Polish war heroes remembered

More than 70 years after Exeter was protected by the Polish night fighters of 307 Squadron, two residents, Michael Parrott and Marcin Piórkowski laid a wreath on behalf of 307 Squadron at the Polish Memorial national ceremony at RAF Northolt.

In the last 12 months the two men have established a non-profit British-Polish organisation, ‘307 Squadron Project’ to both further research and promote the role of the squadron, as well as showing an example of British-Polish co-operation both in the war and today.

The ceremony, which took place on Saturday (13th September), is organised by the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee which maintains the memory of the Polish Air Force in the UK.

To mark the 70th Anniversary of the Warsaw Rising, for the first time wreaths were laid by the descendants of airmen who lost their lives flying supplies to the Home Army during the Rising.

Wreaths were also be laid by representatives of the Polish and British governments, local authorities, the Polish Air Force and the Royal Air Force.

Veterans of individual squadrons, their descendants, or representatives like Michael and Marcin, laid wreaths for each Polish squadron that flew alongside the Royal Air Force from 1940 to 1945.

The replica of the wartime Standard of the Polish Air Force was paraded and the ceremony also featured a fly-past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a detachment of Officer Cadets from the Polish Air Force Academy at Dęblin in Poland, trumpeter and drummer from the Central Band of the RAF, and the band of the Middlesex Wing of the Air Training Corps.

The flag was to be kept in the Guildhall for ever so that future generations would be aware of how the squadron, plus other Polish members of the RAF, helped protect Britain during the war.

Michael Parrott said, “Ever since I inadvertently stumbled across details of 307 Squadron it has been an amazing journey of discovery, and thanks to Marcin who is easily able to translate Polish text, it means that not only will the journey continue, we will be able to promote the project and the squadron so that as many people are aware of what these brave men did for British freedom.

“The project is a also an extremely positive link between our two nations, especially with so many Poles living here. It will also hopefully counter the incorrect view of a minority in respect of the Polish. We are very proud to be part of this venture”.

A website for the project has now been formed and the address is www.307squadron.org.