A new series of three ‘photo album’ books covering the history of one of the most famous flying units in history. Tracing its journey from the roots that formed in the Polish-Russian war, through the invasions of Poland and France, to England and ultimate victory. 303 Squadron. The Complete Illustrated History. Author Wojtek Matusiak. vol. 1 ISBN 978-1-906592-22-6 Link A new series of three ‘photo album’ books covering the history of one of the most famous flying units in history. Tracing its journey from the roots that formed in the Polish-Russian war, through the invasions of Poland and France, to England and ultimate victory. 303 Squadron. The Complete Illustrated History. Author Wojtek Matusiak. vol. 3 ISBN 978-1-906592-24-0 Link Publications 2021 2023 Polish fighter pilots received their baptism of fire over their own country in September 1939, when they were overwhelmed by the aerial might of Germany and the Soviet Union. Despite this, they claimed over 120 enemy aircraft destroyed. When the Polish Air Force was reborn in France, the same men fought against the same enemy, yet with more experience and with better understanding of their opponents’ tactics – though, as the author reveals, the aircraft they flew were, in most cases, quite different Link A new 96 page book about the Lancasters flown by Polish and Commonwealth crews in 300 Squadron during 1944-1946 by Grzegorz Korcz. Polish Wings No. 31 Avro Lancaster I/III. Author Grzegorz Korcz. ISBN 9788366549456. Publisher MMP Books, Zeromskiego 4, Sandomierz 27-600, Poland. Link A Polish edition of the illustrated biography of Polish pilot Władysław Gnyś, who shot down the first two German aircraft of World War II on 1 September 1939, It is also available from bookstores. Pierwsze Zwycięstwa: Podniebne walki i wojenne losy polskiego myśliwca Władysława Gnysia. Author Stefan Gnyś, ISBN 978-83-66790-97-1. Publisher Replika. Link 2022 Chris Ward and Grzegorz Korcz have followed up their immensely popular 300 Squadron Profile with a combined volume covering the three other Polish bomber units. As ever the book contains many photographs and full statistics. Hardback, 11 in x 8 1/4 in, 466 pages, £25 Link 2020 A new edition of Group Captain Johnny Kent's autobiography ‘One of the Few’ , augmented with an introduction and epilogue by his youngest daughter Alexandra Kent. These additions present new material that sheds light on Johnny Kent's story in the broader context of his life as a son, husband and father. This edition will also include previously unpublished photographs from the family archive. Facebook link Link A new book about the Polish Air Force in the defence of Britain is now available from Sabrestorm Publishing. Truly of the Few -The Polish Air Force in the Defence of Britain. Author Dr Penny Starns. ISBN-978-1-78122-019-1. Publisher Sabrestorm Publishing. Link In this superb collection of photographs, the story of the Polish Few is told from their hazardous journey from Poland to the UK and in the great struggle for control of the skies above Britain during that memorable summer of 1940. Poles in the Battle of Britain: A Photographic Album of the Polish 'Few' (Hardback). Author Peter Sikora. ISBN: 9781526782410. Publisher Pen & Sword Books Ltd, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Link A Polish language edition of Blood on their Wing Tips: A Second World War Timeline of the No. 303 Kościuszko Polish Squadron at RAF Northolt, by Nina Britton Boyle and translated by Łukasz Golowanow, is now available. SKRZYDŁA WE KRWI: Dywizjon 303 w bazie RAF Northolt. ISBN. 978-83-66217-51-5. Publisher Replika, Poland. Link 2018 A biography about Polish Air Force physical training instructor Sgt Gerard Wodarz . This is a story of a pre-war Polish national team football player who participated in the Olympics in 1936 and World Cup in 1938 and was one of the top Polish players in pre-war Poland. He was a physical training instructor at RAF Newton in 1945. Z boiska na wojnę (From the pitch to the war). Author Wojtek Zymslony. ISBN 978-83-64424-46-5. Publisher Wydawnictwo Gretza, Poland. Link A new illustrated book about the Polish airmen who flew during the Battle of Britain is now available to pre-order from the bookshop Pen & Sword. Details are available by clicking this link. The Polish ‘Few’. Author Peter Sikora. ISBN: 9781526714855. Publisher Frontline Books. Link 2017 An illustrated biography of Polish pilot Władysław Gnyś, who shot down the first two German aircraft of World War II on 1 September 1939, is now available from the online book shop Wordery. Details are available by clicking the link. First Kills: The Illustrated Biography of Fighter Pilot Władysław Gnyś. Author Stefan Gnys ISBN-13: 9781612005560. Publisher Casemate Books Link The supersonic fighter in the Polish Air Force of the MiG-21MF are described in the unparalleled details. Many unpublished photos from the private collections. Colour schemes and markings are described and illustrated in a series of specially commissioned colour profiles. Authors Adam Gołąbek Illustrator Artur Juszczak ISBN978836654969 MMPBooks Link 2016 A new book about 300 Polish Bomber Squadron is now available through Amazon. Details are available by clicking the link. 300 Squadron: Volume 4 (RAF Bomber Command Squadron Profiles) Paperback. Authors Chris Ward and Grzegorz Korcz. ISBN-10: 1911255142, ISBN-13: 978-1911255147. Publisher Mention the War Ltd, UK Link A new book about 303 Polish Kościuszko Squadron at RAF Northolt. This unique book is the culmination of Nina’s extensive and meticulous research over the past 30 years. It is a true life timeline of 303 Sqn and combines the personal memories and photographs from surviving pilots, the families of those who gave their lives, and official combat records and war diaries. Blood on their Wing Tips: A Second World War Timeline of the No. 303 Kościuszko Polish Squadron at RAF Northolt. Author Nina Britton Boyle ISBN 978-0-9934924-0-2 (paperback); Publisher BookTower Publishing, Redditch, UK Link A new book relating to the Polish Air Force is now available in Polish book shops and online. Battles of the Polish Air Force 1939-1945 (Bitwy polskiego lotnictwa 1939-1945). Author Piotr Sikora. ISBN: 978-83-7020-626-0. Publisher Alma-Press, Warsaw, Poland. Link A booklet 303 Kościuszko Squadron is now available from the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee. It was compiled and researched by Louise Pemberton, a daughter of Wing Commander Ronald G Kellett DSO DFC VM AE, the British Commanding Officer of 303 Polish Kościuszko Squadron, when it was formed in July 1940 during the Battle of Britain. Link 2015 Grzegorz Sologub, six days of Polish ace (Grzegorz Sologub. Szesc dni polskiego asa). Author Piotr Sikora. ISBN 978-83-89450-56-2. Publisher: Stratus, Sandomierz, Poland Link One of the Few. Pawel Niemiec, fighter pilot from Cieszyn (Jeden z niewielu. Pawel Niemiec mysliwiec z Cieszyna). Author Piotr Sikora. ISBN 978-83-62913-81-7. Publisher: Finna, Gdansk, Poland. Link Aces of the Polish Air Force (Asy polskiego lotnictwa). Author Piotr Sikora. ISBN 978-83-7020-560-7. Pubisher: Alma-Press, Warsaw, Poland. Link Polish wings over Ireland (Polskie skrzydla nad Irlandia). Authors Piotr Sikora and Lukasz Gredys. ISBN 978-83-7020-607-9. Publisher: Alma-Press, Warsaw, Poland. Link A new series of three ‘photo album’ books covering the history of one of the most famous flying units in history. Tracing its journey from the roots that formed in the Polish-Russian war, through the invasions of Poland and France, to England and ultimate victory. 303 Squadron. The Complete Illustrated History. Author Wojtek Matusiak. vol. 2 ISBN 978-1-906592-23-3 Link Polish Spitfire Aces. Authors Wojtek Matusiak with Robert Grudzień. ISBN 978-1-4728-0837-0. Publisher: Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK Link 80. rocznicę powietrznej Bitwy o Anglię, która odwróciła bieg wydarzeń drugiej wojny światowej, znani historycy lotnictwa Robert Gretzyngier i Wojtek Matusiak uczcili nową książką „Wyspy Brytyjskie 1940”, wydaną w ramach popularnej serii Bellony "Historyczne Bitwy Link Dzięki pracy Józefa Zielińskiego, Wojtka Matusiaka i Roberta Gretzyngiera możemy poznać biogramy tych polskich pilotów, którzy przyczynili się do odparcia niemieckiej inwazji na Wielką Brytanię. Link There is a new film available which tells the story of 303 Polish squadron, the most successful fighter unit during the Battle of Britain, through the eyes of two former 303Sqn pilots Franciszek Kornicki and Stanislaw Socha, as well as children of three 303Sqn pilots Witold Urbanowicz, John Kent and Miroslaw Feric. Link

Gabszewicz Spitfire

3ec8fc24-db1f-46c3-9477-c99eac3ca7e0 The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee represented at the Polish Aviation Day < Back Photo: Karolina Zawadka, Lotnicza Akademia Wojskowa Photo: Karolina Zawadka, Lotnicza Akademia Wojskowa Photo: Karol Ochota, Lotnicza Akademia Wojskowa Photo: Karolina Zawadka, Lotnicza Akademia Wojskowa 1/18 30 August 2023 The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee represented at the Polish Aviation Day The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was represented at the annul Polish Aviation Day on 28 August in Dęblin by Col Artur Kamola who also kindly laid a wreath on its behalf. The Polish Aviation Day is a special date in the Polish aviation calendar. It is celebrated to commemorate the victory in 1932 of Franciszek Żwirko and Stanisław Wigura in the International Tourist Plane Competition in Berlin in a Polish RWD-6, which engineer Stanisław Wigura was a co-developer. This was a spectacular Polish success at what was then the largest aviation event in the world. This year the celebrations, organized by the General Command of the Branches of the Polish Armed Forces and the Air Force Inspectorate, took place in Dęblin in front of the monument to the "Heroic Pilots of the Dęblin School of Eaglets". It is a special event where the entire aviation community celebrates this unique holiday together. The President of the Republic of Poland and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Andrzej Duda, the Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and the Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak sent a letter to the ceremony participants. The Polish Aviation Day is also an ideal opportunity to commemorate the successes of Polish aviation, its colourful history and memories of extraordinary personalities. The ceremony allows perpetuating aviation traditions that have been developed in Poland for over 100 years. As part of the celebrations, the delegation also visited memorial sites associated with Polish airmen. They lit candles on the graves of pilots and laid wreaths, including at the grave of Brig. Gen. Pil. Szczepan Ścibior a former Rector-Commandant of the "School of Eaglets". Brig. Gen. Pil. Szczepan Ścibior is a very important figure for Dęblin and is always remembered during historical celebrations of the "School of Eaglets". From August 1947, he was the Commander of the Officer Aviation School in Dęblin. In 1951, as a result of political accusations, he was arrested and executed on 7 August 1952. On 27 April 1956, Brig. Gen. Pil. Szczepan Ścibior was posthumously cleared of the charges. His grave is in the grounds of the Polish Air Force University at the Church of St. Our Lady of Loreto. The Appeal of Remembrance was read at the end of the ceremony. Previous Next

bf97cf8c-4081-40ee-989b-571bd16cae53 Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2024 < Back 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 6 October 2023 Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2024 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 2024. These visits, which will now also include the restored Sector Operations Room, are as follows and all on Sundays: 28 January, 24 March, 26 May, 28 July, 29 September and 24 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, but 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

< Back Polish Air Force display at RAF Museum. Display of Polish Air Force artefacts and memorabilia at RAF Museum, Hendon's RAF Day. Display of Polish Air Force artefacts and memorabilia at RAF Museum, Hendon's RAF Day. Display of Polish Air Force artefacts and memorabilia at RAF Museum, Hendon's RAF Day. Display of Polish Air Force artefacts and memorabilia at RAF Museum, Hendon's RAF Day. 1/3 13 May 2022 Polish Air Force display at RAF Museum. A display of Polish Air Force artefacts and memorabilia formed part of the exhibits at the RAF Day held in Hangar 5 and 6 at the RAF Museum, Hendon on 11 May. Aviation enthusiast Lewis Shelley kindly provided the PAF exhibits from his vast personal collection, which generated a lot of interest. The RAF Day also included other RAF exhibition stands, live music from the Hot Swing Boheme band, public access to some aircraft, talks on the Vulcan bomber and the role of the RAF in the Falklands and a flypast of a Chinook helicopter, which came in and hovered at 500 feet. 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

8abf379b-f257-44d9-81ca-02c6641f04f9 Memorial to Polish 307 Squadron Mosquito crew < Back 1/1 23 February 2023 Memorial to Polish 307 Squadron Mosquito crew The Polish flag will fly over the east Devon parish of Farringdon near Exeter Airport on 24 March when The 307 Squadron Project will unveil a memorial to commemorate pilot W/Cdr Jan Michałowski and navigator F/Lt Stanisław Szkop. They were both killed during a night time training flight 80 years ago when their 307Sqn Mosquito DZ261, flying on one engine, crashed in a field at Farringdon during its final approach to the runway. W/Cdr Michałowski was the squadron commander at the time of the accident on 21 March 1943. He had arranged the training flight in an attempt to ease airmen’s concerns about flying the Mosquito, especially when one of the two engines failed, which made it difficult to land the aircraft safely. Approximately 400 people attended their funeral on 24 March 1943 at the Higher Cemetery, Exeter including the Mayor and Mayoress of Exeter. Four months before the crash W/Cdr Michałowski presented the Polish national flag to the city of Exeter as a sign of international cooperation and friendship. The unveiling of the memorial will be outside Farringdon Village Hall and relatives of the two airmen are expected to travel from Poland for the event. Local civic dignitaries and representatives of the Polish Embassy and Polish Consulate are also expected to attend. 307 Squadron Project has arranged a number of events on 24 March in Farringdon and Exeter. The main events include: *Raising of the Polish flag outside Farringdon Village Hall followed immediately by: Unveiling of the memorial outside Farringdon Village Hall Speeches by the airmen’s relatives, 307 Squadron Project, and civic officials *Opening of 307 Squadron exhibition at Farringdon Village Hall *Closing of 307 Squadron exhibition at Farringdon Village Hall *Commemoration ceremony at Higher Cemetery, Exeter, led by an official of Exeter Cathedral, will include wreath laying and lighting of candles, in the presence of the Devon & Dorset Regimental Association. 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. More information is available on the 307 Squadron Project Facebook page facebook.com/307SquadronProject 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.

f06fd4de-8132-4f3c-b02b-5d579511b0b9 Katyń Commemoration Ceremony < Back A large congregation gathered at the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery to commemorate the victims of the Katyń genocide in April 1940. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was represented by Trustee Rodney Byles who laid a wreath on its behalf. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki The Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery following the wreath laying. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki A large congregation gathered at the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery to commemorate the victims of the Katyń genocide in April 1940. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki 1/4 3 May 2023 Katyń Commemoration Ceremony The annual Ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Katyń genocide in April 1940 was held on 30 April at the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery, West London. The ceremony, organised by The Polish Ex-Combatants Association in Great Britain Trust Fund and assisted by the Polish Scouts, was attended by around 200 people and followed Holy Mass at Saint Andrew Bobola’s church. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was represented by Trustee Rodney Byles who laid a wreath on its behalf. On 1st September 1939, Germany attacked Poland, the Polish army fought valiantly but then on 17th September, Germany’s ally, the Soviet Union, attacked from the East. The Polish Army had no chance of defending attacks from two fronts and Poland was divided effectively in half between Germany and the Soviet Union. The Soviets immediately started a programme of Sovietisation, through organised ethnic cleansing and social genocide. Hundreds of thousands of Polish citizens were forcibly deported to the depths of the Soviet Empire, many to their deaths in appalling conditions. Thousands of Polish Officer Prisoners of War, Border Guards, Police, professors, teachers, priests, rabbis, community leaders etc were sent to special camps in Kozielsk, Starobielsk and Ostaszkow and Miednoje plus many other places. In April 1940 at the request of the Head of Stalin’s secret polic e Beria, Stalin ordered the NKVD to carry out mass executions of these prisoners. 4,500 corpses were later found in mass graves in the Katyń forest, others being executed at other sites. All together approximately 22,000 people were executed. What came to be known as the Katyń Massacre was commemorated by the Polish Community living in exile immediately after the end of World War II. The Polish Community wanted to create a lasting memorial to their murdered brothers, but as a result of Soviet pressure, the British authorities firstly refused permission. The victims of the Katyń genocide had to wait until the 1970s when permission was finally granted to erect the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery, which was unveiled on 18 September 1976. Krzysztof de Berg Previous Next

f3bc2c1b-c270-4a72-b39b-aa156a8ad653 PAF talk Pitzhanger Gallery Ealing < Back 303 Leconfield 303 Leconfield 1/1 8 January 2023 PAF talk – Pitzhanger Gallery The Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery is hosting an evening talk ‘For Your Freedom and Ours: Polish Air Force in the West’ by Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki on Thursday 19 January at 18.00 at Ealing Green London W5 5EQ. All are welcome and more information and tickets can be found on the Pitzhanger website at this link https://www.pitzhanger.org.uk/whatson/polish-air-force-in-the-west/ Previous Next

PAF Standard History of the PAF Standard The idea for a Standard for Lotnictwo (Aviation), the military air arm of the Polish Army, was conceived in France sometime in late 1939 by pilot F/Lt Jan Hryniewicz. This was at the Polish training base in Lyon-Bron, following his evacuation from Poland with other Aviation personnel. In France Aviation operated as separate Jednostki Polskiego Lotnictwa (Polish Aviation Units). However, in early 1940 Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces , Gen Władysław Sikorski, made the historic decision to make the Aviation division a completely independent member of the Polish Armed Forces. Thus on 1 March 1940 Aviation became the independent Polskie Siły Powietrzne (PSP) the Polish Air Force (PAF) under the overall command of General Józef Zając. F/Lt Hryniewicz came from Wilno, (now Vilnius, Lithuania) and before the war was the instructor and Commander of the Observers Training Unit at the Training Centre of Aviation No. 1, in Dęblin, Poland. At the Lyon-Bron base he engaged two Cadet officers, Zbigniew Wojda and Kazimierz Karaszewski, to each produce design sketches for each side of the Standard that would provide a symbol of unity between Polish airmen and their occupied homeland. The overall design followed the traditional colours and pattern of the Polish Armed Forces with a red cross on a white background on both sides. In the centre of the main side, designed by Zbigniew Wojda, is an image of Our Lady of Ostra Brama, the patron saint of Wilno, surrounded by a wreath. In the central upper part of the cross is the image of the White Eagle in the crown, a symbol of the Polish state, and at the bottom the inscription BÓG, HONOR I OJCZYZNA (God, Honour and Homeland). F/Lt Hryniewicz, assuming Polish airmen would continue their fight for freedom in France, requested that this side of the flag also carry a French Fleur-de-lis symbol in each of the four white corners. The reverse of the Standard, composed by Kazimierz Karaszewski, has a central image of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux supported on a sword and a cross. Above and central to this is the inscription WILNO 1940 and below it MIŁOŚĆ ŻĄDA OFIARY (Love Demands Sacrifice). In the upper left corner there is a Polish pilot’s wings, or Gapa, and in the upper right a white and red chequerboard, the national marking of Polish military aircraft. At the lower left is a badge of the cadet officer school of Aviation and on the right a Polish air observer’s or navigator’s Gapa. To ensure approval for the design F/Lt Hryniewicz sent copies of the proposed pattern to his long time commander W/Cdr Wacław Iwaszkiewicz and to retired Gen Lucjan Żeligowski. He asked Aleksandra Zasuszanka-Dobrowolska to write letters for him to his sister Katarzyna Sienkiewiczowa and the friends of his mother, Zofia Wasilewska-Świdowa and Józef Górski, enquiring if this request would be possible. Aleksandra Zasuszanka-Dobrowolska was the author of the lyrics of the Polish ‘Airmen’s March’ - the official march of Aviation (PAF) since before the Second World War. Zofia Wasilewska-Świdowa sought the advice of the priest Józef Kucharski and a committee ‘Towarzystwo Pomocy Obywatelskiej’ (Society for Citizens Assistance) was formed to oversee the project. Led by Jadwiga Oskierczyna, the committee estimated the cost of producing the Standard at around 3000 Lithuanian litas, (approximately £9,800 in 2024) which, with the incredible generosity of Wilno’s inhabitants, was reached on the first day of fundraising. The necessary damask material and gold and silver embroidery threads, needed to make the Standard, were not available in Wilno. However, the city’s Roman Catholic Archbishop, Romuald Jałbrzykowski, used his connections to secretly source all the materials from the German capital Berlin. The main embroidery was done by the Sisters of Mercy in the Church of St. Casimir in Wilno and then finished off by the Benedictine Sisters in the City’s church of St. Michael the Archangel. The Standard was completed in June 1940 and consecration followed in secrecy in the Ostra Brama Chapel by priest Kazimierz Kucharski. This was under the cover of darkness and in the presence of some members of the church. It was decided to use a single courier to deliver the Standard to the new independent PAF in France. Sadly her name has not been recorded, but the Standard was wrapped round her body during her lone journey through the Soviet Union, Poland and Germany. On her arrival in Belgium she learned that France had capitulated so she returned to Wilno, tracing the same route home. After the fall of France Polish airmen were evacuated to Great Britain and arrangements were then made to send the Standard to ‘wyspa ostatniej nadziei’, The Island of Last Hope. The Standard was initially taken from Wilno about 65 miles west to Kaunas by a local Polish community activist Eugenia Stankunowiczówna. It was then transferred by Polish intelligence officer Lt Stanisław Daszkiewicz to the Japanese attaché's office in Kaunas under the close supervision of the sympathetic Japanese Consul Chiune Sugihara. From there it was despatched in diplomatic luggage to the Japanese Embassy in Berlin. Here Polish intelligence officers F/Lt Jerzy Jakubianiec and courier Mjr Michał Rybikowski took over arrangements for its onward travel. In October 1940, Mjr Rybikowski, accompanied by a Japanese diplomatic courier, delivered the Standard to the Polish Diplomatic mission in Stockholm, Sweden. From Stockholm it was subsequently sent to Great Britain and arrived in London on 4 March 1941. Before the Standard could be handed to the PAF it was attached with dome-headed nails to a wooden staff, which was sponsored by F/Lt Krzysztof Dobrowolski. He was the husband of Aleksandra Zasuszanka-Dobrowolska, who wrote the three letters for F/Lt Hryniewicz. A gold and silver eagle, perched on a silver box inscribed with the initials P.S.P., was mounted on the top of the staff. This was designed by the treasurer of the Inspectorate of the PAF Zofia Wisznicka-Kleczyńska, a painter, artist and graduate of the Academy of Arts, Warsaw. The eagle was cast by the London goldsmith and collectables company Spink & Son from gold and silver jewellery donated by Polish airmen. Spink had already been producing PAF brevets and other insignia. The Standard was taken to RAF Swinderby for the official handover ceremony on 16 July 1941. Small silver shield shaped plaques, engraved with the names of Polish and British dignitaries and individual squadrons, were ceremonially pinned to the staff in six rows just below the Standard. These are clearly visible in photographs and film taken at the time. There is no apparent record of the original list and some plaques are missing. Those remaining are listed below. W imię Trójcy Przenajświętszej (In the name of the Holy Trinity), Prezydent R.P. W. Raczkiewicz (The President of Republic of Poland W. Raczkiewicz), Naczelny Wódz Gen. Broni W. Sikorski (Commander-in-Chief General W. Sikorski), The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill, Rt. Hon. Sir Archibald Sinclair, Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, Air Marshal Richard Peirse, Air Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas, Air Marshal Sir Arthur Barratt. Gen. Broni (General) K. Sosnkowski, Prezes Rady Narodowej (The Chairman of National Council) S. Mikołajczyk, Gen. Broni (General) L. Żeligowski, Gen. Dyw. (Lieutenant General) M. Kukiel, Gen. Bryg. (Major General) T. Klimecki, Minister Prof. S. Kot, DCA. 300 Dyonu Bombowego (Commander of 300 Bomber Squadron), DCA. 301 Dyonu Bombowego (Commander of 301 Bomber Squadron), DCA. 302 Dyonu Myśliwskiego (Commander of 302 Fighter Squadron), Gen. Bryg. (Major General) J. Modelski, A. Dobrowolska, DCA. 303 Dyonu Myśliwskiego (Commander of 303 Fighter Squadron), DCA. 304 Dyonu Bombowego (Commander of 304 Bomber Squadron), DCA. 305 Dyonu Bombowego (Commander of 305 Bomber Squadron), DCA. 306 Dyonu Myśliwskiego (Commander of 306 Fighter Squadron), DCA. 307 Dyonu Myśliwskiego (Commander of 307 Fighter Squadron), DCA. 308 Dyonu Myśliwskiego (Commander of 308 Fighter Squadron), DCA. 309 Dyonu Współpracy (Commander of 309 Cooperation Squadron), DCA. 315 Dyonu Myśliwskiego (Commander of 315 Fighter Squadron), DCA. 316 Dyonu Myśliwskiego (Commander of 316 Fighter Squadron), DCA. 317 Dyonu Myśliwskiego (Commander of 317 Fighter Squadron), Kpt (F/Lt) J. Hryniewicz *The Polish Air Force historian and author Jerzy Cynk in his book ‘The Polish Air Force At War The Official History’ indicates a plaque was included for Air Marshal Walsh. There is no plaque for Air Marshal Walsh or a gap where it may have been and no one of that name and rank can be indentified in the RAF at that time. In the presence of the President of the Republic of Poland Władysław Raczkiewicz and other Polish and British dignitaries, the honour of initially delivering the Standard was given to its creator F/Lt Hryniewicz. He handed it to retired Gen Żeligowski for passing to Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces Gen Władysław Sikorski. Following a short speech Gen Sikorski formally presented the Standard to the Commander-in-Chief of the PAF Brig.Gen Stanisław Ujejski, so finally completing its journey from Wilno to the PAF. He then handed it to the commander of 300 (Polish) Land of Masovia bomber squadron W/Cdr Wacław Makowski, who in turn presented it to a 300 Squadron Standard bearer for parading at the ceremony. The Standard was initially held by 300 Squadron and then successively passed in turn to the majority of the Polish squadrons that served alongside the RAF until the end of the war. It is believed that the plaques for all the squadrons that existed in 1941 were added at that time. There is no plaque for 318 Squadron, which was formed in 1943, and as far as can be ascertained the Standard was never transferred and held by either 317 or 318 Squadrons. There was no freedom for Poland at the end of the war, only the exchange of German occupation for an imposed Soviet communist regime, and Wilno had become part of the Soviet Union. Some Polish airmen returned home, only to find themselves tried and imprisoned as traitors. Most stayed in the West. The Standard was initially placed in the Polish Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa and St Casimir in Devonia Road, London. On the 10 July 1947 it was transferred to the General Sikorski Historical Institute, London, renamed in 1965 the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, until such time as Poland should be free again. In 1992, after the fall of communism in Poland and the first free elections, the Standard was at last returned to Poland. On 4 September, during the first world reunion of Polish Airmen on Polish soil, the Standard was handed back in a ceremony in Piłsudski Square, in front of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in the heart of Warsaw. This transfer was performed by a colour guard and delegation from the UK’s Polish Air Force Association of its Chairman AVM Aleksander Maisner and members Sq/Ldr Tadeusz Andersz, F/Lt Andrzej Jeziorski, F/Lt Mieczysław Sawicki and W/O Tadeusz Ruman. AVM Maisner handed the Standard to Commander of the PAF and Air Defence Gen Jerzy Gotowała in the presence of the first legally elected President of the Republic of Poland after the war Lech Wałęsa. According to the wishes of F/Lt Hryniewicz, (who died in July 1989) the Standard was then taken and placed in the Hall of Traditions at the PAF Academy, Dęblin. After the sixth world reunion of Polish Airmen in 2012 the Standard was transferred from the Hall of Traditions to the PAF Museum in Dęblin. From January 2016 to May 2017 the conservation studio, in the Polish Army Museum, Warsaw, carried out a major and complex restoration of the Standard. The fabric and embroidery conservation was completed by Jadwiga Kozłowska and Justyna Miecznik; the leatherwork by Aleksandra Surmak and the metal restoration by Piotr Kołaciński. Following the restoration the Standard was returned to the PAF Museum, Dęblin, where it is on display, being too fragile for future parading. In 1985 a replica was made for the Polish Army Museum by Maria Cedrowicz in Warsaw, using colour photographs provided by the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in London. In January 2012 the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC) approached the Commander of the PAF, Lt/Gen Lech Majewski, with a request for a replica to be commissioned to maintain the links between Poland and the PAF community in Britain. The proposal was warmly endorsed, and three replicas were produced: one was to be kept in the Polish Army Museum, Warsaw, one in the Airmen’s Chapel of the church of Pope St Pius V in Dęblin, and one entrusted to the PAFMC in the UK. On the 27 August 2012, twenty years after the original Standard was returned to Poland, the replica, destined for the UK, was handed over by Lt/Gen Majewski to PAFMC chairman Richard Kornicki at a ceremony in Warsaw. It was marched off the parade ground by a colour party of the Queen’s Colour Squadron and taken to the UK. This replica Standard is kept in the PAF Exhibition at the Battle of Britain Bunker Visitor Centre, Uxbridge. It is paraded at the annual commemoration of fallen Polish airmen at the PAF Memorial at South Ruislip, and at other commemorative events. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by double clicking the image then the arrows. There is also a short video extract from 'Diary of a Polish Airmen' by clicking on the Play button and then to full screen. Photos courtesy of Wojtek Matusiak and Jacek Zagożdżon. This post has been compiled from reference to the book ‘The Polish Air Force at War The Official History’ by Jerzy Cynk. The PAFMC also acknowledges with thanks the considerable help of Jacek Zagożdżon, Executive of Education, Exhibition Organization and Facilitating Department, PAF Museum, Dęblin, Poland, Paweł Żurkowski, director, Polish Army Museum, Warsaw, Richard Kornicki and PAF historian Wojtek Matusiak. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but if anyone identifies any errors please advise the PAFMC via the email on the Contacts page. Rodney Byles In the centre of the main side is an image of Our Lady of Ostra Brama, the patron saint of Wilno. The reverse of the Standard has a central image of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. The replica PAF Standard is kept on display in the Polish Air Force Exhibition at the Battle of Britain Bunker Visitor Centre, Uxbridge. In the centre of the main side is an image of Our Lady of Ostra Brama, the patron saint of Wilno. 1/33