“The contribution of the 145 Polish fighter pilots to the Battle of Britain, who fought in the 302 and 303 Polish squadrons and in British units, is the source of real pride for Poland and the Polish community in the UK. After the British, Poles were the second nationality group among Allied pilots. We feel honoured to be able to commemorate their sacrifice ‘for our freedom and yours’ with our project,” said Polish Ambassador to the UK Witold Sobków.
As part of the project, the Polish Embassy in London had a historic Hurricane painted in 303 Squadron colours. Together with a historic Spitfire aircraft from the 317 squadron, it will feature in this season’s air shows. Owned by Historic Aircraft Collection Ltd, both aircraft bearing the Polish insignia was for the first time presented during an open day at a base in Northolt on 13th of June.
The Spitfire in question is one of the original aircraft used by Polish airmen of the 315 and 317 squadrons after the Battle of Britain ended. Colonel Franciszek Kornicki, the last surviving commander of a Polish squadron from WWII time, would fly this aircraft on combat missions, and will a have a chance to sit in its cockpit again on Saturday.
Historic aircraft with the Polish emblems will be a part of a permanent exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford and will appear in air shows scheduled for summer 2015.
More information about the #BoBPoles project is available on the Facebook, Twitter and YouTube profiles of the Polish Embassy in London until the end of October.
Information about the Polish contribution to the Battle of Britain is available also on the Poland and Poles in WWII website.
Source: the Polish Embassy in London
Photo © Hurricane RE-E P3700 /MFA
