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

PAF Cadets visit Northwood Graves 10 September 2025 Read More Annual Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen 9 September 2025 Read More Polish airmen’s graves restoration completed 24 August 2025 Read More Hurricane flight to Poland postponed 23 July 2025 Read More Bomber Command Service 2 July 2025 Read More Hurricane to fly to Poland 13 June 2025 Read More Poles fly in for air rally 31 May 2025 Read More Polish pilots’ remembrance service Dungeness 2 May 2025 Read More Katyń Memorial Service 2 May 2025 Read More Date change for annual Commemoration 13 March 2025 Read More Standing Giants return to Normandy Memorial 12 February 2025 Read More Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tours 4 January 2025 Read More News 2025

Poles fly in for air rally Previous Next A service of commemoration was held at the Polish Air Force Memorial by a group of Polish civilian pilots from the Światowe Stowarzyszenie Lotników Polskich (World Association of Polish Airmen), who flew to the UK in several light aircraft, together with a delegation of around 40 who flew in to RAF Northolt from Poland. A service of commemoration was held at the Polish Air Force Memorial by a group of Polish civilian pilots from the Światowe Stowarzyszenie Lotników Polskich (World Association of Polish Airmen), who flew to the UK in several light aircraft, together with a delegation of around 40 who flew in to RAF Northolt from Poland. The Polish pilots and delegation from the Światowe Stowarzyszenie Lotników Polskich, led by its president Lt Gen (Ret) pilot Tadeusz Mikutel, 3rd from the right, were welcomed at the Polish Air Force Memorial by the PAFMC and Polish Embassy. A service of commemoration was held at the Polish Air Force Memorial by a group of Polish civilian pilots from the Światowe Stowarzyszenie Lotników Polskich (World Association of Polish Airmen), who flew to the UK in several light aircraft, together with a delegation of around 40 who flew in to RAF Northolt from Poland. 1/4 Saturday, 31 May 2025 Poles fly in for air rally. A group of Polish civilian pilots from the Światowe Stowarzyszenie Lotników Polskich (SSLP) (World Association of Polish Airmen) based in Warsaw, flew to the UK in several light aircraft as part of an air rally, which took place from 19 to 31 May. They departed from Warsaw’s Babice Airport and landed at several airfields where Polish Air Force pilots were based during the Second World War. On the 29 May they were joined by a delegation of around 40 who flew in to RAF Northolt from Poland. This was led by SSLP president Lt Gen (Ret) pilot Tadeusz Mikutel and were met on the apron and welcomed by Krzysztof de Berg, chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC), and Deputy Defence Attachés Robert Pawlicki and Mariusz Piotrowski from the Polish Embassy. The delegation transferred to the nearby Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip for a short service of commemoration. Following a welcome address by Krzysztof de Berg and response from Lt Gen (Ret) pilot Tadeusz Mikutel, wreaths were laid at the Memorial prior to the delegation’s return to RAF Northolt and flight back to Poland. The group of civilian pilots returned to Poland in their light aircraft on Saturday 31 May. Previous Next

Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tours Previous Next 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. 1/9 Saturday, 4 January 2025 Polish Air Force Exhibition Northolt tours RAF Northolt, which hosts the only exhibition and museum dedicated to the Polish Air Force in Britain, has advised organised tours to the museum. These visits, which also include the restored Sector Operations Room, subject to guide's availability, will be hosted by the Polish Air force Memorial Committee (PAFMC). The PAFMC will endeavour to arrange visits on a monthly basis; please contact us, details below, to confirm dates and to book a place. 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 allied Squadron 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

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

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

Standing Giants return to Normandy Memorial Previous Next The PAFMC's tribute plaque is No 451. 1/3 Wednesday, 12 February 2025 Standing Giants return to Normandy Memorial The Standing Giants Silhouettes will be returning to the meadow fields of the British Normandy Memorial ahead ov VE Day 80, following last year’s overwhelming response to the project by the Standing with Giants charity. The installation will be available to visit from 12 April until mid-September, and the Winston Churchill Centre, including café and shop, will also reopen on 12 April. In 2024, nearly 250,000 people visited the Memorial, many of whom experienced the power and poignancy of the 1,475 servicemen placed with heads bowed on the hillside overlooking Gold Beach, each representing a life lost on D-Day, 6 June 1944. In this VE Day 80 anniversary year, the figures will serve as a symbol of the bittersweet emotions faced by so many at the end of the Second World War in Europe – joy that the war had ended alongside the reality of absent loved ones who never came home. The return of the Giants has been made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from the Normandy Memorial Trust’s three partners, BAE Systems, KPMG and Teledyne FLIR. In addition, the Gold Beach Tourism Office has partnered with the Normandy Memorial Trust to support the costs of the installation process and promotion of the project across France. The PAFMC’s tribute plaque is No 451 and can be found next to the giant nurse in the meadow. See the link to the British Normandy Memorial https://www.britishnormandymemorial.org/ Previous Next

Katyń Memorial Service Previous Next The annual commemoration was attended by around 300 people, including the Polish Ambassador HE Piotr Wilczek, Vice-Consul Anna Tarnowska-Waszak and Defence Attaché Col. Rafał Nowak. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki. The annual commemoration was attended by around 300 people, including the Polish Ambassador HE Piotr Wilczek, Vice-Consul Anna Tarnowska-Waszak and Defence Attaché Col. Rafał Nowak. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki. PAFMC Chairman Krzysztof de Berg discussing the ceremony with the Defence Attaché Col. Rafał Nowak. The annual commemoration was attended by around 300 people, including the Polish Ambassador HE Piotr Wilczek, Vice-Consul Anna Tarnowska-Waszak and Defence Attaché Col. Rafał Nowak. Photo courtesy Marek Borzęcki. 1/6 Friday, 2 May 2025 Katyń Commemoration Ceremony The 85th Anniversary to commemorate the victims of the Katyń genocide in April 1940 was held on Sunday 27 April at the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery, West London. The ceremony, organised by The Polish Ex-Combatants Association in Great Britain Trust Fund and assisted by the Polish Scouts, was conducted by Ceremony Marshall Jacek Bernasinski. The annual commemoration was attended by around 300 people, including the Polish Ambassador HE Piotr Wilczek, Vice-Consul Anna Tarnowska-Waszak and Defence Attaché Col Rafał Nowak . The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee was represented by the Chairman Krzysztof de Berg, Julian Kowalski and Marek Borzecki who laid a wreath on its behalf. On 1 September 1939, Germany attacked Poland. The Polish army fought valiantly, but on 17 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 and community leaders 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 Joseph Stalin’s secret police Lavrentiy Beria, Stalin ordered the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD), to carry out mass executions of these prisoners. Around 4,500 corpses were later found in mass graves in the Katyń forest, others being executed at other sites. In all 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 the Second World War. The Polish Community wanted to create a lasting memorial to their murdered comrades, but as a result of Soviet pressure, the British authorities firstly refused permission. The victims of the Katyń genocide had to wait until the 1970s when permission was finally granted to erect the Katyń Memorial in Gunnersbury Cemetery, which was unveiled on 18 September 1976. Previous Next

Annual Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen Previous Next 1/16 Tuesday, 9 September 2025 Annual Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen The annual and 64th Commemoration of Homage for Fallen Polish Airmen was held on Saturday, 30 August 2025, 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 Vice Rector Commandant of the Polish Air Force University, Dęblin Col Pilot Andrzej Truskowski and Officer cadets. Prayers for the Fallen in Polish were then led by Fr Artur Strzępka , 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 were then invited by Marysia Suchcitz from Związek Harcerstwa Polskiego (Polish Scouting Association) to lay wreaths on the Memorial. These included the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hillingdon Ms Manju Malhi, the Mayors of the London Boroughs of Hillingdon, Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham, the Defence Attaché for the Republic of Poland Col Rafal Nowak and The Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hav Smyth. 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 100-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 Andrew Chapman , 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 Lee Wales. Guests were also addressed by The Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hav Smyth and Vice Rector Commandant of the Polish Air Force University, Dęblin Col Pilot Andrzej Truskowski, . Following the lunch, guests were entertained in the Mess by the singers (Vokalinki) and dancers from the Karolinka Polish Folklore Ensemble. 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 29 August at 11.00. 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. There were amendments to the Order of Ceremony since the programme was printed. The ceremony was streamed live and can be viewed on the PAFMC YouTube channel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPzIVPDbTvk&t=4s Speech Krzysztof de Berg Chairman Polish Air Force Memorial Committee .pdf Download PDF • 37KB Speech_Col. Truskowski .pdf Download PDF • 19KB Programme .pdf Download PDF • 2.45MB 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

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

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