were permitted to travel through Yugoslavia and Italy to France. When France collapsed they moved to Spain and then to Algiers. As all transport to Britain was reserved for airmen, they drove across the Sahara to Nigeria. The British High Commission in Kano sent them by sea to Egypt where they joined the Polish contingent in Alexandria. He fought at Tobruk and was then sent to Britain by sea escorting enemy prisoners. On arrival in Liverpool he volunteered for the Polish Air Force and was sent to Canada for training as a Navigator. Returning to Britain at the end of 1943 he was allocated to 304 Sqn, Coastal Command, on convoy protection and anti-submarine missions from RAF Benbecula. After the war, he returned to his studies, became a lecturer and eventually professor at Birmingham University. Lt Wanda Szuwalska-Gaweł 300Sqn Clerk 18.01.1923 - 26.03.2020 Deported to Siberia as a teenager in 1940, she arrived with her family after a 3-week rail journey. She was put to work clearing forests alongside her father. After the 1941 Polish/Soviet agreement, she got out through Uzbekistan to join Anders’ army in Persia. Volunteering for the Polish WAAFs, she travelled from Alexandria on a warship through the Mediterranean to Britain, arriving at the end of 1943. As a WAAF she served in 300, Land of Mazovia, Squadron and then from 1944 at Fighter Command HQ , Bentley Priory. W/O Marian Jankiewicz 315Sqn Pilot 18.01.1923 - 02.09.2019 He was arrested by the Red Army in 1939 aged 16 and sentenced to 16 years hard labour in Siberia. After the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, under a Polish/Soviet agreement Poles were released and allowed to make their own way to join Polish forces. Making his way via Persia and India, he reached the UK and joined the Polish Air Force. On completion of flying training he was posted to 315, City of Dęblin, Squadron flying Mustangs as bomber escorts. Post-war he served in the RAF until 1968 and then until 1987 with the Air Force of the United Arab Emirates 'May they rest in peace'

Plumetot Memorial Unveiled View Photos Additional photos taken at the ceremony by Olenka Radowicz are available by clicking on the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zlpuk/sets/72157709064325092/ Gabszewicz Spitfire View Photos . Paszkiewicz Memorial View Photos . Photo Gallery

Crash Sites of Fallen Polish Air Force airmen during the Battle of Britain

2017 28 November Polish 317 Squadron pilot remembered. Polish pilot P/O Stanislaw Kurowicki from 317 (Polish) City of Wilno Squadron was honoured at the Remembrance service on 11 November at Fairlop Waters Country Park, Essex, the former home of RAF Fairlop. Wreaths were laid accompanied by the Polish Flag and Polish National Anthem. P/O Stanislaw Kurowicki was killed in action on 11th September 1943. P/O Stanislaw Kurowicki was posted to 317 Sqn at RAF Fairlop on 21st August 1943. On 11th September he was in one of the squadron’s 11 Spitfires that took off at 18.00 as part of the Polish Wing fighter escort to a target at Rouen, France. Over the target P/O Stanislaw Kurowicki shot down a Focke Wulf FW 190 before announcing on the radio that he had been hit. He was last seen fighting with four FW 190s south west of Rouen. P/O Stanislaw Kurowicki was the only pilot from 317 Sqn killed during its stay at Fairlop. His grave is in St. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France. Information and some photos supplied by Robert Pliszka. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. Fairlop Waters Country Park, Essex, the former home of RAF Fairlop and 317 City of Wilno Squadron. Robert Pliszka St. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, France Fairlop Waters Country Park, Essex, the former home of RAF Fairlop and 317 City of Wilno Squadron. 1/9 22 November Polish 'Lego' Spitfire A model of a Spitfire in the colours of 303 Polish Squadron is available as a brick construction kit from the RAF Museum shop. The MkVb Spitfire, which has 290 pieces compatible with Lego, has a retractable undercarriage, rotating propeller and a pilot figure. A stand is also included in the set which is suitable for age 6 and above. It is priced at £22.99 and is available via this link. Spitfire 29 October Polish Air Force Museum Northolt tour dates 2018 RAF Northolt, which hosts the only Museum dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain, has advised dates for organised tours to the Museum in 2018. These are on Saturdays as follows: 14 April, 2 June, 4 August, 17 September. Each tour will be limited to 20 people and applications should be made to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee chairman Richard Kornicki via email: richardkornicki@gmail.com . Tours will start at 14.00 and if over subscribed additional tours will run on the same dates at 11.00 after checking in beforehand at the security office, which is accessed via the White House Gate. This is the first gate on the A4180 West End Road, when approaching from the A40 Polish Air Force Memorial roundabout and is on the left just before a Shell garage. As RAF Northolt is an operational base visitors attending by car will need to confirm, prior to the visit, vehicle make, model, colour and registration. Photo ID will also be required to access the base. For those attending by public transport the nearest Underground Station is South Ruislip, approximately 600 metres from the White House Gate security office. Visits to the museum might also be possible on other dates in special circumstances, subject to staff availability and operational requirements. There are no charges for visiting the Museum. However, as the Museum is housed at RAF Northolt by kind permission of the Station Commander, funding for exhibits and conservation is all met privately through the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and guides give up their time voluntarily. Donations to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee are appreciated. Visitors may also wish to perhaps use the opportunity to visit the Polish Air Force Memorial and adjacent Memorial Gardens at Northolt and the nearby Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 1HR, which is just a 20 minute drive from the Northolt Memorial. The Orchard, Ruislip, HA4 7DR, - now a Beefeater restaurant - is also on route to the cemetery. For information on the Museum and the nearby Battle of Britain Bunker at Uxbridge, please click the ‘Museum’ page above. 29 September Kraków honours Polish pilot A street in Kraków has been named Majora Pilota Stefana Janusa (Major pilot Stefan Janus street) after Wg/Cdr Stefan Władysław Janus DSO, DFC, VM, KW and three bars. Stefan Władysław Janus was born on 22 March 1910 in Wola Duchacka, near Kraków. He had three brothers and all became airmen. In 1931 Janus joined the Polish Artillery Cadet Officers Reserve School at Włodzimierz Wołyński, and on graduation went to the Polish Artillery College in Toruń. He was commissioned in 1934. At the same time he completed a flying training course at the Air Force Officers Training Centre in Dęblin. Janus was posted to 22nd Light Bomber Squadron of the 2nd Air Regiment in Kraków. After completing an advanced flying course at Grudziądz, he joined the 122nd Fighter Squadron in Kraków. Later he was appointed a flying instructor in Dęblin. In September 1939, together with a group of cadet officers, Janus crossed the Hungarian border. He continued through Yugoslavia and Greece to France and from there was posted to a training unit in North Africa. After arriving in Britain, on 22 September 1940 Janus was posted to the newly formed 308 (Polish) City of Kraków Squadron. From 22 June 1941 he commanded ‘A’ Flight. On 17 November 1941 he took command of 315 (Polish) City of Dęblin Squadron. In May 1942 Janus was appointed Commander of the 1st Polish Wing at Northolt. On 26 January 1943 Janus collided with another pilot over France and was captured. He remained in the POW camp Stalag Luft III in Zagan until the end of the war. After returning to Britain he was an operations officer at RAF 11 Group Head Quarters at Uxbridge. In 1953 Janus joined the RAF, where he stayed until his retirement in 1965. Janus died on 11 November 1978 in East Farleigh near Maidstone, Kent. His ashes were taken to Poland and are buried at Rakowicki Cemetery in Kraków. Janus is credited with destroying six enemy aircraft and damaging one. Information provided by Peter Sikora. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. The grave of Wg/Cdr Stefan Władysław Janus and his wife Jadwiga in Rakowicki Cemetery, Kraków. Photo copyright Michal Slizowski. 1/9 22 September Northolt Commemoration Ceremony The annual and 57th Ceremony of Homage to Fallen Polish Airmen during World War II was held at the Polish Air Force Memorial, Northolt on Saturday 2 September. The Ceremony opened with a Trumpeter and Drummer from the RAF Auxiliary Air Force Band sounding the Assembly prior to the Parade of Standards led by the replica Polish Air Force Wilno Standard. Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki CBE DL, followed with his introductory address, welcoming dignitaries, veterans, guests and the public. Richard Kornicki said that we come together again to commemorate the achievements of the Polish Air Force in the West and to honour the memory of the Polish airmen whose names are engraved on the granite walls behind the Memorial. He added that Polish airmen created remarkable bonds and links with communities, which are now stronger than ever and cited several examples. These included the Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło’s first engagement, on her inaugural UK-Poland Intergovernmental Consultations visit last year, to lay wreaths and meet veterans with the British Prime Minister Theresa May at the Memorial, followed by a reception at 10 Downing Street. His address was followed by the Polish Roll-Call of the Fallen, carried out by the Officer Cadets of the Polish Air Force Academy, Dęblin; Prayers; the Last Post and a minute’s silence ended by Reveille. Invited dignitaries, representing national and local government, various organisations and associations laid wreaths on the Memorial. They were followed by veterans and descendants of the Polish Squadrons and Units commemorated on the Memorial. The hour-long ceremony ended with the Polish and UK national anthems. Unfortunately the flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was cancelled due to engine problems. In his closing remarks Richard Kornicki thanked all those involved with the Ceremony for their help, in particular Air Cadets from Middlesex Wing, 308, 315, 316 and 317 Squadrons for without them this Ceremony simply could not take place. Music to an exceptionally high standard was provided by the National Marching Band of the Air Training Corps. He then called on Alexsander Smaga and colleagues representing the Ribbon of Memorial project in Kraków, to take a sample of Northolt earth to be buried in Kraków, representing the support provided by the Polish Air Force for the work of the Home Army throughout the war. Following the Ceremony guests transferred to RAF Northolt for a reception and lunch in the Station’s Sword and Wheel Club, while being entertained by Polish dancers. RAF Northolt Station Commander, Group Captain Mike Carver and Acting Republic of Poland Defence Attaché, Lt Col Artur Miśkiewicz, awarded PAFMC Commendations to people who, with no personal connections with Poland, have made an exceptional contribution to preserving the memory of Polish Airmen. The Memorial programme, speeches and commendations can be viewed by clicking the relevant icons below. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. All photos Crown copyright unless otherwise stated. An amateur video of the Ceremony, by Thomas Ozel, can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlwOXAq9ufo Programme Introduction Closing remarks Commendations Next year's ceremony will take place on Saturday 1st September, 2018 at 12.00. NHT-Official-20170902-163-002 NHT-Official-20170902-163-003 Charlea Bright receiving the PAFMC Commendation on behalf of Kelly-Ann Donaldson and the Mess Team from RAF Northolt Station Commander, Group Captain Mike Carver and Acting Republic of Poland Defence Attaché, Lt Col Artur Miśkiewicz. Photo copyright Marek Borzecki, NHT-Official-20170902-163-002 1/130 21 September New Station Commander RAF Northolt Group Captain Mike Carver has taken over as Station Commander of Royal Air Force Northolt. He officially took command of the Station on 28 July, taking over from Group Captain David Manning. A highly experienced Pilot, Mike Carver was commissioned into the RAF in 1986 and served the majority of his flying career on the Hercules transport aircraft of Number 24 and 47 Squadrons. A veteran of operations flying in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, he has also served in a number of staff roles in both Permanent Joint Headquarters and Air Command. These experiences will be a perfect background given Northolt’s role as the Royal Air Force’s strategic site in London, and home to 32 supported units from across Government and Defence including 32 (The Royal) Squadron, which provides Air Transport to the UK’s Governmental and military leaders. “I’m delighted and honoured to have been appointed as Royal Air Force Northolt’s Station Commander, particularly with RAF100 next year,” said Mike Carver. “It’s already very clear to me what a professional, spirited and dedicated team Northolt possesses. Northolt is both a highly diverse and key strategic airbase for the United Kingdom and I am very much looking forward to playing my part in maximising the opportunities that these will offer.” For further information please contact RAF Northolt Media & Communications Officer, Sq/Ldr James Tenniswood via email:NOR-BSWMCO@mod.uk Click image to enlarge. Group Captain Mike Carver (right), is handed the Station Commander’s pennant by outgoing Station Commander David Manning. Photo Crown copyright. Group Captain Mike Carver (right), is handed the Station Commander’s pennant by outgoing Station Commander David Manning. Photo Crown copyright. 1/1 14 September Polish records appointment. The Army Personnel Centre (APC) has appointed Monika Helman as Administrative Officer at the APC Disclosures 5 (Polish) office at RAF Northolt. Monika replaces Barbara Kroll, who has retired and is working alongside Executive Officer Margaret Goddard. Monika can be contacted via email NOR-PolishDiscOfficeAsst2@mod.uk . The APC Disclosures 5 (Polish) has access to the approximate 300,000 service records of ex-servicemen and women who served in the Polish Army, Navy and Polish Air Force under British command during WWII. For enquiries please contact: Ministry of Defence APC Disclosures 5 (Polish) Building 1 (Ops) RAF Northolt West End Road Ruislip Middlesex HA4 6NG UK. T: +44(0)208 833 8603 E: NOR-PolishDiscOffice@mod.uk 28 August Memorial to pilot F/O Bolesław Józef Sawiak 315 Polish City of Deblin Squadron. A memorial to 315 (Polish) City of Deblin Squadron pilot F/O Bolesław Józef Sawiak was unveiled at a dedication service outside Ratoath Community Centre, near Dublin, The Republic of Ireland, on Wednesday 23 August, the 75th anniversary of his death. Over 100 Polish and Irish local residents and dignitaries gathered to pay tribute to F/O Bolesław Sawiak. Prayers were offered by Father Gerry Stuart and Father Janusz Lugowski, Chaplin to the Polish community in the Diocese of Meath. The Polish Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Ryszard Sarkowicz, together with Government Minister Regina Doherty unveiled the memorial and laid a wreath in honour of F/O Bolesław Sawiak, who paid the ultimate sacrifice in fighting for freedom. The memorial is close to the site where F/O Bolesław Sawiak’s Mk Vb Spitfire, BL959 PK-T crashed landed. He was mortally wounded and was taken to the military hospital, Saint Bricin's in Dublin, where he died a few hours later. He was 23 years old and is buried in Formby, Merseyside. On 23 August 1942 F/O Bolesław Sawiak was in aerial combat with a Junkers Ju88 4U+KH from 1 Staffel Aufklarungsgruppen 123 with its crew of Lt Paul Störmer (pilot), Hauptmann Gottfried Berndt (observer), Oberfelwebel Karl Hund (wireless operator) and Unteroffizier Josef Reiser (air gunner). It was shot down following combined action by F/O Sawaik, 504Sqn Sgt Hawkins and Sgt Francis and 152Sqn F/Lt Sizzer and F/Sgt McPherson. The Ju 88 crashed landed near Carriglong, Co. Wexford and all the crew were captured. The Commemoration and Exhibition was organised by Ratoath Community Centre's Exhibition Team led by Community Centre chief executive Leo Cummins. It was based on earlier initial research by the Ratoath Heritage Group and new added research from Michael O'Reilly, Tony Kearns and Anna Krawiec and supported by Polish Air Force historians and joint authors Piotr Sikora and Łukasz Gredys of "Polish Wings over Ireland" published in 2015. Details are available in the ‘Publications’ page above. Both authors conducted extensive research into F/O Boleslaw Sawiak's last flight and the results can be found in the book. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. A memorial to 315 Polish City of Deblin Squadron pilot F/O Bolesław Józef Sawiak was unveiled at a dedication service outside Ratoath Community. Centre, near Dublin, The Republic of Ireland, on Wednesday 23 August, the 75th anniversary of his death. Photo copyright Łukasz Gredys. 315 Polish City of Deblin Squadron pilot F/O Bolesław Józef Sawiak with MkVb Spitfire. Photo courtesy P.Sikora archive. F/O Bolesław Józef Sawiak is buried in Formby, Merseyside. A memorial to 315 Polish City of Deblin Squadron pilot F/O Bolesław Józef Sawiak was unveiled at a dedication service outside Ratoath Community. Centre, near Dublin, The Republic of Ireland, on Wednesday 23 August, the 75th anniversary of his death. Photo copyright Łukasz Gredys. 1/5 16 August Polish Air Force Memorial Committee sponsors floral display. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee has sponsored a floral display at the site of the RAF Bunker and 11 Group Operations Room at Uxbridge, best known for controlling RAF fighter operations during the Battle of Britain. The display is in front of the replica Mk1 Hurricane that commemorates the aircraft P3901 RF-E of 303 Polish Kościuszko Squadron. Hurricane P3901 was the Polish Air Force’s most successful fighter aircraft during the war and 303 Sqn’s most successful during the Battle of Britain. It was flown by several 303 Sqn pilots, including Acting Sqn/Ldr Witold Urbanowicz who claimed nine of his 15 Battle of Britain victories in this aircraft. His son, also named Witold Urbanowicz, unveiled the Hurricane memorial on 4 September 2010. P/O Franciszek Kornicki, the last surviving commander of the Polish squadrons in the West, also flew this aircraft after the Battle of Britain in late 1940. The red and white display of geraniums, in the form of the Polish Air Force Chequer, was organised and planted by RAF Bunker volunteer and retired Brent Council Director of Cemetery and Mortuary Services Bob Langford. He was assisted by fellow RAF Bunker volunteer Richard Darby who made and installed the red and white wooden framed boarder. It is expected that the geraniums will be replaced in the winter, possibly with red and white pansies. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. 1/7 23 July Battle of Britain Memorial Trust - Memorial Day The replica of the Wilno Polish Air Force Standard was paraded by Sqn/Ldr James Tenniswood at the annual Battle of Britain Memorial Trust’s Memorial Day, Capel-le Ferne, Folkstone on Sunday 9 July. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee by its chairman Richard Kornicki. The Polish Embassy in London was represented by the Polish Consul, Krzystof Grzelczyk and Acting Defence, Military, Naval and Air Attaché Lt/Col Dorota Kawecka. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. The replica Wilno Polish Air Force Standard was paraded by Sqn/Ldr James Tenniswood. Richard Kornicki CBE DL laid a wreath on behalf of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee. The replica Wilno Polish Air Force Standard was paraded by Sqn/Ldr James Tenniswood. 1/2 The Historic Aircraft Collection's MkVb Spitfire BM597 in the colours of 317Sqn at the Duxford Flying Legends air display. Photo © Tom Dolezal / www.fcafa.com The Historic Aircraft Collection's MkVb Spitfire BM597 in the colours of 317Sqn at the Duxford Flying Legends air display. Photo © Tom Dolezal / www.fcafa.com 1/1 22 July Polish Air Force Spitfire at Duxford Airshow. The Historic Aircraft Collection’s MkVb Spitfire BM597, a combat veteran of Polish 315 and 317 Squadrons, took part in the recent Flying Legends airshow at Duxford on 8/9 July. Currently in the colours of 317Sqn, BM597 was first assigned to 315Sqn on 7 May 1942 and later to 317Sqn on 5 September 1942, both at RAF Woodvale, Merseyside. Several Polish pilots flew this aircraft, including W/O Jan Adamiak, Sqn/Ldr Tadeusz Andersz, F/Lt Stanislaw Blok, W/O Aleksander Chudek, Sqn/Ldr Ludwik Martel, Sqn/Ldr Walerian Jasionowski, Sqn/Ldr Franciszek Kornicki, F/Lt Bruno Semmerling, F/O Marek Slonski-Ostoja, F/O Mieczyslaw Widziszewski, F/Lt Ksawery Wyrozemski, F/Lt Wladyslaw Zajac and F/Lt Jerzy Zbrozek. In July 2000 Sqn/Ldr Ludwik Martel and Sqn/Ldr Tadeusz Andersz were reunited with BM597 at Old Hay airfield, Kent. The last surviving Polish Squadron Commander Sqn/Ldr Franciszek Kornicki, also had the opportunity in 2004 at RAF Chailey, East Sussex and sat in the cockpit once again. Their three signatures are on the inside of the cockpit door. In 1967 Spitfire BM597 was taken to Pinewood film studios and used as the master mould for the fibre glass replica Spitfires that featured in the film ‘Battle of Britain’. Click photo to enlarge. 30 June Northolt Commemoration Ceremony The annual and 57th Ceremony of Homage to Fallen Polish Airmen during World War II will be held at the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt on Saturday 2 September. The ceremony will be conducted in both English and Polish and everyone is welcome. A Flyer is available by clicking on the following icon. Following the Ceremony guests will transfer to RAF Northolt for a reception and buffet luncheon in the Station’s Sword and Wheel Club. An application form for the lunch is available by clicking the icon. Please note applications should be received by 30 July. Due to the high demand for places it cannot be guaranteed that all applications will be successful and additional guest numbers may have to be limited. If the event is over-subscribed cheques will be returned. 28 June Armed Forces Day The annual Armed Forces Day was celebrated and commemorated throughout the UK on Saturday 24 June, including a wreath laying ceremony at the Royal Air Force Commonwealth and Allied Air Forces Monument in Plymouth, Devon. Wreath laying was led by RAF Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was represented by Michael Parrott from the 307 Squadron Project. Lt/Col Dorota Kawecka, Acting Defence, Military, Naval and Air Attaché for the Republic of Poland represented the Polish Embassy in London. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. RAF Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier Lt/Col Dorota Kawecka, Acting Defence, Military, Naval and Air Attaché for the Republic of Poland represented the Polish Embassy in London. The Royal Air Force Commonwealth and Allied Air Forces Monument in Plymouth, Devon. RAF Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier 1/6 8 June Polish and Czech fighter pilots exhibition. The Tangmere Military Aviation Museum in Sussex is running an exhibition on the Polish and Czech Fighter Pilots in the Second World War, particularly focusing on the pilots and squadrons that fought from the Sussex airfields. The exhibition is open each day from 22 July until 3 September (except 6 August - Family Day) between 11.00 and 16.00. It will include stories of the heroism of Polish and Czech pilots, models of their aircraft, medals of some of the aces, art work and a film of their time in Britain, For more information click on the following link. Exhibition 26 May Launch of Educational Programme For Your Freedom and Ours C.I.C. Educational Programme has been launched in Northern Ireland focusing on providing shared history and accredited programmes between Poland and Northern Ireland. The campaign is available for youth and adult groups across Northern Ireland, including schools, youth programmes, community groups and residents' associations. More information is available by clicking this link. Details can also found at these Twitter and Facebook links. Alternatively contact Project Coordinator Maciek Bator via email: maciek@foryourfreedomandours.com FYFO Twitter Facebook 9 May RAF Northolt completes pedal to Poland The team of cyclists from RAF Northolt has completed a gruelling 807 mile, 10-day journey from RAF Northolt to Poznan Air Base in Poland. The ride was part of the unit’s rigorous training and development programme, designed to develop the physical, mental and military skills of the personnel taking part. With the team completing 53 hours and 34 minutes in the saddle, and climbing over 19,500 feet, it was an extremely arduous event requiring everyone to dig deep, both physically and mentally. The most brutal day covered 126 miles with an ascent of 5,900 feet. The Project Officer, Squadron Leader Neill Gowans explains: “This was the toughest physical and mental challenge I have faced in my career, and I say that as a former Marine. Everyone in the team has learned a great deal about how to push past their limits both as individuals and as a team. We also stopped on the way to develop our military knowledge by stopping along the route in places like Arnhem and Berlin to learn lessons about the historic air operations that took place there. But the reception we received from the Polish Air Force in particular was amazing and it was an honour to celebrate the shared links between our nations and Armed Services. From the cyclists to our superb logistics team we have learned and experienced so much that we can use in our day-to-day jobs and on operations. That we were able to raise so much money for the RAF Benevolent Fund was a superb bonus.” In addition to the training value, the ride has been a great vehicle to celebrate and cement further the close ties between RAF Northolt, Polish veterans and the Polish Air Force whilst raising money for the RAF Benevolent Fund, an independent charity that provides assistance to RAF personnel, veterans and their families when they are in need. So far over £7,500 and counting has been raised for the charity. Donations can be made on the Virgin Money Giving website or directly at this link Pedal2Poland The Pedal to Poland team cross the border into Poland. Paying respects in Poznan cemetery with Polish Armed Services. RAF Northolt Station Commander Group Captain David Manning meeting the Station Commander of Poznan Air Base The Pedal to Poland team cross the border into Poland. 1/4 27 April Polish Air Force Museum Northolt tour dates RAF Northolt, which hosts the only Museum dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain, has advised dates for organised tours to the Museum. These are on Saturdays as follows: 27 May, 5 August, 30 September and 2 December. Each tour will be limited to 20 people and applications should be made to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee chairman Richard Kornicki via email: richardkornicki@gmail.com . Tours will start at 14.00 after checking in at the security office, which is accessed via the White House Gate. This is the first gate on the A4180 West End Road, when approaching from the A40 Polish Air Force Memorial roundabout and is just before a Shell garage. As RAF Northolt is an operational base visitors attending by car will need to confirm, prior to the visit, vehicle make, model, colour and registration. Photo ID will also be required to access the base. For those attending by public transport the nearest Underground Station is South Ruislip, approximately 500m from the White House Gate security office. Visits to the museum might also be possible on other dates in special circumstances, subject to staff availability and operational requirements. There are no charges for visiting the Museum. However, although the Museum is housed at RAF Northolt by kind permission of the Station Commander, funding for exhibits and conservation is all met privately through the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and guides give up their time voluntarily. Donations to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee are appreciated. Visitors may also wish to perhaps use the opportunity to visit the Polish Air Force Memorial and adjacent Memorial Gardens at Northolt and the nearby Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 1HR, which is just a 5 mile, 20 minute drive from the Northolt Memorial. The Orchard, Ruislip, HA4 7DR, - now a Beefeater restaurant - is also on route to the cemetery. For information on the Museum and the nearby Battle of Britain Bunker at Uxbridge, please click the ‘Museum’ page above. 20 March RAF Northolt to pedal to Poland A team of cyclists from RAF Northolt will participate in a fund raising 750 mile ‘Pedal to Poland’ bike ride from the Polish War Memorial to the Poznan Airbase in Poland, with all proceeds going to the RAF Benevolent fund. Leaving on 23 April, the ride will also form part of the unit’s rigorous training and development programme and provide an opportunity to celebrate and cement further the close ties between RAF Northolt, Hillingdon, the local Polish community and the Polish Air Force. A Polish military cycling team will join the RAF Northolt cyclists at the German border and ride the final leg to arrive at the Poznan Air base on 3 May, Polish Constitution Day, a national holiday. The group, led by RAF Northolt Station Commander, Group Captain David Manning, also an experienced triathlete, will stop off at places of military significance on route. He said: "The route has been chosen so that we will have the opportunity to reflect and remember those who fought in both World Wars while building, further, the strong links between RAF Northolt, the Polish Air Force and our local Polish communities. We are also taking the opportunity to raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund who allocated charitable support to Northolt worth over £80,000 over the last two years to bolster the welfare support to my personnel. I must thank Councillor Ray Puddifoot and his team at Hillingdon Council for their support of this activity and their overall continued support of RAF Northolt." Regular updates will be available on Twitter (@RAFNortholt) and Facebook (rafnortholtoff) and local news outlets, such as GetWestLondon. Donations can be made on the Virgin Money Giving website http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/pedal2poland or directly at this link. The full press release from RAF Northolt can be viewed by clicking the icon. Centre, RAF Northolt Station Commander Gp/Cpt David Manning with the pedal to Poland team. Pedal2Poland 10 March Short films The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has recently produced a series of short films for the British Embassy in Poland. They portray the stories of Polish people and people of Polish heritage in the UK and two have a Polish Air Force interest. One features Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman, Richard Kornicki and RAF Northolt Station Commander Gp/Cpt David Manning, and can be viewed by clicking this link. The other features former 300 Sqn air gunner, Jan Black-Stangryciuk and can be viewed by clicking this link. Film Film 10 January Battle of Britain Memorial Flight recognises Polish pilot for 2017 season The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has confirmed for the 2017 season that its Mk XVI Spitfire, TE311, will be painted to represent the personal Mk XVI Spitfire, TD240, of Gp/Cpt Aleksander Gabszewicz VM KW DSO DFC. Polish Air Force historians Wojtek Matusiak and Piotr Sikora and artist Robert Grudzień have provided the BBMF with photographs and artwork to ensure accuracy of the painting, which will be funded by Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association. The BBMF’s Mk XVI Spitfire, TE311, is a low back, bubble-canopy version with clipped wingtips and built at Castle Bromwich just after the war. Following service in various units it was grounded in the mid 1950s and transferred to RAF Tangmere as the gate guardian for 12 years. It was subsequently used in ground sequences for the film ‘Battle of Britain’. Afterwards it was allocated to the RAF Exhibition Flight and used at air shows for the next 30 years as a static exhibit. The Spitfire was subsequently delivered to the BBMF’s home base, RAF Coningsby, in January 2000. After a meticulous re-build to flying condition, lasting 11 years, TE311 was returned to an immaculate and extremely authentic standard. It took to the air again, for the first time in 58 years, on 19th October 2012. The Mk XVI Spitfire, TD240, was delivered to the 131 (Polish) Wing in mid April 1945 and assigned to Gp/Cpt Aleksander Gabszewicz, who was the Officer Commanding the Wing from 12th July 1944. The individual letter ‘G’ for Gabszewicz, was applied, as well as the ‘Group Captain’ insignia under the cockpit and the code letters ‘SZ’ for 316 Sqn, which Gabszewicz commanded from November 1941 until June 1942. Although 316 Sqn was not part of the 131 (Polish) Wing, all of Gabszewicz's personal aircraft had the ‘SZ’ code letters, as a sign of affection for his former unit. Also a ‘boxing dog’ emblem, and much bigger than on his previous Spitfire, was painted on the aircraft’s nose. The emblem was first introduced on Gabszewicz’s Mk IX Spitfire EN526 in 1943 and subsequently applied to all his personal aircraft. However, there are photographs taken around 1941 showing the emblem on his Mae West life jacket. The artist was Sgt Wojciech Milewski, who was also a talented boxer. At the time Gabszewicz received TD240 the 131 (Polish) Wing was stationed at Varrelbusch (B.113) airfield in occupied Germany. He flew six operational sorties in TD240, including four on dive bombing of enemy positions. When Gabszewicz left his command of 131 (Polish) Wing on 31st May 1945, and went to the head quarters of 84 Group, TD240 was taken over by Sq/Ldr Bolesław Kaczmarek, commander of 302 Sqn. Although the ‘SZ’ code letters were changed to ‘WX’ and individual code letter ‘G’ to ‘V’, the 302 Sqn badge replaced the ‘Group Captain’ insignia and was applied alongside the women's name ‘Janetka’. Gabszewicz's personal boxing dog emblem remained. When the 302 Sqn code letters were changed to ‘QH’ in August 1945, TD240 still carried the letter ‘V’. On 10th October 1945 W/O Kazimierz Chomacki crash landed TD240 and was not repaired. Gp/Cpt Aleksander Gabszewicz was decorated with the Gold and Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari, Polish Cross of Valour and three Bars, DSO and Bar, DFC and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. He died on 10th October 1983 and his ashes were subsequently dispersed over Warsaw and Dęblin in 1992. Thanks to Piotr Sikora and Wojtek Matusiak for providing the historical background information and photo. The artwork of the Mk XVI Spitfire TD240, produced for the BBMF, is copyright and courtesy of Robert Grudzień.

2019 5 Dec Polish Airmen honoured Three Polish airmen have been honoured by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda and the Minister of National Defence of Poland Mariusz Błaszczak, during a special ceremony at the Polish Embassy in London on 3 December. Colonel Franciszek Kornicki was posthumously promoted to the rank of Brygadier General. This was received from President Andrzej Duda by his son Richard Kornicki CBE DL, Chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee. Brygadier General Franciszek Kornicki was a fighter pilot serving with 303, 308, 315 and 317 Squadrons. He commanded 308 and 317 and was the last surviving Polish Air Force Squadron Commander until his death in November 2017, a month short of his 101st birthday. Former 304Sqn wireless operator Warrant Officer John Franklin (Mieczysław Frąckiewicz) was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and presented with the Siberian Exiles' Cross by President Andrzej Duda. John Franklin was also awarded the Gold Medal of Merit for National Defence by the Minister of National Defence of Poland Mariusz Błaszczak. Former 300Sqn air gunner Warrant Officer Jan (Black) Stangryciuk was presented with the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by President Andrzej Duda. Following the presentations, President Andrzej Duda addressed the Embassy audience of over 100. This was followed by a short address by the Minister of National Defence of Poland Mariusz Błaszczak and a speech by 2nd Lieutenant John Franklin (Mieczysław Frąckiewicz.) The full proceedings were streamed live and can be viewed on YouTube by clicking the icon. Photos, courtesy of the Polish Embassy, London, can be viewed in the slide show by clicking the image then the arrows. Richard Kornicki CBE DL, received the posthumous promotion of his father Colonel Franciszek Kornicki to Brygadier General from the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda. The President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda promoted John Franklin (Mieczysław Frąckiewicz) to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and awarded him the Siberian Exiles' Cross. The Gold Medal of Merit for National Defence was presented by the Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak. L-R: The Minister of National Defence of Poland Mariusz Błaszczak, Chairman Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Richard Kornicki, John Franklin (Mieczysław Frąckiewicz), Jan (Black) Stangryciuk, President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda. Richard Kornicki CBE DL, received the posthumous promotion of his father Colonel Franciszek Kornicki to Brygadier General from the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda. 1/5 28 Nov Detailed crash report identifies 300 Squadron Wellington The identity of a Vickers Wellington bomber, which crashed on 15 October 1942 near Zevenbergen, Holland, has been identified as Z1475 from the Polish 300 Mazovian Bomber Squadron. This is the conclusion of an exhaustive and detailed investigation and analysis of available information by Dutch aviation enthusiast Willem van Dranen. According to the squadron’s Operations Record Book Z1475, with its crew of Pilot Sgt Czesław Szymen, Observer F/O Piotr Sobolewski, Wireless operator Sgt Stanisław Piątek, Air gunner Sgt Michał Mielnik, and Air gunner Sgt Lech Józef Biały, took off on its near six hour sortie from its base at RAF Ingham at 18.40. The purpose of the sortie was: “To cause maximum damage to aiming point at Cologne. This aircraft failed to return from the operation.” It would appear from later reports that Z1475, believed to have the squadron code letter BH-X, had dropped its bombs and was shot down on its return journey at 23.15 and about an hour from its RAF Ingham base. Willem van Dranen concludes that four graves in the British War Cemetery in Bergen op Zoom, each marked ‘An unknown airman of the 1939-45 war 15th October 1942’, contain four Polish airmen. Who is in which grave is, without DNA research, impossible to determine. The location of the burial site of the fifth crew member is currently unknown. Willem van Dranen's full and detailed 30 page report is available by clicking the following icon. 19 Nov Polish Heritage Flight formation The Historic Aircraft Collection has announced the formation of the new Polish Heritage Flight to commemorate next year’s 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The Historic Aircraft Collection's MKVb Spitfire BM597, which served with 315 and 317 Polish Squadrons, and its Hurricane, currently painted as P3700 in the Polish 303 Squadron code of RF-E, will operate as ‘The Polish Heritage Flight’. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee hopes to have both aircraft present at RAF Northolt next September during the annual Commemoration of the Polish Air Force. Further details are available in a Press Release by clicking on this icon. 18 Nov Polish pilots’ Commemoration Service. A Commemoration service was held on 9 November at a Memorial in Watchwood Plantation, near Calverton, Nottinghamshire for three Polish airmen from 300 Mazovian Bomber Squadron killed during the Battle of Britain. Pilot F/O Jan Gębicki, Observer Sgt Edward Morawa and Wireless Operator Sgt Tadeusz Egierski took off from RAF Swinderby in Fairey Battle L5499 BH-Y at 17.40 on 13 October 1940 as part of a raid to destroy German invasion barges and docks on the French coast. It is believed the aircraft could not land on its return to Swinderby, as the airfield was being bombed, and ran out of fuel. The 300 Squadron Operations Record Book states: “This aircraft crashed at Oxton, near Nottingham. Aircraft burnt out. All crew killed.” They are buried side by side in Wilford Hill Cemetery, Nottingham. The Commemoration service was taken by the Chaplain to the British Legion Reverend Michael Taylor, accompanied by representatives from the Polish Scout group and the Polish Armed Forces Association and Royal British Legion Standards. Wreaths were laid by F/O Jan Gębicki's grand children Jan and Ania Gębicki, the Mayor of Gedling Sandra Barnes, Nottingham Councillor Boyd Elliot, Calverton Parish Councillor Pat Bosworth, the Calverton Methodist Church and the Calverton Royal British Legion. A short video is available on YouTube at this link https://youtu.be/1VzMdbA7TJg Photos in the slide show, courtesy of Nick Bereznyckyj, can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. F/O Jan Gębicki's, grand children Jan and Ania Gębicki. 1/6 3 Nov ‘Lest We Forget’: Exeter’s Polish 307 Squadron 307 Squadron Project has posted an open invitation to Exeter’s Guildhall for its special event ‘Lest We Forget’. It will take place between 15-16 November 2019, 10:00-16:00 to remember the Polish 307 Squadron. At 10.00 on Friday 15 November, ‘307 Squadron Day’, the Polish flag will be raised above Exeter Guildhall by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Exeter in remembrance of the Polish airmen from 307 Squadron, known as the Lwów Eagle Owls (Lwowskich Puchaczy). During the Second World War 307 Sqn was the only Polish night fighter squadron and defended the South West of England. The Lwów Eagle Owls airmen fought the Luftwaffe over the skies of Britain and prevented Exeter from being totally destroyed during the blitz on the city in 1942. The event will also mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, by commemorating Poles who took part in D-Day. The ‘Lest We Forget’ event includes: The story of the Polish 307 Squadron. The History of Exeter Airport where 307 Squadron were based from 1941-1943. ‘The Polish D-Day Story’ exhibition which shows the role of the Polish military during D-Day. meeting with authors of the graphic novel ‘Dog Fight: Airdogs’ and much more. The Facebook link is available here: https://www.facebook.com/events/704168813417806/?__mref=mb 8 Oct Warsaw Air Bridge Commemoration Ceremony Newark The annual ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the ‘Warsaw Air Bridge’ of dropping supplies to support the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, was held at the Warsaw Air Bridge Memorial in the British Commonwealth and Polish War graves Cemetery in Newark on Trent on Sunday 29 September. The ceremony opened with a parade of Standards followed by a service and the laying of wreaths by invited dignitaries and various organisations. Also in attendance was Jim Auton MBE, a veteran of the Warsaw Air Bridge flying in Liberators in RAF 148 Squadron from Brindisi, Italy. He founded the Warsaw Air Bridge Association and created the Warsaw Air Bridge Memorial, which was unveiled by Air Chief Marshal Fred Roser in 1989. Photographs of the ceremony, supplied by Irena Maryniak, can be viewed and enlarged by double clicking the image then the arrows. 20190929_143020 20190929_143034(0) 20190929_143826 20190929_143020 1/3 26 Sept Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2020 RAF Northolt, which hosts the only exhibition and museum dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain, has advised dates for organised tours to the museum in 2020. These are as follows and all on Saturdays except 12 June: 15 February, 4 April, 12 June, 15 August, 10 October and 12 December. Each tour will be limited to 20 people and applications should be made to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee chairman Richard Kornicki via email: richardkornicki@gmail.com . Tours will start at 14.00 and if over subscribed additional tours will run on the same dates at 11.00 after checking in beforehand at the security office, which is accessed via the White House Gate. This is the first gate on the A4180 West End Road, when approaching from the A40 Polish Air Force Memorial roundabout and is on the left just before a Shell garage. As RAF Northolt is an operational base visitors attending by car will need to confirm, prior to the visit, vehicle make, model, colour and registration. Photo ID will also be required to access the base. For those attending by public transport the nearest Underground Station is South Ruislip, approximately 800 yards from the White House Gate security office. Visits to the exhibition might also be possible on other dates in special circumstances, subject to staff availability and operational requirements. There are no charges for visiting the exhibition. However, as the exhibition and museum is housed at RAF Northolt by kind permission of the Station Commander, funding for exhibits and conservation is all met privately through the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and guides give up their time voluntarily. Donations to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee are appreciated. Visitors may also wish to perhaps use the opportunity to visit the Polish Air Force Memorial and adjacent Memorial Gardens at South Ruislip and the nearby Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue, Northwood, HA6 1HR, which is just a 20 minute drive from the Memorial. The Orchard, Ruislip, HA4 7DR, - now a Beefeater restaurant - is also on route to the cemetery. For information on the exhibition and museum and the nearby Battle of Britain Bunker, with its new Visitor Centre at Uxbridge, please click the ‘Museum’ page above. 24 Sept Northolt Commemoration Ceremony The annual and 59th Ceremony of Homage to Fallen Polish Airmen during World War II was held at the Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip on Saturday 7 September. The ceremony opened with a Parade of Standards led by the replica Polish Air Force Standard. Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki CBE DL, followed with his address, welcoming dignitaries, veterans, guests and the public The full address can be view by clicking the appropriate icon below. His address was followed by the Polish Roll-Call of the Fallen, carried out by the Officer Cadets of the Polish Air Force Academy, Dęblin and Prayers led by Ks Stefan Wylężek, Rector of the Polish Catholic Mission in England and Wales. Invited dignitaries, representing national and local government, Polish and Royal Air Forces and various organisations and associations laid wreaths on the Memorial. They were followed by veterans and descendants of the Polish Squadrons and Units commemorated on the Memorial that flew alongside the RAF from 1940 to 1945. Concluding Prayers were led by Rev Sq/Ldr Neil Galloway followed by the Last Post and a minute’s silence ending with Reveille. The hour-long ceremony ended with the Polish and UK national anthems and withdrawal of the Standards followed by the trumpeter playing ‘White Roses’. Personal wreaths were laid after the ceremony ended. Music was provided by the RAF Central Band with the kind permission of the Air Force Board of the Defence Council. The planned flypast of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Lancaster was unfortunately cancelled due to strong crosswinds at its base at RAF Coningsby. Guests then transferred to RAF Northolt for a reception and buffet lunch in the Station’s Sword and Wheel Club, while being entertained by Polish dancers. PAFMC Commendations were awarded to people who, with no personal connections with Poland, have made an exceptional contribution to preserving the memory of Polish Airmen. The Commandant of the Polish Air Force Academy, Dęblin Brig. Gen. Piotr Krawczyk addressed guests with a moving speech, which can be viewed by clicking the appropriate icon below. Three donated prints were auctioned, raising a combined total of £790 towards PAFMC funds. The Memorial programme, speeches and commendations can be viewed by clicking the relevant icons below. Photos in the slide show can be viewed and enlarged by double clicking the image then the arrows. All photos Crown copyright unless otherwise stated. An amateur video of the ceremony by Thomas Ozel is available on YouTube at this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkS-G7cl-UA . Next year’s Commemoration will take place on Saturday 5 September at 12.00 marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Programme Kornicki speech Krawczyk speech Commendations NHT-Official-20190907-144-007 NHT-Official-20190907-144-003 NHT-Official-20190907-144-171 NHT-Official-20190907-144-007 1/74 2 Sept Joint British and Polish commemoration The Polish Social and Cultural Association (POSK) and the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC) are jointly commemorating the British and Polish cooperation during the Second World War on Sunday 22 September at 17.00 in the Jazz Café at POSK, 238 – 246 King Street, London, W6 0RF. The PAFMC film ‘Polish Airmen Fighting for Freedom’ about the remarkable story of the Polish Air Force, will be shown and complemented with contributions by PAFMC Chairman Richard Kornicki and PAF historian and author of ‘The Polish Few’ Peter Sikora. 21 July Polish Air Force Exhibition film launch The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee has made a short film 'Polish Airmen Fighting for Freedom' about the Polish Air Force exhibition housed in the Polish Lounge at RAF Northolt. The film tells the story of Polish airmen and their achievements during the Second World War in Poland, France and England, which they called wyspa ostatnej nadzieji, ‘The Island of Last Hope’. It highlights artefacts, personal memorabilia, artworks, aircraft models, original photographs, display panels in English and Polish and a replica of the war-time Polish Air Force Standard, which is paraded annually at the Northolt Memorial Commemoration and at the Battle of Britain Service at Capel le Ferne. The film, at 21 minutes long, recently had its premiere at the Battle of Britain Bunker Visitor Centre, Uxbridge, followed by a screening at the Polish Embassy in London. The PAFMC is now making the film freely available and can be viewed by clicking this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBivxlTPpTE . Alternatively it can be accessed on YouTube from this website by clicking on the icon at the top of the Home page, or the red YouTube icon at the bottom right of any page. This will take you to the PAFMC YouTube channel where you can click on the film link 'Polish Airmen Fighting for Freedom'. Please forward to family, friends and social media contacts. The Ambassador of Poland, His Excellency Arkady Rzegocki, commented: “The film made a huge impression on myself, as well as our guests. I see this film as a most valuable educational tool. The Embassy would be delighted if the film [were] shown in British primary and secondary schools as part of their Second World War lessons”. The Polish Educational Society http://www.polskamacierz.org/en/ has already determined to use the film as an educational aid in all its Polish supplementary schools. 20 July Polish pilot’s headstone restored free of charge The headstone on a Polish Battle of Britain pilot’s grave has been restored, thanks to generous support from HAVEN Funeral Services and stonemason Made On Earth. Wing Commander Walerian Żak, who died in 1969, and his wife Jeanne are buried in Northwood Cemetery. Their eroded marble headstone has been extensively restored, free of charge, to recognise the Polish airman’s service to the United Kingdom. HAVEN Funeral Services Northwood Branch Manager Karen Petersen explains: “The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee approached us for an estimate to restore the headstone of Walerian Żak and his wife Jeanne. “After discussing this with our head office and our monumental stonemason and sculptor Francis Sancisi, from Made On Earth, we agreed to waive the £1200 cost and restore the headstone free of charge, as a gesture to someone who fought for our country during the war.” Francis Sancisi removed the marble headstone for the extensive and complex restoration at his Made On Earth workshop in Denham, Buckinghamshire. This involved skimming and cleaning, removal and replacement of the lead inscription, polishing and reinstallation in Northwood Cemetery. Polish Air Force Memorial Committee chairman Richard Kornicki said: “The Committee is extremely grateful to HAVEN Funeral Services and Made On Earth for their kindness, generosity and expertise in restoring Walerian Żak’s headstone and contributing towards maintaining the memory of the Polish Air Force in the West.” The Committee awarded HAVEN Funeral Services and Made On Earth one of its coveted Commendations: “For their extreme kindness and generosity in waiving the £1200 cost and carrying out the restoration of the headstone on the grave of Wing Commander Walerian Żak, and his wife Jeanne, in Northwood Cemetery free of charge as a gesture to someone who fought for our country.” This was presented in front of RAF Northolt’s Officers’ Mess by Station Commander Group Captain Mike Carver. The poor condition of the headstone was first brought to the attention of the PAFMC by Nina Britton-Boyle. She has been visiting Northwood Cemetery at least twice a year for over 20 years to place flowers on the graves of Polish airmen. Nina received a PAFMC Commendation in 2014 for her work over many years sending information about Polish airmen who died back to their families in Poland, tending their graves, and erecting memorial plaques. She is the author of Blood on their Wing Tips: A Second World War Timeline of the No. 303 Kościuszko Polish Squadron at RAF Northolt. History Walerian Żak arrived in England in June 1940 and in late August, with the rank of Flying Officer, was posted to 303 (Polish) Tadeusz Kościuszko Squadron at Northolt flying Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain he claimed two enemy aircraft destroyed, a Dornier Do 215 and a Heinkel He 111 and damaged another Heinkel He 111. Żak was shot down on 27 September 1940 in Hurricane V7289 RF-S, which crashed near Leatherhead, Surrey. He bailed out, but was seriously injured and did not return to operational flying with 303 Squadron until mid 1941 as a Flight Commander. The control column from his Hurricane V7289 is on display in the Visitor Centre at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge. A year later, after a break as a flying instructor at an Operational Training Unit, he returned to 303 Squadron as its overall Commander. He then went on to command 308 (Polish) City of Cracow Squadron and also commanded Nos 3 and 133 (Polish) Wings. Żak also served in the headquarters of the RAF’s No 11 and No 12 Groups and the Air Defence of Great Britain. In 1945-1946 he was the Wing Leader of the 2nd Polish Wing at RAF Coltishall. Walerian Żak was demobilised in 1947 having risen to the rank of Wing Commander. He died on 14 March 1969 and is buried in Northwood Cemetery, Grave B475. He was decorated with the Polish Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari and the Cross of Valour and two bars and the British Distinguished Flying Cross. Photos in the slide show can be viewed and enlarged by double clicking the image then the arrows. The eroded marble headstone on the grave of Wing Commander Walerian Żak and his wife Jeanne in Northwood Cemetery. The marble headstone has been extensively restored and reinstated free of charge, to recognise Walerian Żak's service to the United Kingdom. F/O Walerian Żak was shot down on 27 September 1940. He bailed out and was seriously injured. The control column from his Hurricane V7289 is on display in the Visitor Centre at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge. (Photo courtesy Battle of Britain Bunker) The eroded marble headstone on the grave of Wing Commander Walerian Żak and his wife Jeanne in Northwood Cemetery. 1/18 23 June The Aircrewrembered website adds new database Aircrewrembered has added the new Archiwum database to its extensive website. This database has assembled as much information as had been available by Andrzej Mielnik, former bomber crew, who has lived in Australia for the past few decades. The hope is that people with more information or corrections will contact the website and contribute what they know. It is important that everyone is acknowledged, from the office orderly to the commander. Here is the link. http://www.aircrewremembered.com/ArchiwumPSP1939-1947/?q=belgia. Aircrewrembered is also in the process of adding thousands of images, along with KW, ML and other medal information. 27 May Donation to Polish Air Force Exhibition A wedding gift of a silver tray from members of 303Sqn to the squadron’s RAF Liaison officer F/Lt Frank Brinsden and his wife Cynthia has been kindly donated to the Polish Air Force Exhibition housed in the Polish Lounge at RAF Northolt. The silver tray, engraved with the names of 31 Officers and NCOs of 303Sqn, was presented at their wedding on 25 February 1941. Their son Paul Brinsden travelled from Australia and presented the tray at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge to PAFMC Chairman Richard Kornicki and Bunker Military History Curator Dr Rachael Abbiss, prior to its display at Northolt. F/Lt Frank Brinsden, from Auckland, New Zealand, flew with 19Sqn during the Battle of Britain prior to his posting as ‘A’ flight commander of 303Sqn at Leconfield on 7 November 1940. He was subsequently appointed the British Liaison Officer of 303Sqn from 1 January until 26 March 1941, when he was posted to 485Sqn. Photos in the slide show can be viewed and enlarged by double clicking the image then the arrows. This website program does not allow for long captions attached to photographs so a separate caption for the group of 303Sqn pilots is included as follows: Left to right: Sgt Edward Paterek, F/O Zbigniew Kustrzyński, Sgt Marian Bełc, F/O Wiktor Strzembosz, F/O Eugeniusz Fiedorczuk, F/O Wojciech Kołaczkowski, F/O Włodzimierz Miksa (partially obscured by Kołaczkowski), S/Ldr Adam Kowalczyk (Squadron Commander), P/O Jerzy Radomski, (obscured by Kowalczyk), F/Lt Witold Żyborski, G/Cpt Stefan Pawlikowski (Polish liaison officer, RAF), F/O Wieńczysław Barański, F/O Bohdan Grzeszczak, F/Lt Francis Brinsden, P/O Józef Czachowski, unrecognized F/Lt RAF (presumably F/Lt Ian Hallam), F/O Jerzy Jankiewicz, P/O Franciszek Kornicki, S/Ldr Witold Urbanowicz (at that time, a Polish liaison officer at RAF 11 Group, F/O Tadeusz Arentowicz, F/Lt Zdzisław Henneberg, F/O Jan Zumbach, F/O Aleksander Gabszewicz, F/O Mirosław Ferić. Kneeling, left to right: Sgt Władysław Wieraszka, Sgt Eugeniusz Szaposznikow, Sgt Stanisław Karubin, Sgt Kazimierz Wünsche, Sgt Jozef Káňa, Sgt Jan Kowalski. Paul Brinsden, on the right, presented the tray at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge to PAFMC Chairman Richard Kornicki and the Bunker Military History Curator Dr Rachael Abbiss, prior to its display at Northolt. The silver tray with the 31 names of Officers and NCOs of 303Sqn. (Photo courtesy Paul Brinsden.) Guests at the wedding on 25 February 1941. (Photo courtesy Paul Brinsden.) Paul Brinsden, on the right, presented the tray at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge to PAFMC Chairman Richard Kornicki and the Bunker Military History Curator Dr Rachael Abbiss, prior to its display at Northolt. 1/4 30 April Polish Air Force Memorial flypast At 11.00 on Monday 15 April five Apache helicopters of 663 Squadron, from their base at RAF Wattisham, Suffolk, performed a flypast over RAF Northolt and the Polish Air Force Memorial on route to their deployment in Estonia. The flypast was a celebration of the Squadron's Polish heritage as 663 Sqn was initially created as a Polish artillery observation unit from former artillerymen within the 2nd Polish Corps in Italy in 1944. They were trained to fly unarmed Taylorcaft Austers. The unit became operational in mid-December 1944 under the initial Command of S/Ldr Edward Pawlikowski and made its first operational flight on 8 January 1945. The pilot and passenger acted as observers identifying targets on the ground, or as forward observation officers directing the artillery fire by radio as well as calling in tactical ground-attack aircraft. Distinguished guests attended the flypast, including the leader of Hillingdon Council Ray Puddifoot, South Ruislip Councillor Alan Kaufmann and members of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee. (Photo copyright Marek Borzecki) 23 January Launch of the Plumetot Memorial Campaign. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee’s launch of the Plumetot Memorial Campaign will be held on Thursday 31 January, at The Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge, ( http://battleofbritainbunker.co.uk/ ) in the presence of His Excellency, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Arkady Rzegocki, and the Mayor of the Commune of Plumetot, M. Tarlet. (Due to limitations of space, the event is by invitation only.) The event will cover the importance of the Normandy village of Plumetot, as the place which marked the return to the mainland of Europe of the Polish Air Force in the wake of the D-Day landings in 1944. The Polish 302, 308 and 317 fighter squadrons operated from the temporary Plumetot landing ground during August and September 1944. There will be a presentation by Alexander Smaga, the architect of the Memorial, as well as details of the crowd-funding campaign. Among the guests will be the family of Tadek Kwissa, a member of the Polish Air Force ground crew whose diary describes how he reached Plumetot and serviced aircraft while still within range of enemy fire. An extract from the diary will be read by his son. The Memorial will be unveiled in Plumetot on Sunday 9 June 2019, as part of events surrounding the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. The Memorial will be linked in a trail of memorials and sites marking the Polish contribution to the Invasion. The cost of the Memorial will be around £40,000 of which £15,000 has already been raised or pledged. We are now appealing for funds and those wishing to add their support to the Plumetot Memorial Project can make a contribution at: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/a-polish-air-force-memorial-in-france [Please note: the Crowdfunder site will not be operational before 31 January] We would be most grateful if you would forward these details to friends and colleagues who may be interested in adding their support. If contributions exceed the Project costs, any excess will be used to support the work of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee in maintaining the memory of the Polish Air Force in the West. 1 January Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2019 RAF Northolt, which hosts the only exhibition and museum dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain, has advised dates for organised tours to the museum in 2019. These are all on Saturdays as follows: 2 February, 13 April, 18 May, 3 August, 5 October and 7 December. Each tour will be limited to 20 people and applications should be made to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee chairman Richard Kornicki via email: richardkornicki@gmail.com . Tours will start at 14.00 and if over subscribed additional tours will run on the same dates at 11.00 after checking in beforehand at the security office, which is accessed via the White House Gate. This is the first gate on the A4180 West End Road, when approaching from the A40 Polish Air Force Memorial roundabout and is on the left just before a Shell garage. As RAF Northolt is an operational base visitors attending by car will need to confirm, prior to the visit, vehicle make, model, colour and registration. Photo ID will also be required to access the base. For those attending by public transport the nearest Underground Station is South Ruislip, approximately 800 yards from the White House Gate security office. Visits to the exhibition might also be possible on other dates in special circumstances, subject to staff availability and operational requirements. There are no charges for visiting the exhibition. However, as the exhibition and museum is housed at RAF Northolt by kind permission of the Station Commander, funding for exhibits and conservation is all met privately through the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and guides give up their time voluntarily. Donations to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee are appreciated. Visitors may also wish to perhaps use the opportunity to visit the Polish Air Force Memorial and adjacent Memorial Gardens at South Ruislip and the nearby Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue, Northwood, HA6 1HR, which is just a 20 minute drive from the Memorial. The Orchard, Ruislip, HA4 7DR, - now a Beefeater restaurant - is also on route to the cemetery. For information on the exhibition and museum and the nearby Battle of Britain Bunker, with its new Visitor Centre at Uxbridge, please click the ‘Museum’ page above.

1/7 31 May Polish 304 Squadron airmen to be commemorated Polish airmen of 304 (Polish) “Land of Silesia” squadron, together with British, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand aircrew, are to be commemorated on a new memorial to be dedicated on 1 September in the village of Bleasby, Nottinghamshire. The Memorial was conceived to honour airmen who were killed in operational and training accidents while flying from nearby RAF Syerston. Made from polished granite the Memorial is in the form of a Lancaster tail plane and separate propeller circle. The names of 40 airmen are engraved on the tail fins and propeller feature. This Bleasby Community project, led by Ken Ogilvie, involved the Bleasby Local History Society, Bleasby Parochial Church Council and Bleasby Parish Council. Over £15,000 has so far been raised by the village from organised events, talks and voluntary donations, together with a grant from Nottinghamshire County Council. Fundraising is ongoing to raise a further circa £1,000 to complete the foundations, landscaping and the possible construction of a backdrop wall, as well as for future maintenance. Donations can be made at this link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xReF1jgInmwnAcjhK7WQsrOleFCaqm1c/view The concept for a Memorial came from a local Nottingham architect Keith Clark and Bleasby villager Derek McGrath. The detailed design and manufacture was assigned to Michael Wright of D & M Stonemasons in Nottingham. The granite was sourced from India where it was also cut and polished prior to final finishing, engraving and assembly by D & M Stonemasons. The names of the seven 304 Squadron aircrew, who are all buried in Newark upon Trent Cemetery, are engraved on the propeller circle feature of the Memorial. Pilot Sgt Stanisław Tofin, Observer Sgt Wojciech Lichota, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Jan Adam Cymborski and Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Józef Jończyk, were killed on 6 February 1941 when their Wellington 1c R1014 crashed at Station Farm, Bleasby, shortly after taking off from RAF Syerston. Pilot F/O Rudolf Christmann, Pilot U/T Sgt Wiesław Pietruszewski, and Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sgt Antoni Berger, were killed on 15 April 1941 when their Wellington 1c R1212 crashed into Flintham Woods. It was attempting to overshoot its landing due to wind turbulence at RAF Syerston, having suffered problems with the aircraft’s port engine. Three other members of the crew P/O Zbigniew Gałczyński, Sgt Tadeusz Aranowski and Sgt. Jan Franciszek Jarosz, were injured, two very seriously. For further information please visit http://www.aircrewremembered.com/bleasby-aircrew-memorial.html Photos, courtesy of Kelvin Youngs, can be viewed in the slide show by clicking the image and then the arrows. 15 December 2018 Memorial to two Polish pilots unveiled in Kraków A memorial plaque was unveiled on 17 November on the Wall of Honour at Kraków Aviation Museum to honour the memory of two Polish pilots, Cpt Mieczysław Medwecki and 2nd Lt. Władysław Gnyś, participants of the first aerial combat on 1st September 1939 of the second world war. Cpt Medwecki was the first aerial casualty and 2nd Lt. Gnyś was the first victorious pilot against the Luftwaffe. It was designed and unveiled by Stefan Gnyś, the son of 2nd Lt. Władysław Gnyś. The bronze plaque in Polish and English is entitled: THE FIRST DEATH, THE FIRST VICTORY. It was constructed by renowned artisan Professor Jerzy Nowakowski. One special guest was 95 year old Professor Anna Medwecka-Kornaś, cousin to Cpt Medwecki. She is the only living relative who remembers him with clarity. The speech by Stefan Gnyś can be viewed by clicking on the icon. A YouTube video of the ceremony is available at this link www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPIAP30lIXU . Photos in the slide show can be viewed and enlarged by double clicking the image then the arrows. Polish and English inscription on the plaque KPT. MIECZYSŁAW MEDWECKI PPOR. WŁADYSŁAW GNYŚ 7.06.1904 – 1.09.1939 24. 08. 1910 - 28.02.2000 “PIERWSZA ŚMIERĆ, PIERWSZE ZWYCIĘSTWO” PAMIĘCI UCZESTNIKÓW PIERWSZEGO STARCIA POWIETRZNEGO II WOJNY ŚWIATOWEJ 1 WRZEŚNIA 1939 O GODZ. 6.34 KPT. MIECZYSŁAW MEDWECKI WRAZ Z PPOR. WŁADYSŁAWEM GNYSIEM ZE 121 ESKADRY MYŚLIWSKIEJ 2 PUŁKU LOTNICZEGO STACJONUJĄCY NA LOTNISKU POLOWYM W BALICACH, WYSTARTOWALI SAMOLOTAMI PZL P.11C NA PRZECHWYCENIE NIEMIECKIEJ WYPRAWY BOMBOWEJ POWRACAJĄCEJ Z ATAKU NA KRAKÓW. KPT. MIECZYSŁAW MEDWECKI ZGINĄŁ ZESTRZELONY PODCZAS STARTU, BYŁ PIERWSZYM PILOTEM POLSKIM I ALIANCKIM POLEGŁYM PODCZAS DRUGIEJ WOJNY ŚWIATOWEJ. JEGO OFIARA NIGDY NIE ZOSTANIE ZAPOMNIANA! PPOR. WŁADYSŁAW GNYŚ ZAATAKOWAŁ ODLATUJĄCE SAMOLOTY TYPU DORNIER I ZESTRZELIŁ DWA Z NICH. BYŁO TO PIERWSZE POLSKIE I ALIANCKIE ZWYCIĘSTWO W TRAKCIE DRUGIEJ WOJNY ŚWIATOWEJ. “THE FIRST DEATH, THE FIRST VICTORY” TO THE MEMORY OF THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE FIRST AERIAL COMBAT DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. ON 1 SEPTEMBER 1939 AT 6:45 A.M. CAPT. MIECZYSŁAW MEDWECKI ALONG WITH 2ND LT. WŁADYSŁAW GNYŚ OF 121ST FIGHTER SQUADRON, 2ND AIR REGIMENT, BASED AT A PROVISIONAL AIRFIELD IN BALICE, TOOK OFF ON PZL P.11C FIGHTERS TO INTERCEPT A GERMAN BOMBER FORCE RETURNING FROM AN ATTACK ON KRAKÓW. CAPT. MIECZYSŁAW MEDWECKI WAS KILLED ON TAKE-OFF. HE WAS THE FIRST POLISH AND ALLIED AIRMAN TO DIE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. HIS SACRIFICE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN! 2ND LT. WŁADYSŁAW GNYŚ ATTACKED THE DEPARTING GERMAN DORNIER BOMBERS AND SHOT DOWN TWO OF THEM. THESE WERE THE FIRST ALLIED AERIAL VICTORIES DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR. CZEŚĆ I CHWAŁAICH PAMIĘCI! HONOUR AND GLORY TO THEIR MEMORY! TABLICȨ UFUNDOWAŁ/FOUNDED BY STEFAN GNYŚ, 2018 1/8 14 December RAF Ingham Heritage Centre Newsletter RAF Ingham Heritage Centre has relaunched its quarterly newsletter Ingham White Eagle. The relaunch issue is available by clicking the icon. To be placed on the distribution list to receive future issues please email your request to rafingham@hotmail.co.uk or visit their website www.rafingham.co.uk . 17 November RAF Ingham Heritage Centre celebrations A report by LSJ News on Remembrance Day, Polish Independence and the Polish Air Force Centenary, at the RAF Ingham Heritage Centre in Lincolnshire on Sunday 11 November, is available on Facebook at the this link: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2183954294950915&id=168262646520100 7 October Memorial to pilot F/O Ludwik Paszkiewicz 303 Polish Kościuszko Squadron. The Shoreham Aircraft Museum in Kent unveiled a memorial stone to 303 (Polish) Kościuszko Squadron pilot F/O Ludwik Paszkiewicz on Saturday 29 September at Crowhurst Farm, near Sevenoaks, Kent with the kind permission of the landowner. A congregation of around 100 gathered in the summer sunshine to honour the memory of F/O Ludwik Paszkiewicz who paid the ultimate sacrifice in fighting for freedom. The memorial is close to the site where F/O Ludwik Paszkiewicz was shot down and killed on 27 September 1940. His Hurricane I, L1696, RF-T crashed at Borough Green, Wrotham. He is buried at Northwood Cemetery, London, grave no. H 224. He was decorated with the Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari, the Cross of Valour and the British Distinguished Flying Cross. The replica Polish Air Force Wilno Standard was presented at the unveiling of the memorial followed by laying of wreaths. A flypast and salute was performed by a Hurricane from the nearby Biggin Hill Heritage Centre. F/O Ludwik Paszkiewicz, who was the Polish Commander of B Flight, accounted for 303 Squadron’s first victory in the Battle of Britain on 30 August 1940. During a training sortie he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110. He went on to destroy a further five enemy aircraft. The squadron, flying Hurricanes from RAF Northolt, went on to be the most successful squadron in the Battle of Britain with 126 confirmed victories, achieved in less than half the Battle period. The Shoreham Aircraft Museum has been established for 30 years and in 2006 decided to erect permanent memorials to all those Battle of Britain pilots who lost their lives within a ten miles radius of Shoreham Village. Ten memorial stones, including this latest one for F/O Ludwik Paszkiewicz, have so far been unveiled. The Museum is owned and managed by Geoff Nutkins and full details of previous memorials are available on its website http://www.shoreham-aircraft-museum.co.uk . Photos, kindly provided by Trevor Page, can be viewed and enlarged in the slide show by double clicking the image then the arrows. All photos are copyright of Trevor Page. 1/21 1 October Polish Air Force Museum Northolt tour dates 2019 RAF Northolt, which hosts the only Museum and exhibition dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain during WW11, has advised dates for organised tours to the Museum in 2019. These are all on Saturdays as follows: 2 February, 13 April, 1 June, 3 August, 5 October and 7 December. Tours start at 14.00. The Museum is open to anyone interested, but because RAF Northolt is an operational RAF Station, visits must be arranged in organised tours. Each tour will be limited to 20 people and applications should be made to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee chairman Richard Kornicki via email: richardkornicki@gmail.com . Visits to the museum might also be possible on other dates for group bookings, subject to staff availability and operational requirements. For more information on the Museum and exhibition click on 'Museum' above. 22 September Northolt Commemoration Ceremony The annual and 58th Ceremony of Homage to Fallen Polish Airmen during World War II was held at the Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip on Saturday 1 September. The occasion marked the centenary of Poland regaining her independence, and the 70th anniversary of the unveiling of the Memorial. The significance of the occasion was marked by the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent, to whom a number of Polish Air Force veterans were presented. The ceremony opened with a Parade of Standards led by the replica Polish Air Force Wilno Standard. Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki CBE DL, followed with his address, welcoming dignitaries, veterans, guests and the public and was accompanied by a flypast of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Dakota. The full address can be view by clicking the appropriate icon below. His address was followed by the Polish Roll-Call of the Fallen, carried out by the Officer Cadets of the Polish Air Force Academy, Dęblin; Prayers; the Last Post and a minute’s silence ended by Reveille. Invited dignitaries, representing national and local government, various organisations and associations laid wreaths on the Memorial. They were followed by veterans and descendants of the Polish Squadrons and Units commemorated on the Memorial that flew alongside the RAF from 1940 to 1945. The hour-long ceremony ended with the Polish and UK national anthems. Music was provided by the National Marching Band of the Air Training Corps. Guests then transferred to RAF Northolt for a reception and buffet lunch in the Station’s Officers’ Mess, while being entertained by Polish dancers. PAFMC Commendations were awarded to people who, with no personal connections with Poland, have made an exceptional contribution to preserving the memory of Polish Airmen. A surprise addition at RAF Northolt was a fly past from Duxford of the Historic Aircraft Collection’s former 315 and 317 Polish Squadron MK Vb Spitfire BM 597, which then landed and taxied to park in front of the Officers’ Mess. The Spitfire, piloted by Flt Lt Dave Harvey, was flown by 13 Polish pilots during the war, including the PAFMC Chairman’s father Col. Franciszek Kornicki. The Memorial programme, speeches and commendations can be viewed by clicking the relevant icons below. Photos in the slide show can be viewed and enlarged by double clicking the image then the arrows. All photos Crown copyright unless otherwise stated. Programme Speech Commendations NHT-Official-20180901-172-002 NHT-Official-20180901-171-213 John Carter receiving his commendation from RAF Northolt Station Commander Mike Carver for promoting the awareness of the role and contribution of the Polish Air Force over many years. NHT-Official-20180901-172-002 1/76 20 July “Hurricane” - a story of 303 Squadron. The feature film “Hurricane” will be released in Poland on 17 August and in the UK on 7 September. Distribution is currently being finalised and initially it will be limited to 100+ cinemas in the UK. If enough people go to see it, the following week it will be released in even more cinemas. International distribution is also currently being negotiated. For the Polish Air Force aficionados, “Hurricane” is NOT a documentary, but an interesting and enjoyable feature film based on the true story of the Polish pilots in 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain period. The central character is Jan Zumbach played by Iwan Rheon. The trailer to the film can be viewed at the following link: https://youtu.be/IV5e2HA6XkU . 17 July ‘Polish’ Spitfire in RAF Centenary flypast. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Mk XV1 Spitfire, recently repainted in the personal colours of Polish pilot Gp Capt Aleksander Gabszewicz, formed part of the RAF’s Centenary flypast of 100 aircraft over Buckingham Palace on 10 July. The ‘Gabszewicz’ Spitfire was directly astern of the Lancaster, which was flanked and escorted by two further Spitfires and two Hurricanes. The entire flypast can be viewed at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvtMxsYOj94 . Photos, kindly provided by the BBMF, can be viewed and enlarged by double clicking the image then the arrows. For more details of the BBMF’s Mk XV1 Spitfire, painted in the colours of Gp Capt Aleksander Gabszewicz, see the post of 7 June directly below. The BBMF’s clip winged Mk XV1 Spitfire, painted in the personal colours of Gp/Cpt Aleksander Gabszewicz, on a training flight the day before the Centenary flypast. © Rich Cooper/COAP. The BBMF’s clip winged Mk XV1 Spitfire, painted in the personal colours of Gp/Cpt Aleksander Gabszewicz, during the RAF Centenary flypast on 10 July directly astern of the Lancaster. © Crown Copyright. The BBMF’s clip winged Mk XV1 Spitfire, painted in the personal colours of Gp/Cpt Aleksander Gabszewicz, on a training flight the day before the Centenary flypast. © Rich Cooper/COAP. 1/2 7 June Battle of Britain Memorial Flight honours Polish pilot The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has completed the flight testing of its Mk XVI Spitfire TE 311 ready for the 2018 display season. It has been repainted to represent the personal Mk XVI Spitfire, TD240, of Polish pilot Gp Capt Aleksander Gabszewicz VM KW DSO DFC. Polish Air Force historians Wojtek Matusiak and Piotr Sikora and artist Robert Grudzień provided the BBMF with photographs and artwork to ensure accuracy of the painting, which has been funded by Lincolnshire’s Lancaster Association. Clive Denney, managing director of Vintage Fabrics, based at Audley End Airfield, Essex, applied the artwork, including Gabszewicz's famous personal 'boxing dog' emblem. The BBMF’s Mk XVI Spitfire, TE311, is a low back, bubble-canopy version with clipped wingtips and built at Castle Bromwich just after the war. Following service in various units it was grounded in the mid 1950s and transferred to RAF Tangmere as the gate guardian for 12 years. It was subsequently used in ground sequences for the film ‘Battle of Britain’. Afterwards it was allocated to the RAF Exhibition Flight and used at air shows for the next 30 years as a static exhibit. The Spitfire was subsequently delivered to the BBMF’s home base, RAF Coningsby, in January 2000. After a meticulous re-build to flying condition, lasting 11 years, TE311 was returned to an immaculate and extremely authentic standard. It took to the air again, for the first time in 58 years, on 19 October 2012. The Mk XVI Spitfire, TD240, was delivered to the 131 (Polish) Wing in mid April 1945 and assigned to Gp Capt Aleksander Gabszewicz, who was the Officer Commanding the Wing from 12 July 1944. The individual letter ‘G’ for Gabszewicz, was applied, as well as the ‘Group Captain’ insignia under the cockpit and the code letters ‘SZ’ for 316 Sqn, which Gabszewicz commanded from November 1941 until June 1942. Although 316 Sqn was not part of the 131 (Polish) Wing, all of Gabszewicz's personal aircraft had the ‘SZ’ code letters, as a sign of affection for his former unit. Also a ‘boxing dog’ emblem, and much bigger than on his previous Spitfire, was painted on the port side of the aircraft’s nose. The emblem was first introduced on Gabszewicz’s Mk IX Spitfire EN526 in 1943 and subsequently applied to all his personal aircraft. However, there are photographs taken around 1941 showing the emblem on his Mae West life jacket. The artist was Sgt Wojciech Milewski, who was also a talented boxer. At the time Gabszewicz received TD240 the 131 (Polish) Wing was stationed at Varrelbusch (B.113) airfield in occupied Germany. He flew six operational sorties in TD240, including four on dive bombing of enemy positions. When Gabszewicz left his command of 131 (Polish) Wing on 31 May 1945, and went to the head quarters of 84 Group, TD240 was taken over by Sq/Ldr Bolesław Kaczmarek, commander of 302 Sqn. Although the ‘SZ’ code letters were changed to ‘WX’ and individual code letter ‘G’ to ‘V’, the 302 Sqn badge replaced the ‘Group Captain’ insignia and was applied alongside the women's name ‘Janetka’. Gabszewicz's personal 'boxing dog' emblem remained. When the 302 Sqn code letters were changed to ‘QH’ in August 1945, TD240 still carried the letter ‘V’. On 10 October 1945 W/O Kazimierz Chomacki crash landed TD240 and was not repaired. Gp Capt Aleksander Gabszewicz was decorated with the Gold and Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari, Polish Cross of Valour and three Bars, DSO and Bar, DFC and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. He died on 10 October 1983 and his ashes were subsequently dispersed over Warsaw and Dęblin in 1992. Thanks to Piotr Sikora and Wojtek Matusiak for providing the historical background information and original photo. The artwork of the Mk XVI Spitfire TD240, produced for the BBMF, is copyright and courtesy of Robert Grudzień. Photos in the slide show can be viewed and enlarged by double clicking the image then the arrows. The BBMF's Mk XVI Spitfire, in the personal colours of Gp/Cpt Aleksander Gabszewicz, on test at RAF Coningsby. Photo ©Crown Copyright. The BBMF's Mk XVI Spitfire, in the personal colours of Gp/Cpt Aleksander Gabszewicz, on test at RAF Coningsby. Photo ©Crown Copyright. The port side engine panel complete with 'boxing dog' emblem and Polish Air Force chequer. Photo courtesy BBMF. The BBMF's Mk XVI Spitfire, in the personal colours of Gp/Cpt Aleksander Gabszewicz, on test at RAF Coningsby. Photo ©Crown Copyright. 1/13 4 June Polish pilot’s headstone amended The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has kindly amended the headstone on the grave of 302 (Polish) “City of Poznań” Squadron pilot Sgt Stanisław Wyszkowski in Northwood Cemetery. The ‘Z’ was missing from his surname on the original headstone. 1 February Plumetot Memorial Competition The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee is delighted to announce the launch of a £10,000 competition to design and produce a Memorial to the Polish Air Force on the site of the Normandy airfield that was the first home to the Polish Wing after the Invasion. Initial proposals must be submitted by the end of April with a view to the Monument being unveiled around the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019. Details of the competition in English, Polish and French are available in the attachments below. A fund-raising campaign will be launched shortly. Shortly after D-Day, 19 Advanced Landing Grounds were created in Normandy. One of these was ‘B 10’ Plumetot, a few miles behind Sword Beach. It was used by a range of RAF units from 10 June 1944 and from August to September it was home to 131 Polish Wing, comprising 302, 308 and 317 Squadrons, all of which had previously served at Northolt. Plumetot was a Commune with less than a hundred inhabitants on the 5 June 1944. Within a matter of days there were over 3,000. Local memories are strong: a former Maire, now in his 80s, standing by the fields which were formerly runways, well remembers being a five-year old boy taking fresh milk from the family farm to Polish pilots and returning with his pockets full of sweets. Unlike most other Advanced Landing Grounds, however, there is currently nothing to mark the existence of B 10, nor its special significance in the history of the Polish Air Force. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee approached the Mayor and Commune of Plumetot with a proposal for a joint project to create a Memorial in the village and to provide information at the site of the airfield, marking the role of the Polish Air Force among the Allied forces fighting for the liberation of Europe. Although only at an early stage, this collaborative project has received the warmest support from all local and regional authorities in Normandy, and the Polish Embassy in Paris is taking an interest. A competition will be held for an artist to design and create the Memorial, which will be at the heart of the village, between the Mairie and the Church. The goal is to have the formal unveiling around the 75th anniversary of D-Day in June 2019, so that the role of the Polish Air Force in supporting the Invasion can be given its proper place, alongside that of the Polish Navy and of the Polish Army, which played such a heroic part by holding the Falaise Gap. The monument will form part of a linked route of memorials commemorating the involvement of all branches of the Polish armed forces, which took part in the Allied Invasion. The Mayor will also take the opportunity to create an additional memorial to M. & Mme. Requis and their daughter, proprietors of the local estaminet and known for their friendship and generosity to allied troops. They were killed by a German bomb, their home being the only building in the village to be destroyed during the Invasion. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was particularly pleased to welcome representatives of the Commune of Plumetot and its neighbourhood to the 2017 Commemoration Ceremony at the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt, reinforcing the links that bind Polish, British and French interests in our common heritage. Click on the icons for competition details. English Polish French Registration Form Polish airmen with captured enemy transport. 15 January RAF Swinderby Hangar Doors saved from demolition. The Hangar Doors at the former 300 Squadron base RAF Swinderby have been rescued from demolition by the RAF Ingham Heritage Centre at Fillingham, Lincolnshire. The camouflaged doors on the southern end of Shed 2, as the Hangar was known, were painted with the Polish Chequer and Eagle insignia. They formed the backdrop for the ceremonial presentation on 16 July 1941 of the Polish Air Force Standard by Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces, General Władysław Sikorski to Polish Air Force Commander in Chief Air Vice Marshall Stanisław Ujejski. He then handed it on to Wacław Makowski Commander of 300 Bomber Squadron, the first Polish Squadron formed at Bramcote on 1 July 1940. The Standard was then paraded for the assembled Polish and British dignitaries for the first time in Britain. Each of the 14 PAF squadrons then held the standard for three months in rotation. The doors were taken down and dismantled in sections prior to transport to the RAF Ingham Heritage Centre. The removal and preservation of the doors has been aided by a grant by the former Polish Air Force Association Charitable Trust. The doors have been repainted and repaired over the years, but it is the intention of the RAF Ingham Heritage Centre to restore the doors and try and discover and reinstate the hidden Polish Insignia. For more information on the RAF Ingham Heritage Centre click the following link. Photos, courtesy of Geoff Burton, Grzegorx Korcz and Wilhelm Ratuszynski, can be enlarged and viewed in the slide show by clicking the image then the arrows. The camouflaged doors of Shed 2, as the Hangar was known, were painted with the Polish Chequer and Eagle insignia and formed the backdrop for the ceremonial presentation of the Polish Air Force Standard to 300 Bomber Squadron. General Władysław Sikorski presented the Standard to Polish Air Force Commander in Chief Air Vice Marshall Stanislaw Ujejski RAF Swinderby 16 July 1941. The doors being unloaded at RAF Ingham Heritage Centre. The camouflaged doors of Shed 2, as the Hangar was known, were painted with the Polish Chequer and Eagle insignia and formed the backdrop for the ceremonial presentation of the Polish Air Force Standard to 300 Bomber Squadron. 1/6 8 January Polish Air Force Museum Northolt tour dates 2018 RAF Northolt, which hosts the only Museum and exhibition dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain, has advised dates for organised tours to the Museum in 2018. These are all on Saturdays as follows: 14 April, 2 June, 4 August and 17 September. Each tour will be limited to 20 people and applications should be made to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee chairman Richard Kornicki via email: richardkornicki@gmail.com . Tours will start at 14.00 and if over subscribed additional tours will run on the same dates at 11.00 after checking in beforehand at the security office, which is accessed via the White House Gate. This is the first gate on the A4180 West End Road, when approaching from the A40 Polish Air Force Memorial roundabout and is on the left just before a Shell garage. As RAF Northolt is an operational base visitors attending by car will need to confirm, prior to the visit, vehicle make, model, colour and registration. Photo ID will also be required to access the base. For those attending by public transport the nearest Underground Station is South Ruislip, approximately 800 yards from the White House Gate security office. Visits to the museum might also be possible on other dates in special circumstances, subject to staff availability and operational requirements. There are no charges for visiting the Museum. However, as the Museum is housed at RAF Northolt by kind permission of the Station Commander, funding for exhibits and conservation is all met privately through the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and guides give up their time voluntarily. Donations to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee are appreciated. Visitors may also wish to perhaps use the opportunity to visit the Polish Air Force Memorial and adjacent Memorial Gardens at South Ruislip and the nearby Northwood Cemetery, Chestnut Avenue, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 1HR, which is just a 20 minute drive from the Memorial. The Orchard, Ruislip, HA4 7DR, - now a Beefeater restaurant - is also on route to the cemetery. For information on the Museum and the nearby Battle of Britain Bunker at Uxbridge, please click the ‘Museum’ page above.

2020 Coronavirus: Visits to the Museum in 2020 have been cancelled in accordance with Government advice. 17 Dec Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to repaint Hurricane in 303Sqn colours. The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has announced that its MkII Hurricane LF363 will be repainted as 303 Kościuszko squadron’s MkI Hurricane V6665, RF-J. The change of colour scheme will form part of the Hurricane’s major maintenance and servicing programme to be carried out during the winter by The Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill) Ltd. The BBMF said that it likes to keep LF363 in a Battle of Britain colour scheme to commemorate the massive part played by Hurricanes during the Battle. "After careful deliberation and research, it was decided that the aircraft will be painted to represent MkI Hurricane V6665, ‘RF-J’, of 303 Kościuszko (Polish) Squadron, during September 1940". Hurricane V6665 was delivered to 303 Tadeusz Kościuszko City of Warsaw Squadron at Northolt on 7 September 1940 and painted in the code of RF-J. Two days later ‘A’ flight commander Flt Lt Johnny Kent, flying this Hurricane, claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 110 destroyed and a Junkers Ju-88 probably destroyed. This Hurricane was also flown by Sgt Michał Brzezowski on 11 September when he claimed two Heinkel He 111s destroyed about 16.00. Brzezowski was the most successful pilot of V6665. Sadly he was shot down and killed four days later on 15 September flying P3577 with the code RF-E. On 26 September Sgt Tadeusz Andruszków flew V6665 and claimed a Dornier Do 17 destroyed. But the following day, flying the same aircraft, he was shot down at 16.30 over Horsham and killed and the Hurricane was destroyed. Sgt Tadeusz Andruszków was 19 years old and is buried in Northwood Cemetery, grave H-208. The BBMF said that Hurricane LF363 will not appear in the new colour scheme until the summer of 2021, but from then on it will allow the BBMF to tell the story of 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, its Polish pilots and its Canadian RAF flight commander Flt Lt Johnny Kent. 24 Oct 307 Squadron Project streams live The 307 Squadron Project has posted an open invitation to a series of video events ‘307 Squadron Day Live’ on Sunday 15 November. Due to Covid-19 the annual exhibition at Exeter Guildhall has been cancelled. However, the Polish flag will still be raised over the city, which 307 Squadron, known as the Lwów Eagle Owls, (Lwowskich Puchaczy) defended for two years during the war. The '307 Squadron Day Live’ online event includes: 09:45 - Raising of the Polish Flag. Live coverage from Exeter Guildhall with speeches from The Lord Mayor of Exeter, His Excellency The Polish Ambassador to Great Britain, Lord Lieutenant of Devon, RAF Brize Norton. 16:00 - 80 Years Ago. The story of 307 Squadron’s formation. 19:00 - 307 Squadron Day Live Semper Fidelis - the story of Exeter and 307 Squadron. Performances by singer Katy Carr Official Trailer of the film ‘The Navigator’ (produced by 307 Squadron Project) plus much more. The Facebook link for the event is available here www.facebook.com/307SquadronProject and scroll down to the live video. It will be able to be viewed even without a Facebook account. 30 Sept. Prime Minister praises Polish Air Force The Prime Minister Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, in his constituency role as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, was recently sent details of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee’s new film ‘The Polish Air Force in the Battle of Britain - An 80th Anniversary Tribute’. His response, addressed to the Trustee responsible for our Public Relations, is below: 28 Sept Book royalties donated to the PAFMC. Royalties from a new book about the Polish Air Force ‘Truly of The Few’ are being generously donated by its author Penny Starns to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee. An article about the new book appeared in the July/August issue of ‘The 1940s Society’ and is available on page 36 by clicking this link. Penny Starns said: “Yes, all the royalties are going to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee. I know it sounds really daft, but when I listen to all these pilots and I’ve got their laughter in my head, I’ve got their fears in my head. I’ve got the pilots telling me that sometimes their legs used to tremble before they went into a dive, but when they went into a dive their nerves were gone. I remember thinking that not enough people know about these pilots, they don’t know how important they are and I think if we can encourage people to understand that contribution it’s really important. So, by giving the royalties to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee I’m hoping that will help to keep their memory alive.” ‘Truly of The Few’ which is published by Sabrestorm Publishing, normally costs £20, but is on special offer from the PAFMC at £16 plus £2.98 postage and packing and can be purchased by contacting PAFMC chairman Richard Kornicki on email richardkornicki@gmail.com Link 16 Sept Amended status for The Polish Air Force Memorial The Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip, just outside the south east perimeter boundary of RAF Northolt, has been amended on the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest to Grade II* status by Historic England. Historic England has concluded that after examining all the records, other relevant information and consultation responses, and having carefully considered the architectural and historic interest of this case, the criteria for listing at Grade II* are fulfilled. The designation decision in the List entry for The Polish Air Force Memorial, erected in 1948, should be amended and upgraded from Grade II to Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Architectural and historic interest: to reflect the more than special interest of the memorial as a testament to the important role played by the Polish Air Force in the Second World War designed by an eminent Polish sculptor; * Clarity: to state clearly where the special interest of the monument lies and to aid future management and understanding; * Accuracy: to update the list description to the current format, and to correct the site name from Polish War Memorial to Polish Air Force Memorial. 14 Sept Battle of Britain tribute film launch The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee has spent the past few weeks producing a new film - ‘The Polish Air Force in the Battle of Britain – An 80th Anniversary Tribute’. This is now freely available from a link at the top of this website’s Home Page or direct on YouTube at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lhoytCWsEY&feature=youtu.be The PAFMC had to cancel the normal annual Commemoration ceremony at Northolt because of Covid-19, and this film is intended to provide an educational and symbolic tribute that will be of value for many years. The PAF played a critical role in the Battle of Britain. This film is the PAFMC’s tribute and by making it freely available it is hoped that the achievements in the air of Britain’s only ally in 1940 will become more widely known, among both British and Polish audiences, especially the young. Please feel free to pass the link on to colleagues, family, friends, social media and anyone else who will find it of interest. 10 Sept Polish Air Force Memorial Ceremonies video compilation Although Squadron wreaths have been laid privately at the Memorial, this year we have all missed the opportunity of publicly commemorating the Polish Air Force. To fill that gap, a video compilation of excerpts from Ceremonies between 2006 and 2018, has been kindly put together by Marek and Cornelia Borzęcki. It includes footage of many veterans, familiar to us for many years, but now sadly departed and is available at the following link. https://youtu.be/RvtXIYf40Eg 9 Sept BBC Antiques Roadshow The BBC TV programme Antiques Roadshow is schedule to broadcast this Sunday 13 September a special commemorative programme on The Battle of Britain. Carol Waluga Gradwell is scheduled to appear talking about her father Jerzy Waluga, a mechanic in 303 Squadron. We do not know the content of the material that may feature in the programme. 8 Sept Polish Air Force Memorial Wreaths. Although we were unable to hold our normal Commemoration ceremony at the Polish Air Force Memorial this year, we have placed the wreaths at the Memorial. These are shown in the attached photographs. Instead of the Commemoration we have been making a new film ‘The Polish Air Force in the Battle of Britain - An 80th Anniversary Tribute’ . This will stand as a permanent tribute to the role of the Polish Air Force in the Battle of Britain. We had hoped to release this film around the time we would have had the Commemoration at the beginning of September. However, we have been slightly delayed by the amount and quality of material that we have been able to gather, including a full reconstruction of events in the Sector Operations Room at RAF Northolt on 15 September 1940. The editing is nearing completion and we are aiming to release the film before the 15 September and will be available on our website and YouTube. 15 August "15 August - Centenary of Polish defeat of the Bolsheviks at the Battle of Warsaw, 1920" The Battle of Warsaw was the turning point in the Polish-Bolshevik war of 1920. Under Piłsudski's leadership, Polish forces inflicted what Lenin called 'an enormous defeat' on the Red Army, after which the Bolsheviks abandoned their plans to impose communism across Europe. In the air, the Kościuszko Escadrille (forerunner of 303 Sqn) played an extremely valuable role attacking Bolshevik ground troops. Often referred to as 'The Miracle on the Vistula', it has been long regarded as one of the decisive battles in the world's history. A bi-lingual presentation is available by clicking on this icon Also there is a video on YouTube at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMhXBympLyU&app=desk, both kindly provided by the Polish Embassy. 30 June Laguna Spitfire Project – latest news. The Laguna Spitfire project has appointed the airframe restoration and manufacturing specialist company Airframe Assemblies Ltd, as build partners for the restoration of the MKIIB Spitfire P8331, which was flown by Wg Cdr Piotr Laguna when it was shot down by flak on 27 June 1941. Airframe Assemblies, based in Sandown, Isle of Wight, is renowned worldwide for its restoration and repair of airframes for World War II aircraft, mainly Spitfires. For further information see this link: https://lagunasspitfirelegacy.org/appointment-of-build-partners-airframe-assemblies-for-spitfire-mkiib-p8331/ This Spitfire, in 303Sqn code RF-M, was also flown by Wg Cdr John Kent as part of the 1st Polish Wing at Northolt. His youngest daughter Alexandra Kent and Janek Laguna, the son of Wg Cdr Piotr Laguna, have accepted to be Honorary Patron’s of the Laguna Spitfire Project. For further information see this link: https://lagunasspitfirelegacy.org/news-blog/. Also see post below 29 April for additional information. 9 June Northolt Commemoration Ceremony Cancelled The annual Commemoration of Fallen Polish Airmen, scheduled for Saturday 5 September at the Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip, is just twelve weeks away. Although the state of the Coronavirus pandemic is easing, we still have no idea when it will be possible to have unrestricted public gatherings at which it will be safe for people of all ages to take part. An event such as our crowded public Ceremony would obviously be a high-risk setting. RAF Northolt, where we had planned to have lunch in the Officers' Mess is not anticipating hosting public events until later in the autumn. We have delayed our decision as long as possible, but given the long lead-in period and planning requirements for an event on this scale, we have to make a judgement now. Having consulted the Polish Embassy and RAF Northolt, we have decided, with much regret, that the only prudent course is to cancel the public ceremony this year. It will be replaced by a filmed virtual Commemoration. This film will particularly mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and we intend it to serve also as a permanent tribute to the airmen of that time. We are aiming to release the film on the PAFMC website and YouTube prior to the 15 September. We recognise the deep disappointment the cancellation will cause - which the Committee of course shares - but we hope that we can rely on your understanding in these exceptional times. We look forward to welcoming everyone in person at next year's Commemoration, which will be on Saturday 4 September 2021. 2 June 307 Squadron Project Streams Live The 307 Squadron Project will live stream a video event - The Polish D-Day Story Live! on Saturday 6 June at 16.00 British Summer time. More details are available at this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/895236307648199/ The story of the Polish role during the invasion of Normandy, presented in English, includes interviews and details of how the Polish Air Force, Army and Navy played important roles during the D-Day Campaign. We will also include videos and photos, some of which have never been seen publicly before. You can watch this event, a first for our organisation, on our Facebook page facebook.com/307squadronproject. I f you do not have a Facebook account it will still be available to view by scrolling down to the live video link. 29 April Polish Air Force Memorial - temporary closure The Polish Air Force Memorial and the adjacent Memorial Garden at South Ruislip, will be temporarily closed for all public access from the 8 May. This is for essential routine maintenance work and reconstruction of paving to be carried out by the owner of the Memorial the London Borough of Hillingdon. The site will be totally locked down with external fencing until work is complete in 6 to 8 weeks’ time. LBC apologises for any inconvenience this necessary temporary closure may cause. 27 April 307 Squadron Project Streams Live. The 307 Squadron Project will stream for the first time a live video event 307 Squadron Live! on Sunday 3 May at 16.00 British Summer time. The story of the Polish 307 Squadron, presented in English, includes interviews with veterans and all are welcome to view on its Facebook page facebook.com/307squadronproject. I f you do not have a Facebook account it will still be available to view by scrolling down to the live video link. 307 Squadron Live! is part of Polish Heritage Day 2020 with the support of the Polish Cultural Institute. #PLHeritageDays #PolesinUK 22 April Polish Spitfire to fly again. The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority has issued the MKIIB Spitfire, serial number P8331 (Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory number 709) with its new civilian registration designated G-KOSC. This is the first step, by the recently formed Spitfire P8331 Restoration Project Ltd, towards producing an airworthy MKIIB Spitfire P8331, which served with 303 Kościuszko Squadron in the code of RF-M during 1941. The MKIIB Spitfire P8331 RF-M was flown by several 303Sqn pilots from 21 May 1941 until the 27 June 1941, when it was shot down during a raid on a Luftwaffe airfield near Coquelles, France. Its pilot, Wg Cdr Piotr Laguna, was killed and is buried in the military cemetery at Pihen-les-Guines, France, Row A Grave 9. At the time Wg Cdr Piotr Laguna, was commander of the 1st Polish Wing of 303Sqn, 306Sqn and 308Sqn at Northolt, and jointly led the fatal mission with Wg Cdr John Kent. The Spitfire P8331 Restoration Project Ltd is now seeking business leaders, companies and individuals interested in becoming serious partners in the estimated £3 million project, which is hoped to include any items that are deemed recoverable from the surviving wreckage. Only 170 MKIIB Spitfires were built at the Castle Bromwich factory and when complete P8331, in 303Sqn code RF-M, will be the world’s only airworthy MKIIB. The aim is to start on the project with a build partner within the next 6 to 12 months and be complete in time to fly to Poland for the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the 80th Anniversary of VE Day in 2025.

Photos The launch of the Plumetot Memorial Campaign was held on Thursday 31 January, at The Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge, ( http://battleofbritainbunker.co.uk/) in the presence of His Excellency, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Arkady Rzegocki, and the Deputy Mayor of the Commune of Plumetot, Mme Marie. The event covered the importance of the Normandy village of Plumetot, as the place which marked the return to the mainland of Europe of the Polish Air Force in the wake of the D-Day landings in 1944. The Polish 302, 308 and 317 fighter squadrons operated from the temporary Plumetot landing ground during August and September 1944. There was a presentation by Alexander Smaga, the architect of the Memorial. The Memorial will be unveiled in Plumetot on Sunday 9 June 2019, as part of events surrounding the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. The Memorial will be linked in a trail of memorials and sites marking the Polish contribution to the Invasion. The cost of the Memorial will be around £40,000 of which £15,000 has already been raised or pledged. We would be most grateful if you would forward these details to friends and colleagues who may be interested in adding their support. If contributions exceed the Project costs, any excess will be used to support the work of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee in maintaining the memory of the Polish Air Force in the West. Plumetot Memorial Campaign launch

Plumetot Memorial WYDARZENIA Launch of the Plumetot Memorial Campaign 1st Feb 2019 Plumetot Memorial Unveiled 1st August 2019 Plumetot 1944 Booklet 29th June 2020 A 20 page illustrated booklet ‘Plumetot 1944’ commemorating the return of the Polish Air Force to the mainland of Europe in June 1944 is available from the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee. The booklet costs £7, including postage, and can be purchased from the author and PAFMC Chairman Richard Kornicki at richardkornicki@gmail.com . A French translation of the Plumetot 1944 booklet is available at this link.