Hope this is the right place for this query. I have just moved to a new town, and had a look at the local war memorial. I have noted a "Polish Airforce Section", with around six names in it. How common is it for members of the Free Polish airforce to be included on an English towns war memorial?
Pretty uncommon I would have said, Tony. I have never seen this before - they must have been well thought of in your new town. Was there an airforce base nearby?
Paul Yes, there was/is an RAF base just outside of Southport. I have asked around, and the name I have been given is RAF Woodford, I think. I need to check a map! Like you I have never seen the names of Free European forces on a British memorial. I also came to the conclusion that they were very popular in the area, and killed whilst flying from the local RAF aerodrome. For the record, details are as follows: Polish Air Force Fiedorczyk E. Sgt. Kowalski Z. F/Sgt. Krawczynski E. F/O Nawrocki T. Sgt. Sawiak B.J. F/O Wesolowski M.J. S/Ldr. Maybe, given the names, someone will know more?
Originally posted by BeppoSapone@Mar 20 2004, 11:03 AM Paul Yes, there was/is an RAF base just outside of Southport. I have asked around, and the name I have been given is RAF Woodford, I think. I need to check a map! I have now looked into it and find that it was RAF Woodvale, not RAF Woodford, the perils of oral history! I have also found this: http://www.geocities.com/skrzydla1/308/308_part4.html
Hello one and all, My first post here... In Belfasts milltown cemetary theres half a dozen graves of Polish airmen...I've a pic here if anyone wants it posted. cheers Mark
Originally posted by markinbelfast@Mar 26 2004, 12:23 PM Hello one and all, My first post here... In Belfasts milltown cemetary theres half a dozen graves of Polish airmen...I've a pic here if anyone wants it posted. cheers Mark Mark...i believe some Poles flew out of Ballywalter during WW2. Alan in Coleraine.
This is interesting that polish airmen are being honoured on a war memorial and I am really curious now, not that I have a problem with it but there must be a story behind this that led to them being put there. Which town is the memorial in Tony?
Originally posted by Lee Wisener@Apr 10 2004, 06:53 PM This is interesting that polish airmen are being honoured on a war memorial and I am really curious now, not that I have a problem with it but there must be a story behind this that led to them being put there. Which town is the memorial in Tony? Lee The town is Southport, and it looks as if at least some of the Poles were Spitfire pilots of 308 “City of Krakow” Fighter Squadron flying out of RAF Woodvale. Using one of the names of the dead airmen, plus a few related words I came up with a history of one of this squadron involved (via Google) - see here. Replace the "4" after 'part' with a '1' to read the history from the beginning You will see that the history mentions Polish pilots doing acrobatics over their sweethearts houses in Southport. I have also found out that quite a few Poles married local girls, and their people still live here. A local club has a Polish night once a week etc. http://www.geocities.com/skrzydla1/308/308_part4.html Cheers Tony
Beppo In case you didn't see my answer in the 'other war', here it is again. They are buried as follows, all together... FORMBY (OUR LADY OF COMPASSION) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHYARD - Lancashire FIEDORCZUK, Airman, EUGENIUSZ, P0328. Polish Air Force. 15th August 1942. Age 23. Grave G.A.17 KOWALSKI, Airman, ZYGMUNT, 780689. Polish Air Force. 21st March 1944. Age 22. Grave H.B.2 KRAWCZYNSKI, Airman, EDMUND, P.0761. Polish Air Force. 21st December 1941. Age 28. Grave G.A.Joint 15 NAWROCKI, Airman, TADEUSZ T, P784110. Polish Air Force. 19th July 1942. Age 28. Grave G.A.16 SAWIAK, Airman, BOLESLAW JOZEF, P.0867. Polish Air Force. 23rd August 1942. Age 23. Grave G.A.18 WESOLOWSKI, Airman, MARIAN JAN, P.0603. Commander 308 Sqdn. Polish Air Force. 9th January 1942. Age 28. Grave G.A.Joint 15
Originally posted by Terry Denham@Apr 11 2004, 06:16 PM Beppo In case you didn't see my answer in the 'other war', here it is again. They are buried as follows, all together... FORMBY (OUR LADY OF COMPASSION) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHYARD - Lancashire FIEDORCZUK, Airman, EUGENIUSZ, P0328. Polish Air Force. 15th August 1942. Age 23. Grave G.A.17 KOWALSKI, Airman, ZYGMUNT, 780689. Polish Air Force. 21st March 1944. Age 22. Grave H.B.2 KRAWCZYNSKI, Airman, EDMUND, P.0761. Polish Air Force. 21st December 1941. Age 28. Grave G.A.Joint 15 NAWROCKI, Airman, TADEUSZ T, P784110. Polish Air Force. 19th July 1942. Age 28. Grave G.A.16 SAWIAK, Airman, BOLESLAW JOZEF, P.0867. Polish Air Force. 23rd August 1942. Age 23. Grave G.A.18 WESOLOWSKI, Airman, MARIAN JAN, P.0603. Commander 308 Sqdn. Polish Air Force. 9th January 1942. Age 28. Grave G.A.Joint 15 Thanks for that Terry The dates of death, and place of burial, are interesting. It now looks as if only Marian Wesolowski and Jan Krawczynski were in 308 “City of Krakow” Fighter Squadron, as the unit moved south to Exeter on April 1, 1942. I assume that other Polish units were based at RAF Woodvale later in the war, and will now see what I can find out about this.
