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The Valiant Fighters a Large Number of Polish Expats Polish Pilots

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The Valiant Fighters a Large Number of Polish Expats Polish Pilots OCTOBER / NR 233 PUBLISHED EVERY THREE MONTHS The Valiant Fighters A large number of Polish expats Polish pilots. Flight Lieutenant John A Kent, One pilot, Sergeant Antoni Glowacki of attend our November Remembrance who was later posted to 303 (Polish) Fighter No. 501 Squadron RAF, claimed five enemy ceremony at Amsterdam, where there Squadron during the Battle of Britain, wrote bombers shot down in three combat sorties are 18 graves of Polish aircrew. at the time: ‘All I knew about the Polish Air on 24th August 1940. During the Battle of It is interesting to know that the Force was that it had only lasted Britain, a total of 145 experienced about three days against the Polish airman fought Poles played an important role in Luftwaffe, and I had no reason in the conflict – the the Royal Air Force’s war against the to suppose that they would largest non-British Luftwaffe, as you can read below. shine any more brightly opera- contingent. Sadly, 31 Poland was invaded by the German ting from England’. Polish pilots died in Army on September 1st 1939. The Polish As Fighter Command the conflict. Four Polish armed forces put up a valiant fight but the casualties mounted over the officers were awarded odds were stacked against them - they were summer and it ran out of ne- the Distinguished Flying outnumbered and outmatched by the well wly trained pilots, the military Cross. trained and equipped German forces. After chiefs turned to the Poles, The C in C of Figh- their country’s defeat, tens of thousands of who were keen to fight ter Command ACM Polish servicemen made their way to France. against the Nazis, and in July Sir Hugh Dowding later It was there that the Polish Air Force was and August, two of the first commented: recreated and established under the Com- Polish fighter squadrons, “Had it not been for the mand of the Commander in Chief, General Nos. 302 and 303, were magnificent work of the Wladyslaw Sikorski. But after the German established. Polish pilots in RAF squadrons Continuation on page 2 invasion of and fall of France, the first Polish played a substantial role in all operati- REGULAR ITEMS pilots reached Britain on December 8th ons against the Luftwaffe; 303 Squadron Announcements Page 3 1939. By June 1940 the number of Polish (nicknamed the Kosciuszko squadron after Chairman’s Chat Page 3 airmen on British soil had reached 2,164, an 18th century Polish general), achieved Coming Events Page 6 eventually swelling to 8,384. The British were the highest number of victories (126) of all at first doubtful about the flying skills of the fighter squadrons involved in the battle. Club Limburg News Page 7 1 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2020 Polish Squadrons and their unsurpassed gal- many more. PAF bombers flew 11,700 lantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of sorties, dropping 15,000 tons of bombs and the battle would have been the same.” mines. Polish crews flew 18,000 ferry flights, Polish fighter pilots became instant cele- transported 24,400 people and 1,300 tons brities with all classes of British society. Wai- of cargo. ters refused to take payments for their meals The PAF flew 1,300 special duty opera- in restaurants, bar owners paid for their tional flights. A total of 1,900 Polish airmen drinks and bus conductors allowed them were killed and more than 300 became free journeys. Polish combat losses during prisoners of war. the war were replenished by volunteers of Polish origin in the United States, Canada, South America and other countries. By the end of the war a total of 19,500 Poles served in the Air Force. This figure does not include the1,436 women who served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. The Po- lish Air Force (PAF) also set up schools for aircrew, me- chanics and two technical apprentices’ schools, one in England at RAF Halton and the other in Egypt. After the Battle of Britain, the Polish Air Force continued to serve alongside the RAF with bombers over Germany, in Coastal Command against submarines, with fighters supporting land operations and against VI flying bombs, until the last day of the war. By early 1941 the PAF listed 13 units – eight Members of the Polish fighter squadron at rest between operations fighter, four bomber and one reconnaissance After VE day, Sir Archibald Sinclair, The squadron. In 1943 and 1944 a further two British Air Minister, wrote: observation squadrons were formed. The “We do not forget that you were the first PAF fought in Tunisia in 1943 with the Polish to resist the aggressor. Neither do we Fighting Team (nicknamed “Sklaski’s Circus). forget that you came after trials to our In late 1941 and early 1942 Polish bomber aid when we most needed help. Your amounted to a sixth of forces available to valiant squadrons fighting alongside our Bomber Command. Sadly, they later suffered own were in the forefront of the Battle of heavy losses- a total of 929 Bomber Com- Britain and so helpful to restore the fortu- mand Poles were killed. nes of the Allies throughout the years of During the Warsaw Uprising, British, struggle. In good times and bad you have South African and Polish special duties stood by us and shared with the RAF their squadrons delivered weapons and supplies losses and their victories”. to the resistance but when their aircraft were Sadly, for fear of upsetting Stalin, the prevented from landing on Soviet airfields all incoming Labour government banned Polish flights were cancelled except those by the units from the official victory parade of Al- lied servicemen in London. The historian Polish 301 Special Duties Squadron which Zamoyski wrote: “From being indispensable, continued, earning them the name “Defen- they were suddenly redundant. The risks they ders of Warsaw”. took and the sacrifices they made were ne- From August 1940 to May 1945, PAF ver fully understood, let alone appreciated”. fighters flew in excess of 73,500 sorties, Source: destroying 762 enemy aircraft, and damaging Imperial War Museum/wikipaedia/House of Commons Library 2 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN OCTOBER 2020 The Royal Air Forces Association Announcements The Chairman’s Chat The British Consulate-General Amsterdam has moved to the British Embassy in The Hague. This bulletin is not the same as the bulletins of the past as, unfortu- The new address of the Consulate is: British Embassy nately, there is not a lot to write about. This made me think about the changes that Lange Voorhout 10 have taken place since I have been involved with the publication of the Branch bul- 2514 ED The Hague Telephone: 0031 (0)70 -427 04 27 letins from 1982. Originally, I was responsible for the mailing; thereafter I gradually British Nationals wishing to contact took on more tasks, such as printing, writing and in addition, these days, sending the Consulate, are requested to use the website enquiry page: the bulletin to members with email addresses. www.contactembasy.service.gov. From typewriting and stencilling in the early days to the product we have today has been achieved by using various developments such as word processors and compu- ter programmes. Some of the computer programmes I have been able to keep up The future of with, but I must admit that the IT being used these days has me baffled. For today’s the Branch As a result of the article in Bulletin RAFA I am expected to be able to use a number of programmes with names such as 232, and the appeal in the letter which was sent to all members resident in Cloud, Zoom, Huddle, Datumprikker, Survey Monkey and many more, but I just can’t Holland, we have had a number of keep up with all of them. I have recently taken part in virtual meetings, which I did reactions, several of which were most positive. not like at all as I much prefer the face to face meetings. I have to conclude that Fortunately, therefore, several mem- as this is the way things are developing, then I feel my announcement that I will bers have come forward to offer their services for key roles on the committee, not seek re-election as Chairman and Treasurer, is justified. The time has come for but we still need a couple more to serve someone with modern ideas to take over the reins, and to that end I still appeal for on the committee in order to secure the continuation of the Branch. members to come forward to take on the various tasks that will become vacant at We urgently next year’s AGM. need your help with this, or your suggestions Covid-19 has caused many problems for the Association and our branch hasn’t been of anyone who could make this commitment. spared. All the events and meetings we planned for this year have had to be can- celled. As it is highly unlikely that the situation will change soon, we have, albeit reluctantly, had to cancel the Annual Remembrance Ceremony at the Amsterdam De Nieuwe Ooster Cemetery in November, the first time since 1972. However, the com- mittee will place a wreath to honour and remember those who paid the ultimate price for the freedom we enjoy today. Finally, these are very strange and difficult times, the likes of which I have never ever experienced before, not even during the war years. So please, together with your loved ones, stay safe. Hopefully things will We record with sadness the passing of the following Life Members: return to normal before too long and that we Mr F A Asselbergs - Ulvenhout Mr J C Hoedeman - Zeist will be able to celebrate Christmas and enjoy Mr J Lee - Eastbourne, England Dame Vera Lynn - Ditchling, England a happy Covid free 2021.
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