bdcd5031-b12b-486f-afaa-3a6356b68483 PAFMC opens online eBay shop. < Back s-l1600.jpeg s-l1600.jpeg 1/1 21 May 2023 PAFMC opens online eBay shop . The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee has opened on online shop on eBay. The initial items include Polish Air Force insignia checkerboard cufflinks, books on 303 Squadron and the Plumetot Memorial and DVD of the 80th anniversary of the Polish Air Force in the Battle of Britain. More items will follow in due course. The PAFMC eBay shop can be found at this direct link https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/paf-charity or clicking the eBay icon top right. All proceeds go towards helping raise funds for the The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee. Previous Next

2014 August We are very pleased to announce that Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, formerly Chief of the Air Staff, has accepted the position of Patron of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee. 30 August Memorial plaque to Wing Commander Ronald Kellett DSO DFC VM and 303 Polish Kościuszko Squadron A memorial plaque to Wing Commander Ronald Kellett DSO DFC VM AE* and the 303 Polish Kościuszko Squadron that he formed and commanded during the Battle of Britain, was unveiled at a service held at St George’s Church, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4DL, at 12 noon on Saturday 30th August 2014. The plaque has been designed and carved by Geoffrey Aldred who is a member of the charity Memorials by Artists. The shape of the Nabresina stone tablet reflects the wing of a Hurricane aircraft, which 303 Sqn flew during the Battle of Britain, and the carving at the top of the plaque depicts a Hurricane flying past the Fairlight Cliffs, East Sussex. On 19th July 1940 the 30 year old Sqn/Ldr Kellett was posted from 249 Squadron to RAF Northolt where he was to jointly form and command the legendary 303 Sqn with his Polish counterpart Sqn/Ldr Zdzisław Krasnodębski. The Poles had started arriving in England in December 1939 after the defeat of France and placed in camps where they were taught English; following this they were sent on to Operational Training Units. However, they were not permitted to go into combat, which they found extremely frustrating, as they were already experienced in aerial combat and they were determined to fight for the freedom of Poland. Britain was their “Last Hope Island”. Kellett had his work cut out, on the one hand there was the language problem, the English that the Poles had picked up was colloquial and was not useful for flying. Kellett, however, was fluent in French and he could, therefore, communicate with some of the officers. On the other hand because the Poles were desperate to fight the Germans they wanted to go into combat immediately despite the fact that certain aspects of the Hurricane were different to those of the aircraft they had flown in Poland and France. For instance they weren’t used to retractable undercarriages, the throttle operation was different and their radios had been more primitive. Kellett and Krasnodębski, worked together in training and disciplining the unit. Ingenuity and creative thinking were used to get the results required. Kellett and Krasnodębski were also supported by two English speaking Flight Commanders, F/Lt John Kent (Canadian) and F/Lt Athol Forbes. On 30th August 1940 Kellett was leading 303 Sqn’s ‘B’ Flight on a routine practice interception of a formation of Bristol Blenheims north of London when F/O Ludwik Paszkiewicz spotted a Luftwaffe bomber formation flying eastward and covered by a fighter escort. Paszkiewicz broke ranks and intercepted a Messerschmitt Bf 110, which he shot down. Despite Paszkiewicz disobeying orders, it proved to Kellett that the Squadron was combat ready and he pressed Northolt Station Commander Group Captain Stanley Vincent and Fighter Command Head Quarters for full operational status. Permission was granted and 303 Sqn became fully operational on 31st August 1940. The Squadron, serving in 11 Group, went on to become the most successful fighter unit during the 16 weeks of the Battle of Britain. In only six weeks of combat 303 Sqn claimed 126 victories for the loss of eight of its pilots. "Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of the battle would have been the same." - Air Chief Marshall Sir Hugh Dowding, Commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. Kellett was born in Eldon, County Durham on 13th September 1909. He moved with his family to Benenden in August 1948. Some members of his family live in Benenden to this day. Those attending the service were members of the Kellett family, Cllr David Elliott, Deputy Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Air Vice Marshall Sir Frederick Sowrey, Consul Ms Ines Czajczyńska-da Costa (Embassy of the Republic of Poland), Colonel Ryszard Tomczak, Polish Defence Attaché, 303 Sqn relatives, Group Captain P Tootal OBE DEL RAF (Ret'd), the Hon Secretary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust, Richard Kornicki CBE, Chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and Battle of Britain Historians. The Service was led by Rev Rosemary Kobus van Wengen and by RAF Northolt Station Chaplin, Revd (Sqn/Ldr) Philip Corrigan.

Paszkiewicz Memorial

< Back Polish Forces in Rumania and France 1/1 1 Aug 2022 Polish Forces in Rumania and France A talk on the Polish Forces in Rumania and France will be given by Michael Czajkowski on 22 September at the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, Lincolshire. Full details are available by clicking on the enclosed poster. Previous Next

Polish Institute of National Remebrance Int. bomber Command Centre PAF Descendants Group RAF Ingham - Home of Polish Bomber Squadrons 307 Squadron Aircrew Remembered Polish institute & Sikorski Museum Polish Air Force museum - Dęblin Polish Aviation Enthusiasts Forum Polish Air Force Squadrons Memorials, Graves & Airfields Polish Army Museum Polish Aviation Museum - Kraków PAF Personnel ( Krzystek's List ) Links to other sites

Who we are The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC) is a registered charity (no. 1185691) 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”. The PAFMC is the designated successor of the Polish Air Force Association (PAFA), who set it up to continue their work in the longer term. Its origins go back to the summer of 1945 and concern about the problems facing those Poles who decided to stay in exile in Britain rather than return to the Communist-ruled Poland or migrate to other countries. To meet their needs a veterans' organisation, originally named Samopomoc Lotnicza, (Aviation self-help) was established; this soon adopted the English title Polish Air Force Association. The Polish name was later changed to Stowarzyszenie Lotników Polskich (SLP). The PAFA made a great contribution to the welfare of those Polish Air Force (PAF) personnel who remained in exile in Britain. With its headquarters at Collingham Gardens in London, the PAFA set up branches with clubs in major cities throughout Britain. It published the periodical magazine Skrzydła (Wings) and later in 1991 commissioned the definitive The Polish Air Force At War The Official History by Jerzy Cynk, published in 1998. Following the unveiling of the Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip in 1948, the PAFA took on the organisation of the annual commemoration ceremony of homage to the fallen Polish airmen. In 1968 it initiated the installation of the Polish Air Force Memorial slab in the floor of the RAF St. Clement Danes Church, Strand, London and in 1981 it was responsible for the unveiling of the PAF stained glass window in St. Andrew Bobola’s Church, Hammersmith, London. In 1990 the PAFA was also responsible for installing the Memorial plaque commemorating the PAF in St Paul’s Cathedral which was unveiled by HRH The Duke of Kent. After the first free elections in Poland in 1989, PAFA escorted and returned its most cherished war relic - the Polish Air Force Standard - to Poland during a PAFA World Reunion in Warsaw in 1992. This is now on display in the Polish Air Force Museum, Dęblin. A replica of the original Standard, created on the authority of the then Commander in Chief of the Polish Air Force, Lt Gen Lech Majewski, is held in Britain and is on display at the Polish Air Force Museum at the Battle of Britain Bunker Visitor Centre at Uxbridge. It is paraded at the annual commemoration ceremony at the Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip and at the annual Battle of Britain service at Capel-le-Ferne, Kent. In 1987 the PAFA sold most of its property and used the proceeds to create the PAFA Charitable Trust (PAFACT). In 1999, as the numbers of surviving veterans declined, the PAFA dissolved and transferred all remaining assets to the PAFACT. At the same time all PAFA’s former local branches and clubs either closed or became totally separate private and independent organisations and ceasing affiliation to the PAF. The PAFACT, together with the Polish Air Force Benevolent Fund, which it had absorbed, continued until the end of 2010, when it also dissolved and distributed its assets, including a substantial donation to the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum. The PAFACT also provided funding to enable the continuation of its most important functions, including the annual commemoration ceremony of homage to fallen Polish airmen at the Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip. This was accomplished in early 2011 by the PAFACT’s creation of a simpler body, the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC). To maintain governance and continuity the PAFACT’s Honorary Secretary Richard Kornicki was appointed PAFMC Chairman and the PAFACT’s Chairman Eugeniusz Borysiuk appointed a founder committee member. The PAFACT also transferred ownership of all art works and memorabilia, including the PAFA Standard, to the PAFMC for safekeeping. The PAFA Standard should be displayed in the PAF Museum at RAF Northolt when not in ceremonial use at the annual Polish Air Force Memorial ceremony or other similar events. The PAFA Standard is currently in illegal and unauthorised possession elsewhere from the PAFMC. The PAFMC was formed with the explicit agreement of the Commander in Chief of the Polish Air Force, Lt Gen Lech Majewski, and of the Chief of the Air Staff for the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton. It remains to this day the direct formal successor of the Polish Air Force active in Britain during WWII, and the organisations that represented it here after the war. The speech by PAFAT chairman Eugeniusz Borysiuk at the dissolution lunch on 4 November 2010 can be viewed by clicking this link In 2019 the PAFMC became a charitable registered organisation number 1185691. Speech

d05f5384-c46d-44eb-84b5-82d142d68897 PAF film and talk Bentley Priory Museum < Back 1/1 20 January 2023 PAF film and talk – Bentley Priory Museum The Bentley Priory Museum is hosting one of its regular ‘Friday Morning Talks’ screening the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee’s 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Commemorative Film with PAFMC chairman Richard Kornicki. The film and talk are on Friday 3 February at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at the Bentley Priory Museum , Mansion House Drive, Stanmore, HA7 3FB. All are welcome but advanced seat booking is required and is free for visitors with the museum's membership or if purchasing admission on the day. Bentley Priory was the headquarters of RAF Fighter Command and played a vital role in one of the most pivotal moments in modern world history, the Battle of Britain . Details of the film, talk and seat reservation are available at this link: https://bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/friday-morning-talks-pafmc-80th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-britain-commemorative-film-with-richard-kornicki/ Museum opening hours and admission charges are available at this link: https://bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk/visit-us/opening-hours-admission/ Previous Next

Order of the Day Programme. Document Philip Kwissa Memories of serving in the ground crew at B10, read from the diaries of Tadeusz KWISSA by his son Philip Document Jan Józef Kasprzyk Speech by Minister Jan Józef Kasprzyk, Head of the Office of Veterans and Victims of Oppression Document Maire of Plumetot Words of welcome by M. Jean-Pierre Tarlet, Maire of Plumetot Document M.Bertrand Bouyx Speech my M. Bertrand Bouyx, Parliamentary representative of the 5th Calvados constituency Document M.Laurent Fiscus Speech by M. Laurent Fiscus, Prefect of Calvados Document Richard Kornicki Speech by Mr. Richard Kornicki, Chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, on the origin and purpose of the Memorial Document HE Tomasz Młynarski Speech by HE Tomasz Młynarski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in France Document Alexander Smaga Alexander Smaga MSc. Dipl. Ing.Arch. Memorial Designer talks about how it was conceived. Document Plumetot Speeches

Air Bridge Commemoration Service in remembrance of the casualties of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising 28 September 2025 British Commonwealth and Polish War Graves Cemetery, London Road, Newark, Notts. Guests and Standard Bearers assemble at Cemetery Gates 13.45. Procession to the Air Bridge Memorial 14.00. Remembrance Ceremony 14.15.

< Back New Polish Air Force Exhibition opens at RAF Northolt The new Polish Air Force Memorial Committee exhibition is located in The Polish Air Force Room in the heart of RAF Northolt’s Officers’ Mess. Photo Marek Borzęcki. Consul General Mateusz Stąsiek opened the new Polish Air Force Memorial Committee exhibition in RAF Northolt Officers’ Mess with Station Commander Gp Capt Toria McPhaden. Photo Marek Borzęcki. Poland Consul General Mateusz Stąsiek placed a wreath at RAF Northolt’s memorial to Polish and other pilots who died flying from the Station. Photo Marek Borzęcki. The new Polish Air Force Memorial Committee exhibition is located in The Polish Air Force Room in the heart of RAF Northolt’s Officers’ Mess. Photo Marek Borzęcki. 1/7 4 May 2022 New Polish Air Force Exhibition opens at RAF Northolt The Consul General of Poland, Mateusz Stąsiek has officially opened the new Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC) exhibition housed in the historic Officers’ Mess at RAF Northolt. The new exhibition contains artefacts and memorabilia from the PAFMC Collection, as well as loaned items. The offer of the new facility in the heart of the Officers’ Mess was kindly made by the Station Commander, Group Captain Toria McPhaden, recognising the important shared heritage of the Polish Squadrons which flew from her Station during the war. This exhibition area in the Officer’s Mess will be known as The Polish Air Force Room. Poland Consul General Mateusz Stąsiek said: "I am honoured to have opened a new exhibition dedicated to the Polish Air Force in the historic Officers’ Mess at RAF Northolt. It represents the newest addition to the map of places of Polish heritage in the United Kingdom and reminds us very well of the vital contribution of the Polish Air Force during the Second World War. Thank you to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and RAF Northolt for making this important display possible." The opening of the new exhibition was the focus of the Consul General’s visit to RAF Northolt where he also placed a wreath at the Station’s memorial to Polish and other pilots who died flying from RAF Northolt. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new PAFMC exhibition the Consul General, together with representatives from RAF Northolt and Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Trustees, enjoyed a buffet lunch in the Officers’ Mess. The Consul General’s visit was hosted jointly by RAF Northolt Station Commander Gp Cpt Toria McPhaden and Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki. RAF Northolt Station Commander, Group Captain Toria McPhaden said: "It is a privilege and honour to continue to support our Polish community and its long history with RAF Northolt. The new exhibition will ensure the Polish connection continues to be visible and remain a part of the rich heritage of RAF Northolt" PAFMC Chairman Richard Kornicki said: “We are extremely grateful to the Station Commander and the members of the Officers’ Mess for offering us this splendid new facility in the historic heart of RAF Northolt. It will play a key part in enabling us to tell the story of the Polish Air Force to an ever-widening range of visitors.” The new exhibition in the Officers’ Mess will be open to anyone interested, but because RAF Northolt is an operational RAF Station, visits must be arranged in organised tours. Dates of open tours will be placed on this website shortly; visits to the exhibition on other dates can be arranged for group bookings, subject to staff availability and operational requirements. Previous Next

< Back Polish Heritage Flight Awarded Silver Medal of the Polish Army The Silver Medal of the Polish Army. Deputy Defence Attaché Col Robert Pawlicki presenting the Silver Medal of the Polish Army to PHF pilot Clive Denney. The composite image shows Kornicki in the cockpit of BM 597 at RAF Northolt in 2010 and as he looked at the time he was flying the aircraft operationally. The Silver Medal of the Polish Army. 1/4 5 Dec 2022 Polish Heritage Flight Awarded Silver Medal of the Polish Army The Polish Heritage Flight (PHF) has been awarded the Silver Medal of the Polish Army by the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Poland, Mariusz Blaszczak. PHF pilots Clive Denney and Dave Harvey and project leader Derek Rusling, received the medals on behalf of the PHF from Deputy Defence Attachés Col Robert Pawlicki and Col Tomasz Ferfecki at a ceremony at the Polish Embassy in London on 2 December. “It is with the utmost humility and dedication to our duty that we accept this recognition on behalf of the Polish people, whose stories we try to tell, to ‘Remember and Inspire through Unity’” said Derek Rusling. Clive Denney added, “To fly a Hurricane or Spitfire is an enormous responsibility and privilege, the success of the PHF in the past 3 years has only been possible due to the fantastic support from the public, event organisers, sponsors and in particular the directors and volunteer team of the Historic Aircraft Collection. This award is theirs too.” Dave Harvey expressed what it means to fly such a significant Spitfire, “Every time I climb onboard Spitfire BM597, I think of the Polish Airmen that flew this very aeroplane, 80 years ago from RAF Woodvale. Some of their signatures are on the cockpit door and you very much understand, even 80 years on, it is still their Spitfire. It is the ‘Polish Spitfire.” Among the Polish pilot's signatures on the cockpit door of BM597 are those of Ludwik Martel, who flew the aircraft in 317 Squadron, and of Franciszek Kornicki who later commanded 317 Squadron and who also flew the aircraft during its earlier service in 315 Squadron. It is thought BM597 is the only airworthy Spitfire carrying its wartime Polish markings. The PHF is based at the Imperial War Museum Duxford and more details are available at these links: https://polishheritageflight.com/ http://www.historicaircraftcollection.ltd.uk/ Previous Next