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734ad479-fced-4b82-9e0c-8b762ab55a63 Battle of Britain Thanksgiving Service Westminster Abbey < Back 1/1 23 January 2023 Battle of Britain Thanksgiving Service Westminster Abbey A Thanksgiving Service for the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Britain will be held on 17 September 2023 at 11.00 in Westminster Abbey, London, SW1P 3PA. Applications for tickets, stating all names, addresses, place and date of birth, Passport or Driving Licence number and email addresses and/or phone numbers of individuals wishing to attend, should be made in writing and are to be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Applications should reach Mrs Michèle Small, SO3 RAF Ceremonial Events, RAF Ceremonial Office, Bentley Priory Building, RAF Northolt, West End Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6NG by the 16th July. The congregation should be seated by 10.30 and to assist with seating, applicants are requested to state which of the following categories is appropriate: *relatives of aircrew who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain or since; *past or present members of the Royal Air Force and its Reserve Forces; *members of the general public. Please state if a wheelchair user. Tickets, and a note on dress and timings for the occasion, will be issued two weeks before the Service. Please note applications are NOT to be made to Westminster Abbey. Previous Next

Thanksgiving Service 86th anniversary of the Battle of Britain 20 September 2026 11.00 at Westminster Abbey, London, SW1P 3PA. Applications for tickets, stating all names, addresses, place and date of birth, Passport or Driving Licence number and email addresses and/or phone numbers of individuals wishing to attend, should be made in writing and are to be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Applications should reach Mrs Michèle Small, SO3 RAF Ceremonial Events, RAF Ceremonial Office, Bentley Priory Building, RAF Northolt, West End Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 6NG by the 17th July. The congregation should be seated by 10.30 and to assist with seating, applicants are requested to state which of the following categories is appropriate: * relatives of aircrew who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain or since; * past or present members of the Royal Air Force and its Reserve Forces; * members of the general public. Please state if a wheelchair user. Tickets, and a note on dress and timings for the occasion, will be issued two weeks before the Service. Please note that applications are NOT to be made to Westminster Abbey. Representatives of the Polish government, the Polish Air Force, the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and Polish squadron descendants are expected to attend. The 147 fighter pilots in the Polish Air Force engaged in the Battle of Britain played such a vital role in the conflict. They represented 5% of the 2,936 aircrew that took part, but at the time were officially credited with 8% or 216 of the RAF’s overall 2,692 aerial victories for the loss of 31 pilots, 5.5% of the 544 aircrew lost during the Battle. The 303 Polish Kościuszko City of Warsaw Squadron, flying Hurricanes from RAF Northolt, became by far the most successful fighter unit during the 16 weeks of the Battle. In the six weeks it was operational 303 Sqn was credited with 126 victories for the loss of eight of its pilots; six in actual combat. The Czech pilot Sgt Josef Frantiŝek, a member of the Polish Air Force flying with 303 (Polish) Kościuszko Squadron, was the most successful pilot in the Battle, credited with 17 aircraft destroyed and one probably destroyed. "Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of battle would have been the same." - Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, Commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.

Photos The launch of the Plumetot Memorial Campaign was held on Thursday 31 January, at The Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge, ( http://battleofbritainbunker.co.uk/) in the presence of His Excellency, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Arkady Rzegocki, and the Deputy Mayor of the Commune of Plumetot, Mme Marie. The event covered the importance of the Normandy village of Plumetot, as the place which marked the return to the mainland of Europe of the Polish Air Force in the wake of the D-Day landings in 1944. The Polish 302, 308 and 317 fighter squadrons operated from the temporary Plumetot landing ground during August and September 1944. There was a presentation by Alexander Smaga, the architect of the Memorial. The Memorial will be unveiled in Plumetot on Sunday 9 June 2019, as part of events surrounding the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. The Memorial will be linked in a trail of memorials and sites marking the Polish contribution to the Invasion. The cost of the Memorial will be around £40,000 of which £15,000 has already been raised or pledged. We would be most grateful if you would forward these details to friends and colleagues who may be interested in adding their support. If contributions exceed the Project costs, any excess will be used to support the work of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee in maintaining the memory of the Polish Air Force in the West. Plumetot Memorial Campaign launch

PAFMC Trustee and other opportunities 1/1 23 June PAFMC Trustee and other opportunities The registered charity Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC) is always interested to hear of people who might be willing to serve as Trustees or in other capacities. We would be delighted to hear from anyone with the relevant interests, skills and experience who would like to discuss the possible opportunities. While Trustees and others involved would be expected to have a strong interest in the Polish Air Force in the west during the war years – either through descent or otherwise – we would be particularly glad to hear from people with any of the following skills or experience: Investment / finance Administration /law Social media / digital engagement Project management Retail (principally on-line) Community involvement / engagement Trustee meetings take place three or four times a year at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge, by courtesy of the London Borough of Hillingdon, currently on Friday afternoons, with other business conducted by e-mail or smaller groupings. Trustees do not receive any remuneration and incidental day to day expenses (such as travel) are not reimbursed. Expressions of interest should set out the nature of your connection to the Polish Air Force, the particular skills you could offer, and be accompanied by a CV. An informal discussion will then be arranged to explore the contribution that could be made and the best way of fitting that into the structure of the Committee, whether as Trustee or by support in a different capacity. Please send any expressions of interest to the Chairman: richardkornicki@gmail.com Previous Article Next Article

Polish pilots’ remembrance service Dungeness Previous Next Jonathan Kellett on the right with his sister and brother at the Dungeness Memorial for 303Sqn pilots P/O Mieczysław Waszkiewicz and P/O Bogusław Mierzwa both shot down and killed in the same combat on 16 April 1941. Photo courtesy Michael Golding P/O Mieczyslaw Waszkiewicz was shot down and killed in combat in 303Sqn MkIIA Spitfire P8039 on 16 April 1941 and crashed into the Channel near Dungeness. His body was never recovered. He was 24 years old and only served with 303Sqn for three weeks. Commissioned in August 1939, he saw combat over Poland in 1939 and over France in 1940. In Britain he was originally posted to 307Sqn on Defiants but, like many of his colleagues, he applied for a re-posting to day fighter units. This 303sqn MkIIA Spitfire P7819 code RF-S with pilot P/O Bogusław Mierzwa was shot down and crashed on the shore at Dungeness close to where the memorial is sited. He is buried in Northwood cemetery grave H290. Jonathan Kellett on the right with his sister and brother at the Dungeness Memorial for 303Sqn pilots P/O Mieczysław Waszkiewicz and P/O Bogusław Mierzwa both shot down and killed in the same combat on 16 April 1941. Photo courtesy Michael Golding 1/9 Friday, 2 May 2025 Polish pilots’ remembrance service Dungeness The New Romney Branch of The British Legion held a service of remembrance on Sunday 27 April at St Peter’s Church, Greatstone, Kent for two 303 Squadron pilots P/O Mieczysław Waszkiewicz and P/O Bogusław Mierzwa, both shot down and killed in combat on the 16 April 1941. Following the service wreaths were placed at the pilots’ Memorial on the nearby Dungeness Estate close to where they were killed. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC) was represented by Jonathan Kellett, who together with his brother and one of his sisters, laid a wreath on its behalf. Their father W/C Ronald Kellett commanded 303Sqn at Northolt during the Battle of Britain. P/O Mieczysław Waszkiewicz and P/O Bogusław Mierzwa, flying from RAF Northolt, were escorting Blenheim bombers on a raid to Berck-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais region of the French coast. On their return they were attacked by German fighters and both shot down and killed. P/O Mieczysław Waszkiewicz in MkIIA Spitfire P8039 with the code RF-R went into the Channel near the Dungeness coast and his body was never recovered. P/O Bogusław Mierzwa in MkIIA Spitfire P7819 with code RF-S crashed on the shore at Dungeness close to where the memorial is sited. P/O Bogusław Mierzwa is buried in Northwood cemetery grave H290. The wreckage of Spitfire P7819 was later recovered in 1982. The original memorial was created by Lance Corporal Jack Stratfield who was based at Dungeness during the war and came across the remains in 1942. Colin Clayton later resurrected it about 20 years ago and together with Michael Golding they have since maintained and cared for the memorial. It was subsequently replaced by a new memorial in 2021, generously funded by EDF Energy, which owns the Dungeness Estate, and was commemorated on the 80th Anniversary of the pilots’ death. The PAFMC recently donated a flower vase which was kindly installed at the Memorial by Michael Golding. What3Words links at Dungeness. The parking spot for easier access to the Memorial trump.widest.little https://what3words.com/trump.widest.little The site of the Memorial goals.toasted.aboard https://w3w.co/goals.toasted.aboard Previous Next

Skrzydła We hope to index a number of back issues of Skrzydła (Wings) magazine. Coming soon.... Constitution Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees (‘Foundation’ model constitution) Date of constitution (last amended): 9th December 2019 1. Name The name of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“the CIO”) is: THE POLISH AIR FORCE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE 2. National location of principal office The principal office of the CIO is in England: 15 Kings Avenue Ealing London W5 2SJ 3. Objectives The objectives of the CIO are: To commemorate for the public benefit the achievements of the Polish Air Force in the Second World War and to honour fallen Polish Airmen by the creation and maintenance of public memorials; To educate and inform the public about the Polish Air Force and its history including by operating the Polish Air Force Museum; Nothing in this constitution shall authorise an application of the property of the CIO for purposes which are not charitable. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Constitution is available in full DOWNLOAD Trustees LINK

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

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

All Videos All Videos Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Search videos Search video... Now Playing The Polish Air Force in the Battle of Britain - An 80th Anniversary Tribute 32:59 Play Video Now Playing Polish Airmen Fighting for Freedom 21:03 Play Video Now Playing Polish Air Force Memorial Unveiling on 2nd November 1948 04:22 Play Video PAFMC Videos

Crash Sites of Fallen Polish Air Force airmen during the Battle of Britain

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

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