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< 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 Bomber Squadrons tribute film 1/1 4 May Polish Bomber Squadrons tribute film The RAF Ingham Heritage Centre has produced a short film on the Polish Bomber Squadrons in celebration of the 5th Polish Heritage Day. This is freely available through the YouTube ‘Playlists’ link at the top of this website’s Home Page or direct on YouTube at the following link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx0x7yjTY8A&list=PLsow69lVrTwHTVmu628v0_1uAbS1fzkNw Please feel free to pass the link on to colleagues, family, friends, social media and anyone else who will find it of interest. Previous Article Next Article

RAF Northolt Sector Operations Building Restoration 1/3 6 February RAF Northolt Sector Operations Building Restoration The historic Grade II listed Z Sector Operations Building at RAF Northolt, known as Building 27 or The Keith Park Building, has been undergoing restoration for over 10 years by a dedicated team of civilian and military volunteers. The usual funding stream from the biannual Night Photoshoots at RAF Northolt has not been possible since March 2019 due to runway repairs and the Coronavirus. There has not been any government funding for this heritage restoration project and the team has now set up a JustGiving appeal to raise £10,000 to help fund the ongoing restoration. Details are available by clicking the following link https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/building-27-renovation. Building 27 was constructed in 1929 as a standard operations building for an airfield capable of supporting the operation of three fighter squadrons. With war looking likely in Europe, resulting in the expansion of the Royal Air Force, Fighter Command was formed in July 1936 and Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding was appointed its head. RAF Northolt, a key aerodrome within No.11 Group, commanded by Sir Keith Park, (himself a former Northolt Station commander) was the closest fighter station to Head Quarters Fighter Command at Bentley Priory, Stanmore. Between 1936 and 1939 Dowding decided to run a series of trials and air exercises using Building 27, which resulted in the evolution of the system, the personnel, and the layout of the building. This design became the standard template that was rolled out across Fighter Command. Due to its vulnerability to air attack, Building 27 was closed as an operational asset on 17 June 1940, after which it was used for training Sector Control staff. Post war it was used as offices until 2007 when it was closed and scheduled for demolition. Fortunately it survived long enough for English Heritage to grant it Grade II listed status and its restoration began in 2010. When complete the renovated and fully working building will run simulations and re-enactments of events from the Battle of Britain for the purposes of training future generations of Aerospace Battlespace Managers. These are the key personnel within the modern RAF Battlespace Management Force and the Air Surveillance and Control System. In addition, the building will be used to facilitate the education of younger generations of Air Training Corps and school children about the heritage and ethos of the Royal Air Force. Part of the restoration can be viewed in the film made by the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee ‘The Polish Air Force in the Battle of Britain – An 80th Anniversary Tribute’ . This film is freely available from a link on the Home page above or YouTube at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lhoytCWsEY . Previous Article Next Article

Hurricane to fly to Poland Previous Next The Polish Heritage Flight, in partnership, with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, are planning a flight of a Hurricane from Duxford to Dęblin in August 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harber. The Polish Heritage Flight, in partnership, with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, are planning a flight of a Hurricane from Duxford to Dęblin in August 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harber. The Polish Heritage Flight, in partnership, with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, are planning a flight of a Hurricane from Duxford to Dęblin in August 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harber. The Polish Heritage Flight, in partnership, with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, are planning a flight of a Hurricane from Duxford to Dęblin in August 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harber. 1/5 Friday, 13 June 2025 Hurricane to fly to Poland To commemorate the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the centenary of the Polish Air Force University, Dęblin, the Polish Heritage Flight (PHF), in partnership with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, (PAFMC) are planning a commemorative flight of a Hawker Hurricane from Duxford in the UK to Dęblin in Poland. This symbolic flight, by Hurricane G-HURI, is planned for the last two weeks of August 2025 and in time for the Polish Armed Forces Day on 15 August. Routes and itinerary will depend on interest, bookings and funding. More details will be published nearer the time with an anticipated return to the UK during the first week of September. The Hurricane carries the markings of the Polish 302 ‘City of Poznan’ Squadron, based at RAF Duxford for a brief time during the Battle of Britain in September 1940. The starboard side has been painted as P2954 with the squadron code WX-E, flown by F/Lt Tadeusz Chlopik, while the port side represents P3935 as WX-D, the aircraft of F/Lt, later W/Cdr, Julian Kowalski. On 15 September 1940 both pilots were scrambled to intercept German bombers over North Weald. Chlopik claimed the shared destruction of a Dornier Do 17 before P2954 was shot down above the Essex airfield. Chlopik bailed out, but was killed. He is buried in Sutton Road Cemetery, Southend-on-Sea. In the same engagement Kowalski, flying P3935 WX-D, shot down a Do 17 and damaged another. He later became the commander of 302 Sqn and from April 1944 commanded No 1 (Polish) Wing at RAF Northolt. He survived the war and settled in Ipswich, Suffolk. The sight and sound of a Hurricane in Poland will be a symbol of our eternal gratitude to the Polish people, airmen and all those who came to the island of the last hope ‘Wyspa ostatniej nadziei’ to fight for your freedom and ours ‘Za wolność naszą i waszą’ in the Second World War. Since the PHF was formed in 2019 it has always been a dream to take the Hurricane to Poland. It would be a fitting conclusion to a project that has worked hard to tell the Polish Air Force story in the UK for the past five years. During the flight, it is hoped to include other historic locations in Poland, but it is critical to raise the required funds first. The estimated cost of the project is £35,000, which includes items such as fuel, insurance, administration, transit costs and fees, logistics and support, hangarage, aircraft consumables and spares and accommodation. Whilst in Dęblin it is hoped to attract enough interest and financial support to visit other locations in Poland. This historic flight can be made a reality by donating to the project and every penny raised will be used solely to meet the project costs. We are looking for dedications and messages on our Just Giving page, which can be found at this link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/duxfordtodeblin to help take the Hurricane to Poland in August 2025. Every message and dedication from contributors to this project will be hand written and entered into a special Memorial Book. This book will then be flown in the Hurricane to Poland and presented to the Polish Air Force and the People of Poland. So who can you give a dedication for? It could be a family member, a person you knew or someone you’ve read, watched, listened about or connected with. It can be anyone who played a part in the Second World War. It is not restricted to pilots or air force personnel. It could be a particular squadron, a place or a time, a group, company or organisation, a message of gratitude or a simple ‘Thank You’. Enter your dedication or message and help us say the best ‘Thank you’ we possibly can. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/duxfordtodeblin Thank You Trustees PAFMC Previous Next

Trustees Patron: Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB LLD(Hon) DSc(Hon) BSc FRAeS CCM Trustees: Krzysztof de Berg Chairman Chris Norman Treasurer Joanna Młudzińska Honorary Secretary Vacant Curator, Military History London Borough of Hillingdon Richard Lewis London Borough of Hillingdon Steve Bieniek Facebook/Website Richard Kornicki CBE DL Julian Kowalski Associates - Non-voting: Geoff Burton Marek Iczkiewicz Phil Kwissa 8 April 2026

< Back Polish Air Force University Commandant thanks PAFMC 1/1 22 Oct 2022 Polish Air Force University Commandant thanks PAFMC The Commandant Brig. Gen Krzysztof Cur of the Polish Air Force University in Dęblin, together with a delegation of Cadets, some of whom cycled from Poland, attended the Annual Ceremony of Homage to Polish Air Force personnel at the Polish Air Force Memorial, South Ruislip, during a recent visit to the UK. His letter of thanks, addressed to PAFMC Chairman Richard Kornicki is attached below: Previous Next

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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'

Events 29 August 2026 Northolt Commemoration Ceremony 11.00 at the Polish Air Force Memorial, South Ruislip, HA4 6QX The annual and 65th Ceremony of Homage to Fallen Polish Airmen during the Second World War will be held at the Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip on Saturday 29 August at 11.00. View More 20 September 2026 Thanksgiving Service for the 86th anniversary of the Battle of Britain 11.00 at Westminster Abbey, London, SW1P 3PA. "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 battle would have been the same." - Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, Commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. View More 28 September 2025 Air Bridge Commemoration Service in remembrance of the casualties of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising 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. View More 26 October 2025 All Souls' Ceremony in remembrance of the Polish Airmen who gave their lives in WW2. British Commonwealth and Polish War Graves Cemetery, London Road, Newark, Notts. 14.30. Guests and Standard Bearers assemble at the Thoresby Avenue entrance for the procession to the Polish War Graves Cemetery. View More

Museum Northolt Museum Polish Air Force Exhibition tours RAF Northolt, which hosts the only exhibition and museum dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain, has advised organised tours to the museum. These visits, which also include the restored Sector Operations Room, subject to guide's availability, will be hosted by the Polish Air force Memorial Committee (PAFMC). The PAFMC will endeavour to arrange visits on a monthly basis; please contact us, details below, to confirm dates and to book a place. The Exhibition is housed in The Polish Air Force Room in the heart of the Officers’ Mess. It tells the story of the Polish Air Force and its achievements during the Second World War in Poland, France and England. It combines personal memorabilia, artworks, aircraft models, photographs, and display panels. It is particularly fitting the Exhibition is at RAF Northolt, which for most of the war was home to a Polish Fighter Wing of three Squadrons on rotation. In 1940, the 303 (Polish) Tadeusz Kościuszko City of Warsaw Squadron, flying Hurricanes, became the most successful allied Squadron that fought in the Battle of Britain with 126 confirmed victories, despite only being operational for less than half the period of the Battle. Each tour will be limited to 15 people and applications should be made via the Contacts page on the PAFMC website https://www.polishairforcememorialcommittee.org/contact-2 For Group visits separate arrangements can be made on other dates. Tours will start at 14.00 after checking in beforehand at the RAF Northolt Main Gate. This is the second gate on the A4180 West End Road, when approaching from the A40 Polish Air Force Memorial round about. 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 Ruislip Gardens approximately 200 yards from the Main Gate security office on the A4180 West End Road. All visits are subject to overriding operational requirements. There is no charge for visiting the exhibition, which is housed at RAF Northolt by kind permission of the Station Commander, but as funding for exhibits and conservation is all met privately through the PAFMC and guides give up their time voluntarily, donations to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee are appreciated. There is also a small selection of books, pamphlets and DVDs available for card payments. While we welcome young people, the duration of the visit and some of the more technical material make it unsuitable for anyone under 12. Battle of Britain Bunker In addition to the museum at RAF Northolt, a permanent exhibition on the Polish Air Force has been created at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge. (https://battleofbritainbunker.co.uk/). This is the result of collaboration between the London Borough of Hillingdon and the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, which has loaned the items on display from its growing collection of memorabilia. The exhibits include a replica of the wartime Polish Air Force Standard, which is paraded annually at the Northolt Memorial Commemoration and at other commemorative events.

< Back Polish Day in the North West 1/1 7 Mar 2022 Polish Day in the North West On Saturday 12 March, to mark the last day of the Polish Air Force Exhibition at The Aktinson in Southport, a special day of Polish events, foods and crafts has been organised, culminating in a Chopin recital recreating an event held there in 1943 to raise awareness of the Polish war effort. All are welcome. Previous Next

PAFMC hosts wreath laying 1/3 4 October PAFMC hosts wreath laying The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, represented by Trustee Krzysztof de Berg, hosted a recent visit by Deputy Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces, Generał Dywizji Pilot (Air Vice Marshal) Dariusz Malinowski, and some of his staff, to lay a wreath at the Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip. Afterwards the party transferred to RAF Northolt where they were greeted by the Station Commander Gp Capt Toria McPhaden for a tour of the Polish lounge where the Station Commander emphasised the long term positive Polish links with RAF Northolt. They then moved on to Gunnersbury Cemetery to view and place a wreath at the Katyn memorial. The group concluded their morning visit at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum where they viewed some of the original Polish squadron diaries, including 303 Squadron and those of pilot Mirosław Ferić. L-R. WO Tomasz Zarzycki, Krzysztof de Berg, AVM Dariusz Malinowski, Col Mirosław Polakow, Col Mieczysław Malec. Previous Article Next Article