edf30e8d-6197-4adc-9b81-3845e8338447 Katyń Commemoration Ceremony Ambassador Piotr Wilczek, with support from the Polish Scouts from the London District, addressed the congregation at the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery to commemorate the victims of the Katyń genocide in April 1940. 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 The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee wreath was placed by Marek Borzęcki. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki Ambassador Piotr Wilczek, with support from the Polish Scouts from the London District, addressed the congregation at the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery to commemorate the victims of the Katyń genocide in April 1940. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki 1/6 30 April 2024 Katyń Commemoration Ceremony The annual Ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Katyń genocide in April 1940 was held on 28 April at the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery, Ealing, West London. The ceremony, organised by The Polish Ex-Combatants Association in Great Britain Trust Fund and assisted by the Polish Scouts, followed Holy Mass at Saint Andrew Bobola’s church, Hammersmith. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was represented by Marek Borzecki who laid a wreath on its behalf and aloe provided photographs of the ceremony. On 1 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 police 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 refused permission. The victims of the Katyń genocide had to wait until 1978 when permission was finally granted to erect the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery. Krzysztof de Berg Previous Next

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665e129c-8b9a-4e3f-a50b-d9742643189a Hurricane to fly to Poland The Polish Heritage Flight, in partnership with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, are planning a flight of a Hurricane from Duxford to Dęblin in Augsut 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harbar The Polish Heritage Flight, in partnership with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, are planning a flight of a Hurricane from Duxford to Dęblin in Augsut 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harbar The Polish Heritage Flight, in partnership with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, are planning a flight of a Hurricane from Duxford to Dęblin in Augsut 2025. Photo courtesy Andrew Dziegiel The Polish Heritage Flight, in partnership with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, are planning a flight of a Hurricane from Duxford to Dęblin in Augsut 2025. Photo courtesy Darran Harbar 1/5 20 August 2024 Hurricane to fly to Poland To commemorate the 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the centenary of the Polish Air Force University, Dęblin, the Polish Heritage Flight (PHF), in partnership with the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, (PAFMC) are planning a commemorative flight of a Hawker Hurricane from Duxford in the UK to Dęblin in Poland. This symbolic flight, by Hurricane G-HURI, is planned for the last two weeks of August 2025 and in time for the Polish Armed Forces Day on 15 August. Routes and itinerary will depend on interest, bookings and funding. More details will be published nearer the time with an anticipated return to the UK during the first week of September. The Hurricane carries the markings of the Polish 302 ‘City of Poznan’ Squadron, based at RAF Duxford for a brief time during the Battle of Britain in September 1940. The starboard side has been painted as P2954 with the squadron code WX-E, flown by F/Lt Tadeusz Chlopik, while the port side represents P3935 as WX-D, the aircraft of F/Lt, later W/Cdr, Julian Kowalski. On 15 September 1940 both pilots were scrambled to intercept German bombers over North Weald. Chlopik claimed the shared destruction of a Dornier Do 17 before P2954 was shot down above the Essex airfield. Chlopik bailed out, but was killed. He is buried in Sutton Road Cemetery, Southend-on-Sea. In the same engagement Kowalski, flying P3935 WX-D, shot down a Do 17 and damaged another. He later became the commander of 302 Sqn and from April 1944 commanded No 1 (Polish) Wing at RAF Northolt. He survived the war and settled in Ipswich, Suffolk. The sight and sound of a Hurricane in Poland will be a symbol of our eternal gratitude to the Polish people, airmen and all those who came to the island of the last hope ‘Wyspa ostatniej nadziei’ to fight for your freedom and ours ‘Za wolność naszą i waszą’ in the Second World War. Since the PHF was formed in 2019 it has always been a dream to take the Hurricane to Poland. It would be a fitting conclusion to a project that has worked hard to tell the Polish Air Force story in the UK for the past five years. During the flight, it is hoped to include other historic locations in Poland, but it is critical to raise the required funds first. The estimated cost of the project is £35,000, which includes items such as fuel, insurance, administration, transit costs and fees, logistics and support, hangarage, aircraft consumables and spares and accommodation. Whilst in Dęblin it is hoped to attract enough interest and financial support to visit other locations in Poland. This historic flight can be made a reality by donating to the project and every penny raised will be used solely to meet the project costs. We are looking for dedications and messages on our Just Giving page, which can be found at this link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/duxfordtodeblin to help take the Hurricane to Poland in August 2025. Every message and dedication from contributors to this project will be hand written and entered into a special Memorial Book. This book will then be flown in the Hurricane to Poland and presented to the Polish Air Force and the People of Poland. So who can you give a dedication for? It could be a family member, a person you knew or someone you’ve read, watched, listened about or connected with. It can be anyone who played a part in the Second World War. It is not restricted to pilots or air force personnel. It could be a particular squadron, a place or a time, a group, company or organisation, a message of gratitude or a simple ‘Thank You’. Enter your dedication or message and help us say the best ‘Thank you’ we possibly can. Thank You Trustees PAFMC Previous Next

c2a26880-52ab-4cc0-89b6-fd6d7432a768 Plumetot D-Day ceremony Wreaths were laid for the three Squadrons of the 131 Polish Wing based at Plumetot, with the architect Mr Smaga laying the wreath for 308Sqn,the former Mayor, M.Tarlet, that for 302 and 317 laid by Mr Kornicki. A wreath was also laid by the current Mayor, Mme Marie. French official representatives with the Polish Ambassador and Polish associations in France. Wreaths were laid for the three Squadrons of the 131 Polish Wing based at Plumetot, with the architect Mr Smaga laying the wreath for 308Sqn,the former Mayor, M.Tarlet, that for 302 and 317 laid by Mr Kornicki. 1/6 17 September 2024 Plumetot D-Day ceremony On 7th June PAFMC was represented by Trustee Richard Kornicki at ceremonies to mark the 85th anniversary of D-Day at Plumetot. It was also the 5th anniversary of the unveiling of the striking Plumetot Memorial to the Polish Air Force, created by the PAFMC. Wreaths were laid for the three Squadrons of 131 Polish Wing which was based at Plumetot, with the architect, Mr. Smaga laying the wreath for 308 Sqn, the former Mayor, M. Tarlet, that for 302, and 317 being laid by Mr. Kornicki. Wreaths were also laid by the current Mayor, Mme Marie, and by the Polish Ambassador, H.E. Jan Rościszewski. The occasion also provided an opportunity, delayed by Covid, formally to present PAFMC certificates of commendation by Mr Kornicki to M. Tarlet and to Mme. Ruffier, Mayor and Secretary respectively for their unstinting service over several years during the planning and creation of the Memorial. Previous Next

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

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

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

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

Bomber Command Service Previous Next Wreaths were laid in tribute to the 55,573 Bomber Command airmen who lost their lives during the war. The PAFMC's wreath is on the left end of the top row and was placed by Trustee Julian Kowalski. Wreaths were laid in tribute to the 55,573 Bomber Command airmen who lost their lives during the war. The PAFMC's wreath is on the left end of the top row and was placed by Trustee Julian Kowalski. 1/1 Wednesday, 2 July 2025 PAFMC at Bomber Command Memorial Service. On Sunday 29 June, the RAF Benevolent Fund held its annual and 13th Bomber Command Memorial Service at the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London. The service was a moving tribute to the 55,573 Bomber Command airmen from the UK and around the world who lost their lives during the Second World War. It was attended by Bomber Command veterans, representatives from the Commonwealth and Allied nations involved in Bomber Command, including the Defence Attache from the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London Col Rafal Nowak and supporters of the Fund and Memorial. The service was led by Rev S/Ldr Andrew Chapman, Station Chaplain at RAF High Wycombe, and included epitaphs from Bomber Command crew read by members of the University of London Air Squadron. This was followed by a minute’s silence and the laying of wreaths in remembrance of all who were lost. The PAFMC was represented by Trustee Julian Kowalski who also laid a wreath on the committee’s behalf. The Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flew over the Memorial three times, with the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton on board. The memorial was unveiled by HM Queen Elizabeth II on 28 June 2012 the year of her Diamond Jubilee. Photos from the service are available at this link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rafbenevolentfund/albums/72177720327216815/ Previous Next

e5212aa9-bdd0-4377-9b82-9cd2aa48bdab Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2025 The historic Officers' Mess RAF Northolt. The exhibition is housed in The Polish Air Force Room in the heart of the Officers' Mess. The Sector Control Room is now part of the exhibition tour. The historic Officers' Mess RAF Northolt. 1/8 19 September 2024 Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2025 RAF Northolt, which hosts the only exhibition and museum dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain, has advised the dates for organised tours to the museum in 2025. These visits, which include the restored Sector Operations Room, subject to guide's availability, are as follows and all on Sundays: 26 January, 23 February, 30 March, 27 April, 25 May, 29 June, 27 July, 24 August, 28 September, 26 October and 30 November. The Exhibition is housed in The Polish Air Force Room in the heart of the Officers’ Mess. It tells the story of the Polish Air Force and its achievements during the Second World War in Poland, France and England. It combines personal memorabilia, artworks, aircraft models, photographs, and display panels. It is particularly fitting the Exhibition is at RAF Northolt, which for most of the war was home to a Polish Fighter Wing of three Squadrons on rotation. In 1940, the 303 (Polish) Tadeusz Kościuszko City of Warsaw Squadron, flying Hurricanes, became the most successful Squadron of any that fought in the Battle of Britain with 126 confirmed victories, despite only being operational for less than half the period of the Battle. Each tour will be limited to 15 people and applications should be made via the Contacts page on the PAFMC website https://www.polishairforcememorialcommittee.org/contact-2 . For Group visits separate arrangements can be made on other dates. Tours will start at 14.00 after checking in beforehand at the RAF Northolt Main Gate. This is the second gate on the A4180 West End Road, when approaching from the A40 Polish Air Force Memorial round about. As RAF Northolt is an operational base visitors attending by car will need to confirm, prior to the visit, vehicle make, model, colour and registration. Photo ID will also be required to access the base. For those attending by public transport the nearest Underground Station is Ruislip Gardens approximately 200 yards from the Main Gate security office on the A4180 West End Road. All visits are subject to overriding operational requirements. There is no charge for visiting the exhibition which is housed at RAF Northolt by kind permission of the Station Commander. However, as funding for exhibits and conservation is all met privately through the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee and guides give up their time voluntarily, donations to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee are appreciated. There is also a small selection of books, pamphlets and DVDs available for cash sales. Previous Next

Date change for annual Commemoration Previous Next 1/1 Monday, 24 February 2025 Date and time change for annual Commemoration The annual and 64th Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen will be held on Saturday, 30 August 2025, at the Polish Air Force Memorial, South Ruislip at 11.00 and NOT 6 September at 12.00 , as indicated in last year's programme. After the ceremony invited guests will transfer to RAF Northolt for a reception and lunch in the Officers’ Mess. The change is necessary due to operational requirements at RAF Northolt. 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 wartime PAF and the organisations, which represented it after the war. Previous Next

713c5a4f-feb3-407d-878b-e2be813f3fea PAF Cadets visit Northwood Graves The Cadets placed wreaths on the graves of Polish Air Force pilots killed during the Second World War in the Common Wealth War Graves section of the cemetery. The Cadets placed wreaths on the graves of Polish Air Force pilots killed during the Second World War in the Common Wealth War Graves section of the cemetery. A wreath was also placed on the partially restored gravestone of Group Captain Jerzy Bajan. During the war he was Senior Polish Liaison Officer RAF Fighter Command and post war the President of the Polish Air Force Association in the UK. The Cadets placed wreaths on the graves of Polish Air Force pilots killed during the Second World War in the Common Wealth War Graves section of the cemetery. 1/5 30 August 2024 PAF Cadets visit Northwood Graves A delegation of Officer Cadets from the Polish Air Force University Deblin, led by Vice Rector Commandant Col Pilot Wojciech Wróblewski, made a recent visit to Northwood cemetery. They placed wreaths on the graves of Polish Air Force pilots killed during the Second World War in the Common Wealth War Graves section of the cemetery. This was followed with placing a wreath on the recently restored grave of Air Vice Marshal Mateusz Iżycki. He was the wartime General Inspector of the PAF and also the first Chairman of the Committee, which designed and built the PAF Memorial at South Ruislip. A wreath was also placed on the partially restored gravestone of Group Captain Jerzy Bajan. During the war he was Senior Polish Liaison Officer RAF Fighter Command and post war the President of the Polish Air Force Association in the UK. He was also a temporary Chairman of the Committee, which designed and built the PAF Memorial, after Air Vice Marshal Mateusz Iżycki retired. The restoration of both headstones is a £3,000 commission from the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC) for stonemason Francis Sancisi. It is anticipated that the far more complex task of replacing the lead inlay inscription on Jerzy Bajan’s gravestone will be completed soon. The PAFMC is hoping to raise the £3,000 for these important restorations through donations using the Just Giving portal. Just Giving will send donations straight to the PAFMC and automatically reclaim additional Gift Aid of 25% from UK taxpayers. Donations can be made at the following link: justgiving.com/campaign/izyckibajan The visit to Northwood cemetery was their first engagement on a busy five day schedule. This also included a visit to the Battle of Britain bunker at Uxbridge, participating in the annual ceremony of homage to fallen Polish airmen at the Polish Air Force Memorial South Ruislip, visiting the restored sector operations room at RAF Northolt and attending the unveiling ceremony of the 303 SQUADRON plaque on the restored Battle of Britain class locomotive at the SPA Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells. Previous Next