Museum Northolt Museum Polish Air Force Exhibition 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, but as funding for exhibits and conservation is all met privately through the PAFMC 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 card payments. While we welcome young people, the duration of the visit and some of the more technical material make it unsuitable for anyone under 12. Battle of Britain Bunker In addition to the museum at RAF Northolt, a permanent exhibition on the Polish Air Force has been created at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge. (https://battleofbritainbunker.co.uk/). 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 exhibits include a replica of the wartime Polish Air Force Standard, which is paraded annually at the Northolt Memorial Commemoration and at other commemorative events.

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

< Back Polish Air Force University Commandant thanks PAFMC 1/1 22 Oct 2022 Polish Air Force University Commandant thanks PAFMC The Commandant Brig. Gen Krzysztof Cur of the Polish Air Force University in Dęblin, together with a delegation of Cadets, some of whom cycled from Poland, attended the Annual Ceremony of Homage to Polish Air Force personnel at the Polish Air Force Memorial, South Ruislip, during a recent visit to the UK. His letter of thanks, addressed to PAFMC Chairman Richard Kornicki is attached below: Previous Next

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

e329b55c-79b0-4863-a121-0e73ef6733f5 The Orchard Spitfire restoration. 1/11 10 December 2024 The Orchard Spitfire restoration. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee has taken on the restoration of the model Spitfire outside The Orchard pub in Ruislip, which has closed down. Jerzy Chudzicki, whose father and uncle were in the Polish Air Force during the war, has kindly and generously offered to complete the actual complex restoration free of charge. Jerzy owns a car restoration and preparation business AutoPrep in Watford and a graphics company and has the necessary expertise to carry out this delicate work. Jerzy was able to gather a team of enthusiastic Polish volunteers to help with the Spitfire’s removal. These included Radek Turon and his technical team from Divergent Design. Another colleague from neighbouring Orbital Fasteners provided a pickup truck to transport the Spitfire to the AutoPrep workshop. The Spitfire, which features considerable detail, has been neglected and is in desperate need of restoration. Separately the PAFMC is also taking on the renovation of the memorial’s inscribed York stone plinth. The Orchard was a favourite venue of Polish Air Force personnel based at nearby RAF Northolt throughout the war. A scale model Spitfire was first installed in 1946, supported on two steel poles on a stone plinth in front of The Orchard. This original model was dismantled, refurbished and restored in around 1996, only to be stolen in 1997. It was subsequently replaced in 2007 with a new and current scale model Mk Vb Spitfire, made at Pinewood film studios. This was organised and arranged by local enthusiast Peter Burke who set up The Orchard Spitfire Memorial Fund to raise the necessary £20,000 needed for the replacement model Spitfire. This was painted in the colours of 303 Polish Squadron as the personal Spitfire of S/Ldr Jan Zumbach with the squadron code of RF-D and his Donald Duck motif, 303 squadron emblem and aerial victories on the fuselage. The intricate and detailed restoration is expected to take several months and as it is a locally listed monument it is expected to be returned to The Orchard in due course. Previous Next

This is placeholder text. To change this content, double-click on the element and click Change Content. Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to repaint Hurricane in 303Sqn colours 1/1 2 January Battle of Britain Memorial Flight to repaint Hurricane in 303Sqn colours. The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight has announced that its MkII Hurricane LF363 will be repainted as 303 Kościuszko squadron’s MkI Hurricane V6665 with the code RF-J. The change of colour scheme will form part of the Hurricane’s major maintenance and servicing programme to be carried out during the winter by The Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill) Ltd. The BBMF said that it likes to keep LF363 in a Battle of Britain colour scheme to commemorate the massive part played by Hurricanes during the Battle. "After careful deliberation and research, it was decided that the aircraft will be painted to represent MkI Hurricane V6665, ‘RF-J’, of 303 Kościuszko (Polish) Squadron, during September 1940". Hurricane V6665 was delivered to 303 Tadeusz Kościuszko City of Warsaw Squadron at Northolt on 7 September 1940 and painted in the code of RF-J. Two days later ‘A’ flight commander Flt Lt Johnny Kent, flying this Hurricane, claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 110 destroyed and a Junkers Ju-88 probably destroyed. This Hurricane was also flown by Sgt Michał Brzezowski on 11 September when he claimed two Heinkel He 111s destroyed about 16.00. Brzezowski was the most successful pilot of V6665. Sadly he was shot down and killed four days later on 15 September. His Hurricane P3577, with the code RF-E, went into the sea and his body was never found. Brzezowski was the youngest Polish airman to participate in the Battle of Britain. On 26 September Sgt Tadeusz Andruszków flew V6665 and claimed a Dornier Do 17 destroyed. But the following day, flying the same aircraft, he was shot down at 16.30 over Horsham and killed and the Hurricane was destroyed. Sgt Tadeusz Andruszków was 19 years old and is buried in Northwood Cemetery, grave H-208. The BBMF said that Hurricane LF363 will not appear in the new colour scheme until the summer of 2021, but from then on it will allow the BBMF to tell the story of 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, its Polish pilots and its Canadian RAF flight commander Flt Lt Johnny Kent. Artwork copyright: Chris Sandham-Bailey inkworm.com Previous Article Next Article

< Back Polish Forces in Rumania and France 1/1 1 Aug 2022 Polish Forces in Rumania and France A talk on the Polish Forces in Rumania and France will be given by Michael Czajkowski on 22 September at the Petwood Hotel, Woodhall Spa, Lincolshire. Full details are available by clicking on the enclosed poster. Previous Next

Commonwealth War Graves Commission to replace Polish pilot’s headstone 1/1 2 March Commonwealth War Graves Commission to replace Polish pilot’s headstone The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has confirmed that the incorrect Royal Air Force style headstone, on the grave of Polish Air Force fighter pilot F/O Franciszek Gruszka in Northwood Cemetery, is to be replaced with the correct Polish style headstone. This may take sometime to complete due to the current Coronavirus situation. The CWGC commemorates casualties by nationality of service rather than by nationality of casualty. Although F/O Franciszek Gruszka was of Polish nationality, the CWGC believed he was serving with the RAF rather than the PAF at the time of his death during the Battle of Britain. As such he was commemorated as a Commonwealth casualty with an RAF style headstone, rather than an allied casualty with a Polish style headstone. During the war the PAF in the UK was its own independent sovereign air force operating under the constitutional control of the Polish Government in exile, but under the operational command of the RAF. The initial influx of Polish airmen from France to England in early 1940 had to join the RAF’s Volunteer Reserve. However, they all soon transferred to the PAF in early August 1940 following the Anglo-Polish agreement, signed by both governments on 5 August 1940, to give separate independent status to the PAF. At the time of his death F/O Franciszek Gruszka was serving with the RAF’s 65 Squadron at Hornchurch and was shot down and killed during the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940. He was the seventh of the 31 operational PAF pilots killed during the Battle. The location of the crash site remained a mystery for over 33 years. However, from information in the book The Polish ‘Few’ by Peter Sikora, F/O Franciszek Gruszka’s Spitfire I R6713 and his remains were recovered from Grove Marsh, near Preston Village, Kent on the 15 April 1974. F/O Franciszek Gruszka was subsequently buried in grave H202 in Northwood Cemetery on 17 July 1975 with an RAF style headstone. It is thanks to the PAFMC’s historical adviser Wojtek Matusiak who indicated the incorrect headstone that enabled the PAFMC to submit a request to the CWGC to replace the headstone with the correct one of Polish style. Previous Article Next Article

Events 29 August 2026 Northolt Commemoration Ceremony 11.00 at the Polish Air Force Memorial, South Ruislip, HA4 6QX The annual and 65th Ceremony of Homage to Fallen Polish Airmen during the Second World War will be held at the Polish Air Force Memorial at South Ruislip on Saturday 29 August at 11.00. View More 20 September 2026 Thanksgiving Service for the 86th anniversary of the Battle of Britain 11.00 at Westminster Abbey, London, SW1P 3PA. "Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of battle would have been the same." - Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, Commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. View More 28 September 2025 Air Bridge Commemoration Service in remembrance of the casualties of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising British Commonwealth and Polish War Graves Cemetery, London Road, Newark, Notts. Guests and Standard Bearers assemble at Cemetery Gates 13.45. Procession to the Air Bridge Memorial 14.00. Remembrance Ceremony 14.15. View More 26 October 2025 All Souls' Ceremony in remembrance of the Polish Airmen who gave their lives in WW2. British Commonwealth and Polish War Graves Cemetery, London Road, Newark, Notts. 14.30. Guests and Standard Bearers assemble at the Thoresby Avenue entrance for the procession to the Polish War Graves Cemetery. View More

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

< Back BBMF Hurricane returns to Coningsby in Polish 303 Sqn colour scheme Aerial photo of Hurricane LF363 painted in 303 Squadron colours with the code letters RF-J. Photo Andy Weatherstone Hurricane LF363 over Coningsby in 303 Squadron colours with the code letters RF-J. Photo Andy Weatherstone On 26 September Sgt Tadeusz Andruszków flew V6665 and claimed a Dornier Do 17 destroyed. But the following day, flying the same aircraft, he was shot down over Horsham and killed and the Hurricane was destroyed. Andruszków was 19 years old and is buried in Northwood Cemetery, grave H-208. Aerial photo of Hurricane LF363 painted in 303 Squadron colours with the code letters RF-J. Photo Andy Weatherstone 1/17 19 Apr 2022 BBMF Hurricane returns to Coningsby in Polish 303 Sqn colour scheme The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Mk II Hurricane LF363 recently returned to Coningsby repainted in a new colour scheme to represent the Polish 303 Kościuszko Squadron’s Mk I Hurricane V6665, with the code letters RF-J, which flew during the Battle of Britain. The change of colour scheme formed part of the Hurricane’s Major maintenance programme carried out by The Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill) Ltd. This involved completely dismantling the aircraft and the meticulous inspection of all parts and components and refurbishing where needed, followed by reassembly, painting and ground testing. Following the successful post Major maintenance air test at Biggin Hill on the morning of 13 April, LF363 returned to Coningsby later in the day ready to rejoin the fleet for the coming display season. The BBMF likes to keep LF363 in a Battle of Britain colour scheme to commemorate the massive part played by Hurricanes during the Battle. After careful deliberation and research, it was decided that the aircraft would be painted to represent Mk I Hurricane V6665, ‘RF-J’, of 303 Kościuszko (Polish) Squadron, during September 1940. The Hurricane retains its actual military serial number LF363 and does not carry V6665. Hurricane V6665 was delivered to 303 Tadeusz Kościuszko City of Warsaw Squadron at RAF Northolt on 7 September 1940 and painted with the code letters RF-J. Two days later ‘A’ flight commander F/Lt Johnny Kent, flying this Hurricane, claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 110 destroyed and a Junkers Ju 88 probably destroyed. This Hurricane was also flown by Sgt Michał Brzezowski on 11 September when he claimed two Heinkel He 111s destroyed about 16.00. Brzezowski was the most successful pilot of V6665. Sadly he was shot down and killed four days later on 15 September. His Hurricane P3577, with the code RF-E, went into the sea and his body was never found. Brzezowski was the youngest Polish airman to participate in the Battle of Britain. On 26 September Sgt Tadeusz Andruszków flew V6665 and claimed a Dornier Do 17 destroyed. But the following day, flying the same aircraft, he was shot down at 16.30 over Horsham and killed and the Hurricane was destroyed. Sgt Tadeusz Andruszków was 19 years old and is buried in Northwood Cemetery, grave H-208. Hurricane V6665 was one of three in 303 Squadron painted with a red diagonal sash on the rear fuselage as an experimental identification marking. It also carried the 303 Squadron badge on both sides of the upper fuselage beneath the aerial mast. The Polish 303 Squadron, flying Hurricanes from RAF Northolt, was the most successful squadron in the Battle with 126 confirmed victories, achieved in just six weeks of the 16-week Battle period for the loss of eight pilots, six from aerial combat. The BBMF has said that Hurricane LF363 will allow the BBMF to tell the story of 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, its Polish pilots and its Canadian RAF flight commander F/Lt Johnny Kent. Previous Next

RAF Ingham Heritage Centre Newsletter 1/1 3 October RAF Ingham Heritage Centre Newsletter The RAF Ingham Heritage Centre has published the latest edition of its Newsletter the Ingham White Eagle Ingham White Eagle - Summer 2021 .pdf Download PDF Previous Article Next Article