d7d76023-284a-4a22-b052-940a5424fd63 Annual Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen < Back L-R Sq/Ldr Tadeusz Sawicz, Gp/Cpt Jerzy Bajan and W/Cdr Stefan Janus laid a wreath at one of the early Commemorations for Fallen Polish Airmen. Descendants of Polish Squadrons lay wreaths every year. From 303Sqn on the left Witold Urbanowicz, son of W/Cdr Witold Urbanowicz, Alexandra Kent, daughter of Gp/Cpt John Kent (Kentowski) and Philip Ferić Methuen, son of F/O Mirosław Ferić. Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki hosts the Annual Commemoration for Fallen Polish Airmen. L-R Sq/Ldr Tadeusz Sawicz, Gp/Cpt Jerzy Bajan and W/Cdr Stefan Janus laid a wreath at one of the early Commemorations for Fallen Polish Airmen. 1/6 6 August 2023 An nual Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee will stage the annual and 62nd Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen on Saturday, 2nd September 2023, at 12.00, at the Polish Air Force Memorial, South Ruislip. The ceremony will be conducted in English and Polish and everyone is welcome. Invited guests will include dignitaries, representing national and local government, Polish and Royal Air Forces and various organisations and associations. Guests’ dress code will be uniform, lounge suit or equivalent. Decorations will be worn and descendants will be encouraged to wear inherited medals on the right side of the jacket. The ceremony will open with the marching in of the replica Polish Air Force Standard by Officer Cadets from the Polish Air Force University, Dęblin and the Silk Ensign of the RAF. This should coincide with a fly-past of a Hurricane from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, weather and serviceability permitting. Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki CBE DL will follow with an opening address, welcoming dignitaries, veterans, guests and the public. His address will be followed by the Polish Roll-Call of the Fallen, carried out by the Polish Air Force Officer Cadets. After prayers in Polish the invited dignitaries will lay wreaths on the Memorial to 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. Concluding Prayers will be led by the Rt Rev Paul Mason, Catholic Bishop to the Armed Forces followed by the Last Post and a minute’s silence ending with Reveille. The ceremony will end with the Polish and UK national anthems and withdrawal of the Standards followed by the playing of ‘White Roses’. Personal wreaths will be laid after the ceremony ends. Music will be provided by musicians of the RAF Central Band with the kind permission of the Air Force Board of the Defence Council. Invited guests will then transfer to RAF Northolt for a reception and lunch in the Officers’ Mess, while being entertained by Polish dancers. PAFMC Commendations will be awarded to people who, with no personal connections with Poland, have made an exceptional contribution to preserving the memory of Polish Airmen. Weather and serviceability permitting the Hurricane from the Polish Heritage Flight’s Historic Aircraft Collection at Duxford, now in the colours of Polish 302 Sqn, will provide a flypast and land and park close to the Officers’ Mess. The starboard side has been finished as P2954 with the code WX-E, the Hurricane flown by F/Lt Tadeusz Chlopik, while the port side represents P3935 code WX-D, the aircraft of F/Lt and later W/Cdr Julian Kowalski. The PAFMC has been organising the Annual Ceremony of Homage to fallen Polish airmen since 2011 after officially succeeding the Polish Air Force Association Charitable Trust (PAFACT) which dissolved at the end of 2010. The PAFMC is the designated successor of the war-time PAF and the organisations which represented it after the war. The Memorial is situated at the junction of the A40 and the West End Road, South Ruislip. The nearest Underground is South Ruislip. Limited parking (at own risk) will be available at McGovern Park GAA 200 yds up the West End Rd, or adjacent side streets. Other Polish Air Force heritage sites in Hillingdon can be found at: https://archive.hillingdon.gov.uk/polishtrail For those who will not be to attend w e are planning to live stream the Northolt ceremony via our Facebook page. This can be found at this link https://www.facebook.com/PAFMemorialCommittee or via our website https://www.polishairforcememorialcommittee.org/ and click on the Facebook icon . Historic background. General Władysław Sikorski, the former Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces, formed the Polish Air Force early in 1940. He made the historic decision to make Lotnictwo Wojskowe (Military Aviation), the then air arm of the Polish Army, a completely independent member of the Polish Armed Forces. Thus on 1 March 1940 Military Aviation became the independent Polskie Siły Powietrzne (PSP) the Polish Air Force (PAF) under the overall command of General Józef Zając, but eventually under the operational command of the RAF after it transferred to Britain following the capitulation of France. Just after the war, in the summer of 1945, a group of Polish airmen formed the Polish Air Force Association (PAFA) with the Polish name Stowarzyszenie Lotników Polskich (SLP) to meet the needs of those who stayed in exile in Britain. The PAFA subsequently became the PAFACT in 1987, which continued until it was dissolved in December 2010. To enable the continuation of its most important functions prior to dissolution, such as the annual Commemoration of Fallen Polish Airmen at the Polish Air Force Memorial, it formed the PAFMC as its successor body. This was done with the explicit agreement of the Commander in Chief of the PAF, Lt Gen Lech Majewski, and the Chief of the Air Staff for the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton. Sir Stephen continues to this day as PAFMC’s Patron. Trust funds were divided between various recipients in agreement with the Charity Commission; its records were transferred to the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum; and all other art works, property and memorabilia, including the PAFA Standard, became the property of PAFMC. Previous Next

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The Polish Air Force Memorial The Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip, in the London Borough of Hillingdon, was unveiled in 1948 to honour and commemorate the Polish airmen killed during the Second World War while under British Command. The simple design of the Memorial depicts the Polish Air Force emblem of a large bronze eagle, with its wings spread wide, ready to take off from the top of a tall Portland stone Obelisk. The fourteen wartime Polish Air Force squadrons, and the battles in which they took part, are embossed in bronze letters on the front face. The base of the column is supported either side by two large stone plinths. One is inscribed: TO THE MEMORY OF FALLEN POLISH AIRMEN and the other POLEGŁYM LOTNIKOM POLSKIM. The rear of these blocks has the inscription: I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT. I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE. I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. -II TIM.IV.7- Also to the rear is a sunken semi-circular walkway flanked by two walls of granite. These are engraved with the names of 1877* Polish airmen lost while under British Command, together with the insignias of the individual Polish Air Force wartime squadrons. There is also an inscription of the names of the 23 Polish airmen lost during the French campaign of 1940. The Memorial is fronted by a shallow ornamental pond surrounded by a paved walkway and adjacent grassed area and flower beds within a gated iron boundary fence. The Memorial is close to the southeast perimeter corner of RAF Northolt, the home of seven Polish fighter squadrons at different times during the war, including the 1st Polish Wing. The main entrance, through a cast iron gate on stone posts, is on the corner of the A4180 West End Road at the junction with the A40 Western Avenue roundabout. There is provision for restricted free parking on the adjacent access road. The nearest Underground and Mainline railway station is South Ruislip, a distance of approximately 1,200 yards and about a 14 minute walk. This prominent local heritage landmark has its own “Polish Air Force Memorial” sign beside the A40 trunk road in and out of London and regularly features in traffic reports on the radio. The London Borough of Hillingdon has been the owner and custodian of the Memorial since 1965 and keeps it in pristine condition with regular cleaning and maintenance. In 2015, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the London Borough of Hillingdon, in partnership with the Polish Embassy in London, developed and created the Polish Air Force Memorial Remembrance Garden on an area of land on the west side of the Memorial boundary. This ornamental garden, with bench seating, includes trees, native hedges and wildflower meadows and a natural pond, all creating a diverse habitat for many different species of wildlife. The garden was officially opened on 5 September 2015 by the Leader of the London Borough of Hillingdon Raymond Puddifoot MBE and the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland Witold Sobków . The Memorial Garden, which has a national Green Flag Award, is regularly maintained by the Council’s own in-house maintenance team. *The official statistics for Polish airmen lost under British command reveal 1234 killed in action, 104 missing in action, now assumed killed in action, 394 killed training in operational units and 199 killed training in non-operational units, making a combined overall total of 1931.

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.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Wall of Remembrance 1/1 8 May Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Wall of Remembrance The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is inviting anyone to submit a tribute or to leave a message for a loved one on its 'Wall of Remembrance' using a form which is available at the following link: http://www.cwgc.org/our-work/projects/the-cwgc-wall-of-remembrance/wall-of-remembrance-submissions/ Please pass the link on to colleagues, family, friends, social media and anyone else who will find it of interest. Previous Article Next Article

< Back 307 Squadron Project Anniversary event 1/1 19 Oct 2022 307 Squadron Project Anniversary Event The 307 Squadron Project is holding a special anniversary event to honour the 307 Polish Squadron. This will be held on the 14-16 November at the City of Exeter Guildhall and the City’s Cathedral to mark the 80th anniversary of when the squadron presented the City with the Polish flag in a sign of international cooperation. During the Second World War 307 Sqn was the only Polish night fighter squadron and defended the South West of England. The Lwów Eagle Owls airmen fought the Luftwaffe over the skies of Britain and prevented Exeter from being totally destroyed during the blitz on the city in 1942. The main events are as follows: * Flag Ceremony including RAF Brize Norton Parade * Raising of the Polish Flag on Exeter Guildhall * Free Exhibitions on 307 Squadron and Exeter Airport * Choral Evensong incorporating 307 Squadron at Exeter Cathedral and much more. More information is available on the 307 Squadron Project Facebook page facebook.com/307SquadronProject Previous Next

Polish airmen’s graves restoration completed Previous Next Gp/Cpt Jerzy Bajan's fully restored gravestone B474 in Northwood Cemetery. Gp/Cpt Jerzy Bajan's fully restored gravestone B474 in Northwood Cemetery. The complex restoration of both graves was completed by stone mason Francis Sancisi from Made On Earth, based in Denham, Buckinghamshire. Gp/Cpt Jerzy Bajan's fully restored gravestone B474 in Northwood Cemetery. 1/16 Sunday, 24 August 2025 Polish airmen’s graves restoration completed The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee’s (PAFMC) commissioned restoration of the graves of two prominent and senior members of the wartime Polish Air Force (PAF), AVM Mateusz Iżycki and Gp/Cpt Jerzy Bajan in Northwood Cemetery, has been completed by stonemason Francis Sancisi from Made on Earth. The restoration of AVM Iżycki’s grave was finished last year, see the link https://www.polishairforcememorialcommittee.org/news-2024-1/pafmc-undertakes-major-grave-restoration . AVM Iżycki was the last Commander of the PAF in the UK during the Second World War. He was later the first Chairman of the Committee which designed and built the PAF Memorial at South Ruislip and unveiled on 2 November 1948. See the link: https://www.polishairforcememorialcommittee.org/history The renovation of Gp/Cpt Jerzy Bajan’s marble gravestone, with its extensive lead inlay inscription, has been far more complex and time consuming. It was recently completed during many visits and in guaranteed periods of good weather. The gravestone, placed in 1967, was in very poor condition. The initial cleaning and removal of the inscription’s approximate 740 individual inlaid lead letters and punctuation marks was completed late last year. The cleaning also clearly revealed the intricate hand carving at the top of the vertical headstone. This depicts a stylised eagle with outstretched wings in the centre, symbolic of the PAF, with cloud motifs around the eagle, representing the sky and fighter aircraft in flight carved on both sides, shown as formations of planes trailing outward in a fan-like pattern. Below the eagle is the PAF checkerboard insignia together with a pilot’s Gapa or wings. The cleaning followed the most critical and initial part of the restoration, which required a detailed rubbing of the lead inscription on the gravestone. This was vital to ensure the exact replacement of the individual letters in the same and correct position and layout as the original. This was a very challenging process as some letters were missing and others unreadable. It required some detective work including close inspection of old photographs to decipher the original wording. The expert assistance of the PAFMC’s historical advisor Wojtek Matusiak was invaluable with this process. Once the inscription and layout were verified the text and layout were reproduced on a computer. Using a special program and cutting machine Sancisi produced a thin rubber stencil in several sections replicating the inscription. The separate sections were accurately positioned and anchored on the previously cleaned gravestone and the individual rubber letters picked out and removed leaving an open stencil of the inscription. Each letter was then reproduced as a shallow indentation with sand blasting. Each of the approximate 740 letter indentations, depending on size and complexity, had to be drilled with up to 20 small diameter shallow holes to anchor the new lead inlay with a mallet. The surplus lead was removed and the whole new inlay and marble surface finally finished with wet sanding. Gp/Cpt Jerzy Bajan had a very distinguished career. He won the Challenge Internationale des Avions de Tourisme in 1934, one of the principal aircraft and aircrew competitions in Europe at the time. He was also the head of the PAF College at Dęblin at the outbreak of the Second World War. Despite being wounded in the bombing of Dęblin in September 1939, and having one of his hands permanently disabled, he nevertheless completed conversion training on the Spitfire, which he had flown before the war in the summer of 1939, as one of four Polish test pilots, and flew combat sorties as a regular pilot with 316 Sqn. He succeeded Gp/Cpt Stefan Pawlikowski as the Senior Polish Liaison Officer to the RAF’s HQ Fighter Command, so was in fact the head of the Polish fighter force in Britain in the Second World War from 1943 until its disbandment. Post war he was the President of the Polish Air Force Association (PAFA) in the UK and also a temporary Chairman of the Committee which designed and built the PAF Memorial at South Ruislip, after AVM Mateusz Iżycki retired. (See history of the PAF Memorial at this link https://www.polishairforcememorialcommittee.org/history ) The funding for the restoration of the two headstones was secured from very generous donations raised in Poland, kindly co-ordinated and gathered by Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciół Lotniska Wojskowego Świdwin (Association of Friends of Military Air Base in Świdwin). They conducted a fund-raising campaign and collected funds from various donors for the renovation. 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

Get in Touch For enquiries about the service records of members of the Polish Air Force please click the following link: https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-records-of-service Additional information: On the online form, please select the British equivalent if your relation served in the Polish Armed Forces under British Command. Please ensure you have read the guidance on “What information you’ll get” and “How to Apply”. You do not have to provide a death certificate, however, without one, information may be withheld unless the person died in service or was born more than 116 years ago. Please note as of 1st April 2023, there is no longer a charge for this service. First Name Last Name Email Message Thanks for submitting! Send

2016 8 December Polish and British Prime Ministers visit Polish Air Force Memorial The Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło flew into RAF Northolt on Monday 28th November to meet the UK Prime Minister Theresa May for the first British and Polish intergovernmental consultations. Prior to travelling to 10 Downing Street both Prime Ministers laid wreaths at the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt to commemorate the Polish airmen killed during the Second World War. They also had the opportunity to meet some veterans and descendants who were invited to the subsequent reception at 10 Downing Street. “Thank you that we could jointly lay flowers at the monument commemorating the heroic Polish airmen who died during the Second World War, fighting for the freedom of the UK, but also for the freedom of Europe, all of us. Thank you that we could also talk to veterans who were there for us to meet,” said Beata Szydło. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. Photos copyright Fot. P.Tracz/KPRM and Robert Zapalski Polish Embassy. 1/12 30 October All Souls' Ceremony in remembrance of the Polish Airmen who gave their lives in WW2 The annual All Souls’ Ceremony was held at the British Commonwealth and Polish War Graves Cemetery, London Road, Newark, on Sunday 30th October. The very large gathering of guests and Standard Bearers assembled at the Thoresby Avenue entrance for the procession to the Polish War Graves Cemetery. Wreaths were laid by representatives of the Polish government, local authorities, the Polish Air Force, the Royal Air Force and veterans and their descendants, and by many Polish organisations. The Polish Scouting Movements had cleaned the graves - around 400 - and lit candles on each of them. The service was followed by light refreshments at Newark Town Hall, Market Place, courtesy of the Town Mayor, Councillor Dean Hyde. The Friends of Newark Cemetery opened the cemetery’s Chapel Interpretation Centre with its General Sikorski exhibition. A 35 minute amateur video of the Ceremony, made by Mariusz Błaszczyk, c an be viewed by clicking this link. 17 September Memorial to F/Lt Stanisław Roman Madej and F/O Józef Stanisław Gąsecki 307 Polish Squadron A memorial to 307 Polish Squadron pilot, F/Lt Stanisław Roman Madej and navigator F/O Józef Stanisław Gąsecki, was unveiled at a dedication service on Saturday 17th September, at Home Farm, Withcall, near Louth, Lincolnshire, by the landowner Henry Smith. F/Lt Stanisław Roman Madej and F/O Józef Stanisław Gąsecki, were killed on 18 September 1944 when their Mosquito HK194 EW-L was involved in a mid air collision with another 307 Squadron Mosquito HK228, piloted by F/Lt William Griffiths with navigator F/Lt George Lane. One of the engines of the British crew's plane caught fire and they were forced to crash land in a field near Sturgate. They were injured but managed to escape from the aircraft before it exploded. The two Mosquitos were in a flight of six from 307 Squadron returning to RAF Church Fenton from Norfolk, having taken part in Operation Market Garden the previous night. F/Lt Stanisław Madej and F/O Józef Gąsecki were buried in Newark Cemetery. In 1946 the Smith family purchased Home Farm, which is now owned by son Henry Smith. He has always known of the crash on the farm and has researched both crewmembers. Many years ago he arranged for two trees to be planted by the side of the field where the Mosquito crashed, in memory of F/Lt Stanisław Madej and F/O Józef Gąsecki. However, Henry Smith always felt there should be a permanent memorial and made it a life's ambition to have a stone memorial on the edge of the field. Now 72 years after the crash Henry Smith has achieved his ambition and has paid for a memorial to be erected, in between the two trees, next to the field where the Mosquito HK194 EW-L crashed in 1944. The memorial is a fitting tribute to the two young Polish airmen, which exists due to one man, Henry Smith. A large congregation from the local village of Withcall, together with Henry Smith's family, including eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, were present at the ceremony, despite poor weather. Also present were the 307 Squadron Project team who travelled from Exeter especially for the dedication service. (The 307 Squadron Project is a British-Polish organisation established to promote and research the role of 307 Sqn. See the Archive page for more information) The local priest blessed the new memorial and gave a dedication at the crash site. The service continued in Withcall church, also located on Henry Smith's farm. The service concluded with a very moving recital by Polish soprano Paulina Hlawiczka. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. The Memorial Memorial inscription Polish soprano Paulina Hlawiczka. The Memorial 1/4 3 September Northolt Commemoration Ceremony The annual and 56th Ceremony of Homage to Fallen Polish Airmen during World War II was held at the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt on Saturday 3rd September. The Ceremony started with a Trumpeter from the RAF Central Band sounding the Assembly prior to the Parade of nine Standards led by the replica Polish Air Force Wilno Standard. Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki CBE DL, then followed with his introductory speech, welcoming the new Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Mr Arkady Rzegocki and Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Stephen Hillier KCB CBE DFC, both attending the Commemoration for the first time. In his opening address to the large assembly, gathered inside and outside the Memorial boundary fence, Richard Kornicki said that although this was a Polish commemoration it was also shared with many in Britain who wanted to mark the achievements and sacrifices of the Polish Air Force in the West. He added that there are around 2,000 names of Polish Airmen engraved on the walls behind the Memorial who fought and died Za naszą i waszą wolność – for your freedom and ours. His address was followed by the Polish Roll-Call of the Fallen, carried out by the Officer Cadets of the Polish Air Force Academy, Dęblin; Prayers; the Last Post and a minute’s silence ended by Reveille. Invited dignitaries, representing national and local government, various organisations and associations laid wreaths on the Memorial, followed by veterans or descendants of the Polish Squadrons and Units commemorated on the Memorial. The hour-long ceremony ended with the Polish and UK national anthems. Unfortunately the flypast of a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was cancelled due to bad weather at its base at RAF Coningsby. The Mayor of the London Borough of Hillingdon, Councillor John Hensley, then addressed the gathering to advise that the Memorial Garden, adjacent to the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt, had been granted Department for Communities and Local Government Green Flag status, which recognises the very best green spaces in the UK. The London Borough of Hillingdon, in partnership with the Polish Embassy, generously created the Memorial Garden, which was officially opened on Saturday 5th September 2015. Following the Ceremony around 250 guests transferred to RAF Northolt for a reception and buffet in the Station’s Sword and Wheel Club, while being entertained by Polish dancers. The Station Commander, Group Captain David Manning and the Acting Republic of Poland Defence Attaché, Lt Col Dorota Kawecka, awarded PAFMC Commendations to people who, with no personal connections with Poland, have made an exceptional contribution to preserving the memory of Polish Airmen. The Memorial programme, speeches and commendations can be viewed by clicking the relevant icons below. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. Photos Crown copyright. An amateur video of the Ceremony, made by Andrzej Wzrołek, can be viewed by clicking this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRMgH4IKsHU Programme Speech Commendations Mayor's Speech Next year's ceremony will take place on Saturday 2rd September, 2017 at 12.00. NHT-Official-20160903-238-001 NHT-Official-20160903-238-006 NHT-Official-20160903-238-001 1/29 NHT-Official-20160825-231-039 NHT-Official-20160825-231-067 NHT-Official-20160825-231-008 NHT-Official-20160825-231-039 1/7 30 August RAF Northolt Station Commander Group Captain David Manning, and Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki, laid wreaths on behalf of the Station and the Committee at the graves of those who took part in the Great Escape in March 1944 and were murdered on Hitler's orders after re-capture. The graves are in the Garrison cemetery at Poznań, which was recently visited for the annual Polish Air Force Day, which was held on 26th - 27th August. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. 1/4 23 June Memorial to pilot Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz 303 Polish Kościuszko Squadron. A replacement memorial to 303 (Polish) Tadeusz Kościuszko City of Warsaw Squadron pilot, Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz, was unveiled at a dedication service on the anniversary of his birth, Sunday 19th June, at Squerryes Estate, near Westerham, Kent, with the very kind permission of the landowner Henry Warde. A congregation of around 40 gathered in the summer sunshine on Hogtrough Hill to honour the memory of Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz, who paid the ultimate sacrifice in fighting for freedom. Relatives of Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz came from Poland especially for the service, joining other family members living in the UK, descendants of 303 Sqn and other interested parties. The memorial is very close to the site where Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz’s Hurricane V7242, RF-B crashed at Hogtrough Hill. He was killed during the Battle of Britain on the 11th September 1940 while in a lone combat with six Messerschmitt Bf109s. He destroyed one, and another probable, before he was shot down. The original bronze memorial plaque was erected near the crash site on 11th September 2010, exactly 70 years after his death. This was arranged at the expense of Nina Britton Boyle who, with no Polish connections, has been researching 303 Sqn for the past 30 years, tending graves, creating memorials to Polish airmen and contacting relatives in Poland. Sadly the plaque was stolen and Nina replaced it, again at her own expense. This was also stolen. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee presented Nina with a Certificate of Commendation in 2014 for her dedication. The current replacement stone memorial, set in concrete, has been funded by descendants and friends of 303 Sqn. The new memorial, and the dedication service, were jointly arranged by Louise Pemberton, a daughter of Wing Commander Ronald G Kellett DSO DFC VM AE, the British Commanding Officer of 303 Sqn, when it was formed during the Battle of Britain, John Kaye, the son of 308 Sqn pilot F/Lt Jan Kurowski and Polish Air Force historian Piotr Sikora. The service started with the presentation of the replica Polish Air Force Wilno Standard by 2427 (Biggin Hill) Squadron ATC, led by F/O Rob Smith RAFVR (T). John Kaye followed with a welcome and detailed address about Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz and the Polish Air Force in Poland and Great Britain during the war. Nina Britton Boyle then read a moving letter on behalf of Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz’s sister Matylda, who lives in Poland. The letter is available in full at this link. This was followed by a poem Impressions of a Pilot , by Gary Claud Stoker and read by Mike Render, Trustee of the Biggin Hill St Georges Chapel of Remembrance, available in the Order of Service at this link. Squerryes Estate landowner Henry Warde then read the Act of Remembrance followed by The Last Post by Cadet Flt/Sgt Will Green, a minute’s silence and The Reveille. The memorial was unveiled by Nina Britton Boyle and Sgt Stefan Wojtowicz’s great niece Beata Poldolska and flowers laid by the family and other members of the congregation, including a wreath on behalf of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee by its chairman, Richard Kornicki. The memorial was then blessed by Father Ivan Aquilina from St John the Baptist Catholic Church, serving Westerham, Brasted, Sundridge and Ide Hill. The service concluded with the Polish national anthem and closing words of thanks by John Kaye, followed by the march off of the Wilno standard and a visit to the nearby crash site. Photos can be viewed in the slide show by clicking the image then the arrows. 2 September Hero’s send off at RAF Northolt for Polish WW2 Fighter Ace The ashes of Captain Kazimierz Sporny, fighter pilot of the famous Polish 303 and 302 Squadrons, were repatriated to Poland during a military ceremony at the Royal Air Force base in Northolt. The Polish Air Force pilot, who fought in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain in the Second World War, with five confirmed kills against his name, will rest at the military cemetery in his home town of Poznań. Captain Sporny received Poland's military decoration for heroism and courage, the Virtuti Militari Silver Cross, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Sporny passed away on 17 May 1949 in Twyford Abbey after battling with cancer, and was buried at London’s St. Mary cemetery. However, his resting place was identified only 12 years ago, and the initiative to return his ashes to homeland was undertaken in June 2016. In the morning of 25 August, a Polish Air Force CASA aircraft arrived at RAF Northolt to repatriate Captain Sporny’s ashes. They were escorted by a military Guard of Honour from the Queen’s Colour Squadron and the Polish Air Force, clergy, representatives from the Polish and British authorities and family members. Sporny’s burial with honours will take place in Poznań, just a few months after the 100th anniversary of his birthday. Captain’s Sporny’s nephew Zygmunt Sporny said: “He fought for our freedom and yours. Thanks to the sacrifice and contribution made by Polish pilots like him, Britain never fell to the German invasion. Today, we take him back home, to be buried under the Polish sky, in Poznań his final wish. I am extremely happy and thankful to everyone who was involved in this initiative.” RAF Northolt Station Commander Group Captain David Manning said: “It is a great privilege for us to be involved in the return of Captain Sporny to his homeland, and it is a great honour to look after the history and memory of the Polish contribution to the Battle of Britain and the Second World War. For me Northolt represents the spiritual home of the Polish Air Force during the Battle of Britain. Poles fought side by side with the Canadians and the British, and that sort of close support and camaraderie, which existed then, still exists now. It is very special that Captain Sporny, a legend of the Polish Air Force, is repatriated from Northolt, which is the final Battle of Britain station that is still operational today.” Story: Sqn/Ldr James Tenniswood. Photos in the slide show can be viewed by clicking the image then the arrows. All photos Crown Copyright. 1 September 303 Squadron Feast Day Three descendants of a member of 303 Polish Kościuszko Squadron marked the 76th anniversary of the Squadron’s Feast Day (Święto) “in perpetuity” on the 1st September. A resolution had been made by the officers, warrant officers and other ranks on Christmas Eve 1940 that honour would be paid to those of the Squadron, who in the fight for Poland's freedom had fallen on English soil, by laying flowers on their graves. The two sons and daughter of Władysław Burdziejow, an electrician in 303 Kościuszko Squadron's ground crew from 1 August 1940, laid red and white carnations on the 303 Sqn graves at Northwood cemetery on 1st September. There are 43 graves of Polish Airmen in the military section of the cemetery. Photographs can be viewed by clicking the icon. 5 July Northolt Commemoration Ceremony Places for the 56th Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Reunion lunch at RAF Northolt, after the ceremony at the Polish Air Force Memorial on 3rd September, are limited. Closing date for application for tickets is 30th July. The booking form is available at this link. Details of the Polish Air Force Memorial ceremony are available on the Events page above. Szeregowy (Pte) Stefan Wójtowicz with his sister Matylda on his left and niece, before Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939. Source Nina Britton Boyle collection. Sgt Sefan Wójtowicz centre with Sgt Eugeniusz Szaposznikow on his left and Sgt Michal Brzezowski on his right, RAF Northolt September 1940. Source Peter Sikora collection. Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz “One of the Few” He bravely fought 6 Me 109s destroying 1 and 1 probable before he was shot down nearby on 11.9.1940. Aged 21. “On our wings sing the winds of liberty” Za naszą i waszą wolność (For Our Freedom and Yours) Szeregowy (Pte) Stefan Wójtowicz with his sister Matylda on his left and niece, before Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939. Source Nina Britton Boyle collection. 1/20 Letter Commendation Service 13 June Dedication Ceremony, Bradfield Green War Memorial. Representatives of national governments, local dignitaries and residents came together on Saturday 4th June to honour, among others, six Polish aircrew who sacrificed their lives in the early part of World War 2. The re-dedication of the War Memorial took place in the small Cheshire village of Bradfield Green, near Crewe and was the culmination of an 18 month project which saw the names of 22 fallen airmen, including the six Poles, inscribed on two green slate plaques and added to the existing war memorial. A local historian, Steve Bratt, has been responsible for much of the work and research behind the project and was present at the ceremony. The Polish airmen were all crew members of Wellington bomber R1298, from 18 Operational Training Unit, RAF Bramcote and the story of their loss is a particularly tragic one. In the haste to train badly needed aircrew to operational standard, communication and planning sometimes suffered. Apparently maps showing the location of barrage balloons at local strategic sites had not been issued to all RAF units. The aircraft was on a training flight on 4th February 1941 in bad weather when it flew into a balloon cable attached to one of the barrage balloons defending the Rolls Royce works at Crewe. The collision caused the aircraft to stray off course and into the path of an anti-aircraft battery, which six weeks previously had failed to open fire on a German hit and run bomber attacking the Rolls Royce works. Consequently, the gunners opened fire on any aircraft that approached without warning, and they duly fired upon the Wellington. The stricken aircraft came down near to Bourne’s Farm at Minshull Vernon and burst into flames. All on board perished and two local police constables, Ernest Pocock and Frank Wiggins, were later awarded the British Empire Medal for attempting to rescue the airmen from the burning wreckage. The Polish airmen were: F/O Andrzej Minkiewicz age 33 Sgt Ludwik Jachna age 21 Sgt Jan P Orynek age 26 Sgt Zbigniew J Perkowski age 26 Sgt Stefan J Wojciechowski age 25 Sgt Henryk R Kwiatkowski age 21 The airmen were buried at Oaston Road Cemetery, Nuneaton in a service conducted by a Polish Chaplain. The re-dedication was attended by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, Dennis Dunn JP; the Consul General of the Polish Government in Manchester Lukasz Lutostanski; The Lord Mayor of Cheshire East, Cllr Olivia Hunter and the Air Attaché from the Australian High Commission in London, Gp Capt Paul Nicholas. At the Community Centre in Minshull Vernon, guests were welcomed by Chairman of the Parish Council Leslie Horne and then taken by coach on the short journey to Bradfield Green to assemble by the War Memorial. There, a service took place conducted by the RAF Chaplain The Reverend Wing Commander Alastair Bissell. Unfortunately the planned flypast of a BBMF Hurricane failed to take place, possibly due to low cloud conditions. The newly inscribed memorial plaques were unveiled by Steve Bratt and Gp Capt Nicholas. The Act of Remembrance then took place followed by the reading of the Roll of Honour and two minutes’ silence. Wreaths were then laid and the service concluded with the Kohima Epitaph, after which guests were able to return to the Community Centre at Minshull Vernon for a buffet lunch prior to returning home. It was a very moving and memorable day. I had the opportunity to speak with many interesting people, including Patryzia and Iwona Rek, the granddaughter and great granddaughter of Sgt Ludwik Jachna who said that they were delighted that the sacrifice of their loved ones continues to be remembered so long after the cessation of hostilities. This re-dedication was a fitting tribute to fallen Polish airmen and also a tribute to the dedication and hard work of the local community who continue to remember. It was a privilege to have represented the PAFMC on such an occasion. Jim Seymour Photos of Bradfield Green can be viewed in the slide show by clicking the image then the arrows. Unveiling Jim Seymour and Polish ladies 1/10 1 February Change to headstone of 303 Polish Kościuszko Squadron pilot Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has agreed to correct the inscription on the grave headstone of 303 (Polish) Tadeusz Kościuszko City of Warsaw Squadron pilot Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz at Northwood Cemetery. Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz was born on 19 June 1919 and the incorrect age of 24 years will be amended to 21 years. This follows a submission to the CWGC of an official Polish Air Force document provided by the APC Polish Enquiries office at RAF Northolt. The CWGC is unable to provide a date for the amendment, but has confirmed it will be added to the CWGC’s extensive works schedule. Sgt Stefan Wójtowicz was killed on the 11th September 1940 while in a lone combat with a number of Messerschmitt Bf109s. He destroyed one and one probable before he was shot down in his Hurricane V7242, RF-B and crashing at Hogtrough Hill, near Westerham, Kent. On 11th September 2010, exactly 70 years after his death, a bronze memorial plaque was erected near the crash site. This was arranged at the expense of Nina Britton-Boyle who, with no Polish connections, has been researching 303Sqn for many years, tending graves, creating memorials to Polish Airmen and contacting relatives in Poland. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee presented Nina Britton-Boyle with a Certificate of Commendation in 2014. Sadly the bronze plaque was stolen and Nina Britton-Boyle replaced it, again at her own expense, but this was also stolen. A further replacement stone memorial, set in concrete, has been funded by some descendants of 303Sqn members and other interested parties. Arrangements are currently being finalised for a small event to dedicate the replacement memorial in the afternoon of Sunday 19th June at Squerryes Estate, near Westerham, Kent, by the kind permission of the landowner Henry Warde.

Plumetot Memorial Plumetot Memorial Unveiled The Plumetot Memorial was unveiled in the small Normandy village of Plumetot on Sunday 9 June 2019, as part of the events commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. The Memorial commemorates the Polish 131 Fighter Wing, comprising 302, City of Poznan, 308 City of Kraków, and 317, City of Wilno Squadrons, which flew from Plumetot in August and September 1944 as the first units of the Polish Air Force to be based in France since 1940; more widely it marks the role played by fighter and bomber squadrons in helping secure the liberation of Normandy and of France. The proceedings opened with the raising of the national flags of Poland, France and the United Kingdom accompanied by the respective national anthems. This was followed by a welcome address by M. Jean-Pierre Tarlet, Maire of Plumetot, a fly past by a 317 Squadron Spitfire and a Casa transport aircraft of the French Air Force and a speech by Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Chairman Richard Kornicki on the origin and purpose of the Memorial. Several speeches followed prior to the unveiling of the Memorial. This was followed by a roll call of the fallen, laying of wreaths, the Last Post, a minute’s silence, national anthems, a trumpet solo, an inspection of Colour Parties and a reception. The Memorial and its creation has been generously supported by the Polish Institute of National Memory, which funded the steel work in Kraków, together with other organisations and individuals in Britain, France and Poland. The Polish Embassy in Paris have also been involved at every stage of the Memorial, which was designed by architect Alexander Smaga following an international competition. Speeches Photos