< 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

< Back Memorial to Sgt Josef František VM KW & 3 Bars ČVK DFM & Bar. Sgt Josef František RAF Northolt September 1940. Photo courtesy Wojtek Matusiak. Sgt Josef František next to Hurricane V7289 with 303 Sqn Code RF-S at RAF Northolt September 1940. Photo courtesy Wojtek Matusiak. A colour illustration of 303Sqn Hurricane R4175 RF-R, courtesy of Robert Gretzyngier. Sgt Josef František RAF Northolt September 1940. Photo courtesy Wojtek Matusiak. 1/6 6 Jun 2022 Memorial to Sgt Josef František VM KW & 3 Bars ČVK DFM & Bar. The Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, together with the Embassies of the Republic of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic are delighted to announce that a Memorial to the Czechoslovak pilot Sergeant Josef František, flying with 303 Polish Squadron during the Battle of Britain, will be unveiled later this year close to where he lost his life on the 8th October 1940. The crash site is now part of the Priest Hill Nature Reserve, Epsom, Surrey. It is one of the 6,500 hectares of nature reserves under the stewardship of the Surrey Wildlife Trust, which has kindly granted permission to place the Memorial. It will be located next to a public footpath and near to the crash site. The PAFMC is funding the entire cost of the Memorial. Sgt František was one of the most successful pilots in the Battle of Britain credited with destroying 17 enemy aircraft and one probably destroyed. He was decorated with the Polish Virtuti Militari and Krzyż Walecznych (Cross of Valour) and three bars, posthumously the Czechoslovak Československý válečný kříž 1939 (Czechoslovak War Cross 1939) and the British Distinguished Flying Medal and bar. Sgt František was returning to his base at RAF Northolt from an uneventful routine patrol with 11 other squadron colleagues led by its British commander Sq/Ldr Ronald Kellett. Approaching the area of the Staines Reservoirs Sgt František was seen to veer off to the east and did not respond to radio communication. His Hurricane R4175 Code RF-R crashed onto flat farmland and Sgt František was killed. This was the day after his 26th birthday. The circumstances surrounding this incident were a cause of great concern to the Squadron at the time and the reason for his leaving formation, and the subsequent ill-fated attempted landing, remain a complete mystery and unlikely ever to be solved. Sgt Josef František is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission area at Northwood Cemetery grave H 246. The Chairman of the PAFMC Richard Kornicki commented: “It is a privilege for us to be able to create a lasting Memorial to Sgt František at the spot 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. We are very grateful to the Surrey Wildlife Trust and to the Polish, Czech and Slovak Embassies for their support and co-operation”. The Memorial to Sgt Josef František has been made possible by the extensive detective work of aviation enthusiast Lewis Shelley and Polish Air Force historian and author Peter Sikora. They have spent many years researching and investigating the incident, which included an eyewitness account and are confident the crash site has finally been authoritatively located. More details will be released nearer the date of the Memorial unveiling. Previous Next

< Back Polish Day in the North West 1/1 7 Mar 2022 Polish Day in the North West On Saturday 12 March, to mark the last day of the Polish Air Force Exhibition at The Aktinson in Southport, a special day of Polish events, foods and crafts has been organised, culminating in a Chopin recital recreating an event held there in 1943 to raise awareness of the Polish war effort. All are welcome. Previous Next

80th anniversary of PAF Standard handover. 1/4 16 July 80th anniversary of PAF Standard handover. On this day 80 years ago 16 July 1941 the Polish Air Force Standard was presented to 300 Bomber Squadron at RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire, so completing its long journey from Wilno (now Vilnius, Lithuania) to the Polish Air Force in Britain. The Standard was embroidered in secret and once completed, it was smuggled out of Wilno in the Japanese diplomatic bag to Stockholm, from where it was brought to Britain. In the presence of the President of the Republic of Poland Władysław Raczkiewicz and other Polish and British dignitaries, the honour of initially delivering the Standard was given to its creator kpt. Jan Hryniewicz. He handed it to retired General Lucjan Żeligowski for passing to Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces General Władysław Sikorski. Following a short speech General Władysław Sikorski formally presented the Standard to the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Air Force Brigadier General Stanisław Ujejski, so finally completing its journey from Wilno to the Polish Air Force. He then handed it to the commander of 300 (Polish) Land of Masovia squadron W/Cdr Wacław Makowski, who in turn presented it to a 300 Squadron Standard bearer for parading at the ceremony. The hangar doors, which formed the backdrop to the handover ceremony and painted with PAF emblems, have been salvaged and will go on display at the RAF Ingham Heritage Centre, ( https://www.rafingham.co.uk ) the home of the Polish Bomber squadrons. The Standard was held initially by 300 Squadron and then successively passed in turn to the majority of the Polish squadrons that served alongside the RAF until the end of the war. In 1992, after the fall of communism in Poland and the first free elections, the Standard was returned to Poland. On 4 September, during the first world reunion of Polish Airmen on Polish soil, the Standard was handed back in a ceremony in Piłsudski Square, in front of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in the heart of Warsaw. Being too fragile for future parading it is on display at the Polish Air Force Museum, Dęblin. With the personal support of the Commander of the Polish Air Force, Lt. Gen. Lech Majewski, a replica of the Standard was produced in Poland. On the 27 August 2012, twenty years after the original was returned to Poland, the replica was handed over by Lt. Gen. Lech Majewski to the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee at a ceremony in Warsaw, and marched off the parade ground by a colour party of the RAF Queen’s Colour Squadron. The replica Standard is now part of the Polish Air Force exhibition at the Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge, and is paraded at the annual ceremony at the Polish Air Force Memorial at Northolt, and at other commemorative events. Previous Article Next Article

< Back Unveiling stained glass window commemorating 309 (Polish) Squadron. The commemorative stained glass window was unveiled by Marta Flavin, granddaughter of W/Cdr Karol Zygmunt Pistl, the first commanding officer of 309Sqn. The Historic Aircraft Collection’s Spitfire, BM597, flown by Clive Denney, landed and taxied onto the apron to applause from the large delighted crowd. 1/7 6 Oct 2022 Unveiling Stained Glass Window commemorating 309 (Polish) Squadron. The first and only permanent memorial to those airmen and ground crew of 309 (Polish) Squadron was unveiled at Saling Airfield, formerly RAF Andrews Field, on Sunday 25th September. The commemorative stained-glass window was commissioned by the family of the first Polish Commanding Officer of 309 (Polish) “Ziemia Czerwieńska” Squadron, W Cdr Karol Zygmunt Pistl. The family are his granddaughter Marta Flavin (neé Pistl) her husband Shay Flavin and great-grandsons Matthew and Nicholas Flavin. Of the family, only Marta and Shay came to the UK to unveil the commemorative window. The memorial stained glass window, representing the squadron emblem, was designed and produced by artist Angi Driver who attended the ceremony. Also attending the ceremony was Polish Air Force Memorial Committee chairman Richard Kornicki CBE DL, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Committee. Joe Pietrzak, the grandson of Sqn Ldr Henryk Pietrzak also attended. Sqn Ldr Pietrzak was the last Commanding Officer of 309 Squadron, taking command in July 1945, at RAF Andrews Field and leading the squadron until January 1947 when it was disbanded at RAF Coltishall. After the ceremony, Spitfire Vc, BM597, flown by Clive Denney landed and taxied onto the apron by the clubhouse to spontaneous applause from the large delighted crowd. This Spitfire is part of the Historic Aircraft Collection based at Duxford and our thanks go to the owner and to Derek Rusling from the Polish Heritage Flight for enabling the aircraft to be brought to Saling Airfield, near Braintree, Essex. This Spitfire served with 315 and 317 Polish Squadrons during 1942 and currently wears the colours of 317 Squadron. While in 315 Squadron, it was flown by Richard Kornicki’s father, General Franciszek Kornicki during 1942. This is probably the first time that a Polish Air Force aircraft landed at Andrews Field since the station closed at the end of 1945. Thanks also to Mike Rowland, Carol Cooper (the directors of Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd.), and several sponsors who enabled this day to happen. The research and organisation of the day was by Tad Dippel, Operations at Andrewsfield. All photos courtesy Jason Gore Photography. Karol Zygmunt Pistl (17 May 1897 – 20 November 1981) Karol Zygmunt Pistl was born in Przemyśl, Poland. At the age of 10 he was sent to the Austrian Military School in Vienna and from that time it could be said that he had started his military career. He fought with the Austrian army during the First World War on the Italian front and was taken prisoner in November 1918. On release and return to Poland in March 1919 he enlisted in the Polish Army as a Lieutenant. Soon after he was again at war, this time with the Russians until May 1920. He then transferred to the Polish Air Force, gaining his “wings” in 1926. When the Second World War broke out, he had gained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was deputy commander of the 1st Air Regiment in Warsaw. On 17 September 1939 he was ordered to travel to Romania where he worked in the Polish Embassy in Bucharest. There he organised the transfer of Polish airmen to France. He left Romania in February 1940, travelling to France, where he served in the Polish Aviation Training Centre in Lyon-Bron until the fall of France in June 1940. He arrived in the UK with the Polish Air Force on 17 July 1940 and went to Renfrew, Scotland, where he assumed the post of Commanding Officer of the newly formed 309 (Polish) Squadron on 20 November 1940 in the RAF rank of Wing Commander. He remained with 309 Squadron until 14 February 1943. He was then posted to the Inspectorate General of the Polish Air Force in London where he served as a liaison officer until November 1945. He remained at the Headquarters until June 1947 when he enlisted into the Polish Resettlement Corps, finally being discharged in June 1949. He did not return to Poland remaining in London where, for a time, he was president of the London Branch of the Association of Polish Airmen. During this period, he received, in May 1975, the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. He died on 20 November 1981. No. 309 (Polish) “Ziemia Czerwieńska” Squadron, Polish Air Force No 309 (Polish) Squadron was formed on 8 October 1940 at RAF Abbotsnitch, (now Glasgow airport) soon moving to RAF Renfrew. The Squadron was formed as an Army Co-Operation Unit, consisting of both English and Polish personnel. Its first Commanding Officer was W/Cdr N.W.F Mason to be followed by W/Cdr Zygmunt Pistl on 20 November 1940. Polish flying personnel started arriving, mainly from Blackpool, from 12 November 1940. Their experience ranged from 300 – 3,000 hrs and most had not flown for six months to two years. By the end of November two Tiger Moths had arrived and refresher training started for the Polish crews. The initial primary equipment of the squadron was the Westland Lysander III, a two-seater aircraft armed with machine guns and light bomb racks. In the Spring of 1942, after conversion training at RAF Gatwick, the Squadron was redesignated a Fighter Squadron and re-equipped with the Mustang I. Wing Commander Pistl relinquished command of the unit on 14 February 1943 and was replaced by (Acting) Wing Commander Piotrowski. The Squadron had further changes in role and equipment but by September 1944, had become a fully-fledged fighter Squadron. In December 1944, the Squadron received orders to move to RAF Andrews Field from RAF Peterhead and became part of No 133 Wing. The aircraft, Mustang III’s, departed RAF Peterhead on 12 December, but it was not to fully arrive until 17th December due to poor weather. At RAF Andrews Field, the primary role of 309 (Polish) Squadron was daytime bomber escort, flying missions alongside RAF heavy bombers to targets in Europe and into Germany. On one such mission, on 9 April 1945, near Hamburg, Flt/Lts Gorzula and Mencel together with W/O Murkowski destroyed three Me 262s and W/O Murkowski damaging a fourth Me 262. 309 Squadron remained at RAF Andrews Field until 10 August 1945, moving to RAF Coltishall. It stayed there until disbandment on 6 January 1947, one of the last Polish Squadrons remaining operational. Tadeusz Dippel Operations Andrewsfield. 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

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