e329b55c-79b0-4863-a121-0e73ef6733f5 The Orchard Spitfire restoration. 1/11 10 December 2024 The Orchard Spitfire restoration. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee has taken on the restoration of the model Spitfire outside The Orchard pub in Ruislip, which has closed down. Jerzy Chudzicki, whose father and uncle were in the Polish Air Force during the war, has kindly and generously offered to complete the actual complex restoration free of charge. Jerzy owns a car restoration and preparation business AutoPrep in Watford and a graphics company and has the necessary expertise to carry out this delicate work. Jerzy was able to gather a team of enthusiastic Polish volunteers to help with the Spitfire’s removal. These included Radek Turon and his technical team from Divergent Design. Another colleague from neighbouring Orbital Fasteners provided a pickup truck to transport the Spitfire to the AutoPrep workshop. The Spitfire, which features considerable detail, has been neglected and is in desperate need of restoration. Separately the PAFMC is also taking on the renovation of the memorial’s inscribed York stone plinth. The Orchard was a favourite venue of Polish Air Force personnel based at nearby RAF Northolt throughout the war. A scale model Spitfire was first installed in 1946, supported on two steel poles on a stone plinth in front of The Orchard. This original model was dismantled, refurbished and restored in around 1996, only to be stolen in 1997. It was subsequently replaced in 2007 with a new and current scale model Mk Vb Spitfire, made at Pinewood film studios. This was organised and arranged by local enthusiast Peter Burke who set up The Orchard Spitfire Memorial Fund to raise the necessary £20,000 needed for the replacement model Spitfire. This was painted in the colours of 303 Polish Squadron as the personal Spitfire of S/Ldr Jan Zumbach with the squadron code of RF-D and his Donald Duck motif, 303 squadron emblem and aerial victories on the fuselage. The intricate and detailed restoration is expected to take several months and as it is a locally listed monument it is expected to be returned to The Orchard in due course. Previous Next

Hurricane flight to Poland postponed Previous Next image3.jpeg image3.jpeg 1/1 Wednesday, 23 July 2025 Hurricane flight to Poland postponed The commemorative flight of the Polish Heritage Flight (PHF) Hawker Hurricane from England to Poland has been postponed to 2026 due to ongoing delays with aircraft serviceability and operational logistics. In May 2024, the PHF, in partnership with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC), launched an ambitious project to commemorate two major milestones: the 100th Anniversary of the Polish Air Force University in Dęblin and the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The centrepiece of this initiative was a commemorative flight of the PHF Hurricane from England to Poland. Since its launch the project has been driven by dedicated volunteers who have invested so much time and passion. To honour the importance of this commemorative event and ensure it can be conducted with the dignity it deserves, postponement is deemed the most responsible course of action. This also allows more time to continue with the crucial fund raising. www.justgiving.com/campaign/duxfordtodeblin Flying operations for Hurricane G-HURI are planned to resume in early August, with the aeroplane having been grounded since February 2024 with lengthy engineering to the rudder. It is anticipated the Hurricane will take part in the PAFMC’s annual commemoration event at RAF Northolt on 30 August and the Battle of Britain Airshow at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford on 6 and 7 September. The JustGiving fundraising page will remain open, with the deadline extended, allowing additional time to achieve the funding necessary to bring the Duxford To Dęblin project to life. Every message or dedication is being hand-written into a Memorial Book. This book will be flown to Poland onboard the Hurricane. We remain committed to this important tribute and thank everyone for their continued support and understanding. www.polishheritageflight.com Previous Next

665e129c-8b9a-4e3f-a50b-d9742643189a Hurricane to fly to Poland 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 Augsut 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harbar 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 Augsut 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harbar 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 Augsut 2025. Photo courtesy Andrew Dziegiel 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 Augsut 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harbar 1/5 20 August 2024 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. Thank You Trustees PAFMC Previous Next

0fdcd7aa-27f5-48c4-a6e6-7741bd9ef696 Bomber Command Memorial Ceremony < Back In the foreground Richard Kornicki, Chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, laid a wreath in memory of Polish bomber crews. Photo courtesy Jerzy Kapszewicz. Former 300 Polish Bomber Squadron air gunner W/O Jan Black Stangryciuk and Guinea Pig Club member, now in his 102nd year. Photo courtesy Jerzy Kapszewicz. Former 300 Polish Bomber Squadron air gunner W/O Jan Black Stangryciuk, now in his 102nd year, at the reception afterwards entertaining actress Sue Holderness, whose father was in Bomber Command. Photo courtesy Jerzy Kapszewicz. In the foreground Richard Kornicki, Chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, laid a wreath in memory of Polish bomber crews. Photo courtesy Jerzy Kapszewicz. 1/3 30 June 2023 Bomber Command Memorial Ceremony The annual Memorial service to RAF Bomber Command was held on Sunday 25 June at the Bomber Command Memorial in London's Green Park on the south side of Piccadilly and close to Hyde Park Corner. The ceremony, organised by the RAF Benevolent Fund, was very well attended by Bomber Command veterans and their descendants and included former 300 Polish Bomber Squadron air gunner W/O Jan Black Stangryciuk, now in his 102nd year. 300 Squadron was one of the four Polish Air Force (PAF) bomber squadrons under the operational control of RAF Bomber Command which also included 301, 304 and 305 Squadrons. Tributes were led by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the newly appointed Chief of the Air Staff. Among the representatives of allied air forces operating in Bomber Command were Colonel Michał Sprengel, Defence Attaché at the Polish Embassy and Richard Kornicki, Chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC), laying wreaths in memory of Polish bomber crews. The Bomber Command Memorial, unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 28 June 2012, the year of her Diamond Jubilee, is a tribute to the 55,573 Bomber Command aircrew from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Czechoslovakia and other allied countries, as well as civilians of all nations, who lost their lives in the Second World War. The RAF Benevolent Fund is the custodian of the Memorial, and is responsible for the Memorial's maintenance and upkeep in perpetuity. The RAF Benevolent Fund incorporates the Benevolent Fund of the former Polish Air Force Association, whose designated successor is the PAFMC. Previous Next

e401815e-a3f0-444d-bd20-f159e274e664 PAFMC at the Polish Air Force Day exhibition PAFMC used the opportunity to exhibit its new display panel. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki. PAFMC used the opportunity to exhibit its new display panel. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki. The nameplate “300 SQUADRON” which will be added to the Battle of Britain class locomotive currently being restored by Southern Locomotives Ltd, was unveiled by the PAFMC chairman Krzysztof de Berg. PAFMC used the opportunity to exhibit its new display panel. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki. 1/4 14 May 2024 PAFMC at the Polish Air Force Day exhibition The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was among the exhibitors at the Polish Air Force Day exhibition held at the Battle of Britain bunker, Uxbridge on Saturday 11 May. The exhibition was organised by a collaboration of the Polish Heritage Flight, the London Borough of Hillingdon Battle of Britain Bunker and We Have Ways Podcast/Independent Company. PAFMC used the opportunity to exhibit its new display panel and Trustees were on hand to help with visitor enquiries and to sell merchandise. In addition to individual displays there were organised tours of the RAF’s 11 Group underground bunker and talks in the auditorium. These included “Airdrop for the Warsaw Uprising” by Alina Nowobilska and one entitled “For your Freedom and Ours; The Polish Air Force during WW2” by PAFMC Trustee and former Chairman Richard Kornicki. The event was also used to unveil a nameplate “303 SQUADRON” which will be added to the Battle of Britain class locomotive currently being restored by Southern Locomotives Ltd. The nameplate was unveiled by PAFMC Chairman Krzysztof de Berg. It will be fitted to the locomotive and officially unveiled on 1 September at the Spa Valley Railway, Tunbridge Wells. It will stay on the locomotive during next year’s 85th anniversary year of the Battle of Britain, after which it will be replaced with the original “SIR KEITH PARK” nameplate. Previous Next

< Back PAFMC joins Facebook 1/1 20 Oct 2022 PAFMC joins Facebook The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee has created a Facebook page which is now live at this link https://www.facebook.com/PAFMemorialCommittee . Please share the l ink as much as possible among friends, family and work colleagues so we can start attracting followers. 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

e5212aa9-bdd0-4377-9b82-9cd2aa48bdab Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2025 The historic Officers' Mess RAF Northolt. The exhibition is housed in The Polish Air Force Room in the heart of the Officers' Mess. The Sector Control Room is now part of the exhibition tour. The historic Officers' Mess RAF Northolt. 1/8 19 September 2024 Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2025 RAF Northolt, which hosts the only exhibition and museum dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain, has advised the dates for organised tours to the museum in 2025. These visits, which include the restored Sector Operations Room, subject to guide's availability, are as follows and all on Sundays: 26 January, 23 February, 30 March, 27 April, 25 May, 29 June, 27 July, 24 August, 28 September, 26 October and 30 November. 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 Squadron of any 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. However, as 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. There is also a small selection of books, pamphlets and DVDs available for cash sales. Previous Next

c90f550c-e408-4652-9017-0ae70092c1f9 Polish Heritage Flight Exhibition < Back 1/1 1 February 2023 Polish Heritage Flight Exhibition The Atkinson Arts Centre in Lord Street , Southport, PR8 1DB is hosting an exhibition about The Polish Heritage Flight from the 15 April to 30 September 2023 that will include objects, photos and stories. Entry is free Monday – Saturday 10.00 – 16.00 but closed Sundays and Bank holidays. More details are available at the following links: https://www.theatkinson.co.uk/exhibition/polish-heritage-flight/ https://polishheritageflight.com/ Previous Next

< Back Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tours The exhibition is housed in the Polish Air Force Room in the heart of the Officer's Mess. _DSC6568.jpg The Sector Control Room is now part of the exhibition tour. The exhibition is housed in the Polish Air Force Room in the heart of the Officer's Mess. 1/9 Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tours 27 Jan 2026 Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tours R AF 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. However, as 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. There is also a small selection of books, pamphlets and DVDs available for cash sales. While we welcome young people, the duration of the visit and some of the more technical material make it unsuitable for anyone under 12. Previous Next

Northolt Commemoration Ceremony 29 August 2025 11.00 at the Polish Air Force Memorial, South Ruislip, HA4 6QX The annual and 64th 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. The ceremony will open with a Parade of Standards led by the replica Polish Air Force Standard and the Silk Ensign of the RAF. Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Krzysztof de Berg will make an address welcoming dignitaries, veterans, guests and the public. All members of the public are welcome to attend the ceremony. For those travelling by public transport the nearest Station to the Memorial is South Ruislip, about a 1,100 metre walk. Invited dignitaries, representing national and local government, Polish and Royal Air Forces and various organisations and associations will lay wreaths on the Memorial. These will be 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 ceremony will be streamed live on the PAFMC Facebook page at this link: https://www.facebook.com/PAFMemorialCommittee.

f54a6a25-b96f-4dc3-98b6-ef9917975c32 Polish fighter pilots remembered < Back 1/1 28 March 2023 Polish fighter pilots remembered. The New Romney Branch of the Royal British Legion is holding a service for two 303 Squadron pilots P/O Bogusław Mierzwa and P/O Mieczyslaw Waszkiewicz, who were both shot down over Dungeness in the early evening of 16 April 1941. They were attacked by German fighters when returning from escorting Blenheim bombers on a raid to Berck-sur Mer airfield near Boulogne. P/O Bogusław Mierzwa, flying Spitfire P7819 RF-S, went down into the sea. His body was recovered and is buried in Northwood Cemetery grave H290. But P/O Mieczyslaw Waszkiewicz, flying Spitfire P8039 RF-R, also went into the sea, but his body was never found. The memorial plaque to both pilots is on Dungeness beach close to where P/O Bogusław Mierzwa was killed. The service will be at St Peter’s Church, Baldwin Road, Greatstone, TN28 8RG, on Sunday 16 April, starting at 15.00. Refreshments will be available after the service in the hall next to the church. For those attending please contact David Harris nr.drh1@yahoo.co.uk to ensure sufficient refreshments. Later in the afternoon wreaths will be laid at the memorial on the Dungeness estate. Previous Next