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Inaugural Roman Catholic Mass at St Clement Danes Church 1/4 27 October Inaugural Roman Catholic Mass at St Clement Danes Church For the first time, Holy Mass was celebrated on 21 October at the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, St Clement Danes, by the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Forces. This Mass in St Clement Danes was an opportunity for the RAF Roman Catholic community to gather with the Bishop of the Forces, the Rt Rev Paul Mason, the Principal Roman Catholic Chaplain, Rev (Sqn Ldr) Dave Skillen, and the RAF RC Chaplains to celebrate the Eucharist at the perpetual shrine of remembrance to all those who have died in service in the RAF. It was a solemn and memorable occasion with the intention of this becoming an annual event. St Clement Danes, located on The Strand, London, WC2R 1DH, is a magnificent church displaying unique RAF artefacts from its 100-year plus history. At the end of the Mass a wreath was laid at the Memorial to the Polish Air Force by the Chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee Richard Kornicki CBE DL. All photos are courtesy of Marek Borzęcki. Previous Article Next Article

< Back Sgt Josef František Memorial Unveiling Ceremony The Memorial to Sgt Josef František is in the Surrey Wildlife Trust's Priest Hill Nature Reserve close to where he lost his life. Stonemason Francis Sancisi used a thin rubber computer generated stencil to transfer the inscription to the memorial stone which he also designed and installed. The Memorial to Sgt Josef František is in the Surrey Wildlife Trust's Priest Hill Nature Reserve close to where he lost his life. 1/37 29 Sept 2022 Memorial to Sgt Josef František VM KW & 3 Bars ČVK DFM & Bar. The Czechoslovak ace, Sergeant Josef František, who flew with 303 Polish Squadron during the Battle of Britain, has been honoured with a Memorial organised by the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC). It was unveiled on 4 September on the Priest Hill Nature Reserve, Epsom, Surrey, close to where he lost his life on the 8 October 1940. Sgt František was one of the most successful allied pilots in the Battle of Britain credited with destroying 17 enemy aircraft and another probably destroyed. He was decorated with the Polish Virtuti Militari and Krzyż Walecznych (Cross of Valour) and three bars, posthumously the Československý válečný kříž 1939 (Czechoslovak War Cross 1939) and the British Distinguished Flying Medal and bar. The ceremony opened with a trumpeter from the Central Band of the RAF sounding the assembly in front of representatives of the Polish, Czech and Slovak Embassies, Air Vice Marshal Richard Maddison (representing the Chief of the Air Staff), Rector Commandant of the Polish Air Force University, Dęblin Brigadier General Krzysztof Cur and other dignitaries and guests. The replica of the war-time Polish Air Force Standard and the Standard of the Czech Legionaries were escorted in by Major Grzegorz Buśko and Officer Cadets of the Polish Air Force University, Dęblin, popularly known as "The School of the Eaglets." PAFMC Chairman Richard Kornicki CBE DL, welcomed dignitaries and guests and then invited aviation enthusiast and researcher Lewis Shelley to relay Sgt František’s story, which is available by clicking the link below. This was followed by the unveiling of the Memorial and the information panel by Sgt František’s great nephew Igor Fryč. Prayers and blessing of the Memorial and information panel then followed by Father Stephen O’Brien from St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Epsom. Invited dignitaries, representing local government, Polish, Czech and Slovak Embassies and Polish and Royal Air Forces, the PAFMC and the daughter and son of 303 Squadron’s British commander Sqn/Ldr Ronald Kellett, who was leading the patrol the day Sgt František was killed, laid wreaths on the Memorial. This was followed by the Last Post and a minute’s silence ending with Reveille. Brigadier General Cur paid tribute to Sgt Josef František in a moving speech. He followed with a presentation to PAFMC Trustee Rodney Byles of a Commemorative Plaque of the Polish Air Force University for organising the Memorial and the unveiling ceremony. This followed with his presentation, on behalf of the PAFMC, of a Commendation to Leigh Thornton from the Surrey Wildlife Trust who, with no personal connections with Poland, played a crucial role in enabling the Memorial to be placed on the Priest Hill Nature Reserve. The ceremony ended with the Polish Air Force March accompanied by the Officer Cadets of the Polish Air Force University. Invited guests then transferred to the nearby Cuddington Golf Club for a reception and afternoon tea. The Memorial to Sgt Josef František has been made possible by the many years of extensive investigations and research by aviation enthusiast Lewis Shelley and latterly by Polish Air Force historian and author Peter Sikora. The cost of the Memorial has been met solely by PAFMC who, working closely with Lewis Shelley, initiated the project in consultation with the Polish, Czech and Slovak Embassies. Chairman of the PAFMC Richard Kornicki commented: “It is a privilege for us to be able to create a lasting Memorial to Sgt František close to where he lost his life. As a Czechoslovak pilot, flying in a Polish Squadron, under a British commander he is a powerful reminder of the international make-up of The Few. We hope that for generations to come, those who walk past the Memorial will pause and remember those to whom they owe their freedom.” Photos in the slide show are courtesy of Marek Borzęcki, Marek Iczkiewicz, Tony Burd and PAFMC. An archival video of the Ceremony, by Marek Borzęcki can be viewed on YouTube at this link https://youtu.be/EYD556fhG9I A video and photos are also available on the ‘What’s On in Surrey’ website https://surrey.woimtg.com/?p=6414 with a direct link to the video on YouTube at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xfpb76e6_Uk The Memorial is located at Grid reference TQ229613 or What3Words scar.hurls.hurry. This is in a remote part of Priest Hill Nature Reserve with no direct vehicle access. There are no car parks in the area, but there are man made pathways around the reserve for easy access. Lewis Shelley's speech .pdf Download PDF • 45KB Frantisek Programme .pdf Download PDF • 288KB Previous Next

A new Polish Air Force Exhibition 1/3 3 March A new Polish Air Force Exhibition A new permanent exhibition on the Polish Air Force has been created at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge. This is the result of collaboration between the London Borough of Hillingdon and the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, which has loaned the items on display from its growing collection of memorabilia. The exhibition at the Bunker will provide much greater awareness of the Polish Air Force story and to a far wider public than is possible with the restricted access to our displays at RAF Northolt, where the remainder of our material will continue to be displayed. The project has had the full support of the Polish Embassy and the Committee would also like to put on record our thanks to the London Borough of Hillingdon for their generosity in meeting the costs of the new display area at the Bunker. The following link provides a foretaste of the exhibition http://battleofbritainbunker.co.uk/polish-air-force. Some initial photos of the exhibition are available by double clicking the image then the arrows. All photos are the copyright of Hillingdon Council. Previous Article Next Article

6862c057-caaa-49a8-adb2-76be363b7929 Annual Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen The ceremony, organised by the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, was hosted by chairman Krzysztof de Berg. Wreaths were laid by dignitaries and descendants of the Polish squadrons and units commemorated on the Polish Air Force Memorial. A wreath was jointly laid by the Ambassador for the Republic of Poland Piotr Wilczek and the Defence Attaché Brigadier General Michał Sprengel. The Duxford based Suffolk Spitfire RW382, now part of the Polish Heritage Flight with a commemorative 302 Polish Squadron ‘Operation Overlord’ D-Day colour scheme, flew in and parked close to the Officers’ Mess for close inspection by the Cadets. The ceremony, organised by the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, was hosted by chairman Krzysztof de Berg. Wreaths were laid by dignitaries and descendants of the Polish squadrons and units commemorated on the Polish Air Force Memorial. 1/9 2 September 2024 Annual Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen The annual and 63rd Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen was held on Saturday, 31 August 2024, at the Polish Air Force Memorial, South Ruislip. The ceremony, which has been organised by the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC) since 2011, opened with a trumpeter sounding the Assembly for the parading of the King’s Colour of the Royal Air Force, the replica Polish Air Force Standard by Officer cadets of the Polish Air Force University, Dęblin and the Standards of Polish Scouts, Guides, Schools and other bodies. PAFMC Chairman Krzysztof de Berg followed with his opening address, welcoming dignitaries, guests and the public. The speech is available in full at the link below. His address was followed by the Polish Roll-Call of the Fallen - Apel Poległych, led by Captain Wojciech Kozioł and Officer Cadets of the Polish Air Force University, Dęblin. Prayers for the Fallen in Polish were then led by Rev Canon Bogdan Kołodziej, Rector of the Polish Catholic Mission in England and Wales and were followed by the Polish Last Post ‘Śpij Kolego’ and dipping of Standards and Banners. Dignitaries, which included the Ambassador for the Republic of Poland Piotr Wilczek and the Defence Attaché Brigadier General Michał Sprengel, were then invited by Polish scout Marysia Suchcitz to lay wreaths on the Memorial. These were followed by descendants of the Polish squadrons and units commemorated on the Memorial that flew alongside the RAF from 1940 to 1945 and PAFMC partners. The final wreath was laid by 99 year old AC1 Marian Słomka, believed to be the last surviving member of the Polish Air Force in the United Kingdom. Concluding Prayers were led by the Rev S/Ldr David Skillen, Station Chaplin, RAF Northolt, followed by the Last Post, the dipping of Standards and Banners and a minute’s silence ending with Reveille. The ceremony ended with the national anthems of Poland and the United Kingdom and marching off of the Standards followed by the playing of ‘White Roses’. Personal wreaths were laid after the ceremony ended. Music was provided by musicians of the RAF Central Band with the kind permission of the Air Force Board of the Defence Council. Invited guests then transferred to RAF Northolt for a reception and lunch in the Officers’ Mess, and were welcomed by Station Commander Gp/Capt Jon Hough. Guests were also addressed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, The Chief of the Air Staff and Col Pilot Wojciech Wróblewski, Deputy Rector Commandant of the Polish Air Force University, Deblin. A PAFMC Commendation was awarded to WO Andy Harris for his exceptional contribution to preserving the memory of the Polish Air Force and nurturing Polish Air Force/Royal Air Force relations. These Commendations are given to people and organisations with no personal connections with Poland. Following the lunch guests were entertained in the Mess by dancers from the Orlęta Polish Folklore Ensemble. The Duxford based Suffolk Spitfire RW382, which has just joined the Polish Heritage Flight (PHF), flew down from Duxford for a flypast and parked near to the Officers’ Mess where the PAFU Cadets and other guests were be able to get up close to it. This was the Spitfire’s first public appearance with the PHF in its new commemorative 302 Polish Squadron ‘Operation Overlord’ D-Day colour scheme. 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. Next year’s Commemoration will take place on Saturday 30 August 2025 at 11.00 and NOT 6 September at 12.00, as indicated in this year's programme. Other Polish Air Force heritage sites in Hillingdon can be found at: https://archive.hillingdon.gov.uk/polishtrail Photos in the slide show are courtesy of Marek Borzęcki. Please note there have been some amendments to the Order of Ceremony since the programme was printed. The ceremony was streamed live on the PAFMC Facebook page and can be viewed at this link: https://fb.watch/ulLmSvWBob/ Speech Krzysztof de Berg Chairman Polish Air Force Memorial Committee .pdf Download PDF • 47KB Speech Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton The Chief of The Air Staff .pdf Download PDF • 62KB Speech Wojciech Wróblewski Vice Rector Commandant PAF University Dęblin .pdf Download PDF • 42KB Programme .pdf Download PDF • 2.09MB Previous Next

Polish Air Force Memorial photographs 1/8 20 February Polish Air Force Memorial photographs RAF Northolt’s photographic section has kindly shared some photographs of the Polish Air Force Memorial taken in early February. Photos in the slide show below can be viewed and enlarged by double clicking the image then the arrows. All photos are Crown copyright. Planning is progressing for the annual and 60th Ceremony of Homage to Fallen Polish Airmen during World War II, scheduled to be held at the Polish Air Force Memorial on Saturday 4 September. All are welcome. This year the event will be subject to changes in format, or even cancellation, if the regulations then in force or the likely course of the Coronavirus make this necessary. If the PAFMC is not confident of being able to hold the Commemoration it will be cancelled no later than Monday 19 July. Previous Article Next Article

94bbba04-ffe9-4aba-b0c9-82757dc6e59a The Polish D-Day Story < Back 1/1 15 June 2023 The Polish D-Day Story The 307 Squadron Project will stage "The Polish D-Day Story" on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July in Portsmouth covering the role of the Polish armed forces, which took part in the D-Day operation and the Normandy campaign in June 1944. The event will be held at The D-Day Story Museum, Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth PO5 3NT from 10.30 until 16.30 on both days and will aim to promote British-Polish friendship and cooperation. Highlights are: The Polish D-Day Story exhibition in Polish and English Presentation and speeches by invited guests Screening of the film "ORP Blyskawica - Faithful Ship" Unique multimedia materials Artistic performance by the Polish Saturday School 'November Insurgents in Portsmouth' The VIPs expected to attend include: Deputy Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Jason Fazackarley, Deputy Lady Mayoress of Portsmouth Ms Helen Mitchell, Polish Consul General Mateusz Stąsiek, Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North, the Lord President of the Privy Council and Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt MP. Health permitting , the event will hopefully be attended by 101-year-old veteran Colonel Otton Hulacki from the Isle of Wight. Entry to The Polish D-Day Story is free. However, standard admission charges apply to The D-Day Story Museum and are available on the door or in advance on-line at this link https://ddaystory.merlintickets.co.uk/product/GENENTRY 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

News 2023 Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2024 6 October 2023 Read More Annual Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen 10 September 2023 Read More The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee represented at the Polish Aviation Day 30 August 2023 Read More Annual Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen 6 August 2023 Read More Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tour dates 2023 5 July 2023 Read More Bomber Command Memorial Ceremony 30 June 2023 Read More The Polish D-Day Story 15 June 2023 Read More Hawker Hurricane in Polish 302 Squadron colours. 2 June 2023 Read More PAFMC opens online eBay shop. 21 May 2023 Read More Katyń Commemoration Ceremony 3 May 2023 Read More Polish Air Force Museum donations 28 April 2023 Read More Polish pilots’ remembrance service 20 April 2023 Read More

< Back PAFMC Trustee and other opportunities 1/1 20 May 2022 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 The PAFMC is the designated formal successor of the Polish Air Force active in Britain during WWII, and the organisations which represented it here after the war. The PAFMC was set up by the Polish Air Force Association Charitable Trust (PAFACT) in 2010 to continue their work in the longer term. It 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 Sir Stephen Dalton. More information is available on the PAFMC website: www.polishairforcememorialcommittee.org Previous Next

d05f5384-c46d-44eb-84b5-82d142d68897 PAF film and talk Bentley Priory Museum < Back 1/1 20 January 2023 PAF film and talk – Bentley Priory Museum The Bentley Priory Museum is hosting one of its regular ‘Friday Morning Talks’ screening the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee’s 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Commemorative Film with PAFMC chairman Richard Kornicki. The film and talk are on Friday 3 February at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at the Bentley Priory Museum , Mansion House Drive, Stanmore, HA7 3FB. All are welcome but advanced seat booking is required and is free for visitors with the museum's membership or if purchasing admission on the day. Bentley Priory was the headquarters of RAF Fighter Command and played a vital role in one of the most pivotal moments in modern world history, the Battle of Britain . Details of the film, talk and seat reservation are available at this link: https://bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/friday-morning-talks-pafmc-80th-anniversary-of-the-battle-of-britain-commemorative-film-with-richard-kornicki/ Museum opening hours and admission charges are available at this link: https://bentleypriorymuseum.org.uk/visit-us/opening-hours-admission/ Previous Next

50008255-3993-42f2-b260-6654bdaa2bb2 RAF Woodvale celebrations 317Sqn at RAF Woodvale 1942. 317Sqn at RAF Woodvale 1942. 1/1 29 August 2024 RAF Woodvale celebrations Second World War celebrations, honouring the bravery and sacrifice of Polish pilots, the Polish Armed Forces and Allied Armed Forces personnel, will be held from 10.00 on 7 September at RAF Woodvale, Formby Bypass, Liverpool L37 7AD. The day of celebrations will include talks, displays and food to remember and honour those who once served. If you have connections to anybody once part of the Polish Forces or anybody who served at RAF Woodvale during the Second World War and would like to join us in these celebrations, please get in touch with Joanne Chamberlain via mail at Joanne.Chamberlain@sefton.gov.uk Previous Next

PAF Cadets visit Northwood Graves Previous Next The Cadets placed a wreath on the restored grave of Air Vice Marshal Mateusz Iżycki. He was the wartime General Inspector of the Polish Air Force. The Cadets placed a wreath on the restored grave of Air Vice Marshal Mateusz Iżycki. He was the wartime General Inspector of the Polish Air Force. A wreath was placed on the recently restored gravestone of Gp/Cpt Jerzy Bajan. During the war he was the Senior Polish Liaison Officer RAF Fighter Command and post war the President of the Polish Air Force Association in the UK. The Cadets placed a wreath on the restored grave of Air Vice Marshal Mateusz Iżycki. He was the wartime General Inspector of the Polish Air Force. 1/8 Wednesday, 10 September 2025 PAF Cadets visit Northwood Graves A delegation of Officer Cadets from the Polish Air Force University Deblin, led by Vice Rector Commandant Col pilot Col Pilot Andrzej Truskowski, 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 Commonwealth War Graves Commission section of the cemetery. This was followed with placing a wreath on the 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 recently restored gravestone of Gp/Cpt 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 graves was a £3,000 commission from the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC) for stonemason Francis Sancisi. Details of the grave restorations can be found at these links: https://www.polishairforcememorialcommittee.org/news-2024-1/pafmc-undertakes-major-grave-restoration . https://www.polishairforcememorialcommittee.org/news-2025/-polish-airmen%E2%80%99s-grave-restoration-completed- 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