Pilot

The Defender Returns: Legendary Spitfire flown by WWII Polish pilots makes sentimental journey back to its wartime home

The Spitfire BM597 served with the 315 (City of Dęblin) squadron and the 317 (City of Wilno) squadron, part of the Polish Air Force under the command of the Royal Air Force from RAF Woodvale in Southport, the plane’s home of operations, but served mainly in the North-West from a base in Blackpool, the home of the Polish Airforce during WWII. lan Wilson/CC A-S 2.0

The Spitfire BM597 served with the 315 (City of Dęblin) squadron and the 317 (City of Wilno) squadron, part of the Polish Air Force under the command of the Royal Air Force from RAF Woodvale in Southport, the plane’s home of operations, but served mainly in the North-West from a base in Blackpool, the home of the Polish Airforce during WWII.

Rare ‘Caterpillar Club’ pin awarded to Spitfire Ace who helped pioneer The Great Escape up for auction

The 19mm-long, nine-carat gold Caterpillar Club Irvin pin, with red amethyst eyes was awarded to Captain Stanisław Król before he was executed by the Gestapo.

UK memorial to Polish pilots gets upgrade to mark 80th anniversary of Battle of Britain

The memorial commemorates the Polish “Few” and the 1,900 Poles who lost their lives in the air war.

Polish airmen who fought in the Battle of Britain honoured in London

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Polish Ambassador to England Arkady Rzegocki in London on Monday paid tribute to Polish fighter pilots who, during World War Two, fought in the Battle of Britain, the Foreign Ministry has said.

Polish F-16 pilots escort US bomber flight over Poland – minister

For the second time this month, Polish F-16 pilots have escorted the flight of a US B-1B bomber over Poland, Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak has written on Twitter.

Pilot, spy and decorated underground officer who was later jailed by the Soviets, Kazimierz Leski died 20 years ago today

Born in Warsaw in 1912, the life of Kazimierz Leski who went on to head up the counter-espionage activities of the ultra secretive Musketeers resistance group, is still relatively unknown.

Hero bomber pilot killed by coronavirus at age of 102

Mieczysław Stachiewicz was one of the last surviving Polish airmen who saw action over enemy territory during the war.

Poland’s most outstanding WWII flying ace sentenced to death by Stalinist kangaroo court 70 years ago today

Dubbed ‘Flying Death’ by the Germans, Stanisław Skalski saw action in Poland following the outbreak of war, later becoming the first Pole to command an RAF squadron. Miraculously avoiding death twice, after the war it seemed his luck had run out when he was arrested by the secret police on trumped up charges of espionage, tortured for over a year and then sentenced to be executed. But again, he survived.

Warsaw Air Bridge hero remembered: last British pilot to drop supplies to Uprising insurgents dies aged 95

Dubbed “a true friend of Poland” by the Polish ambassador in London, Jim Auton, a bomb aimer serving in 178 Squadron, took part in perilous missions to keep Polish combatants equipped during the ’44 Uprising.

Hitting the heights: photo album of Polish wartime pilot goes for a bomb

The rare photos provide fascinating snapshots on the life of a front-line pilot who took the fight to the Nazis.

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