A special exhibition will take place at Exeter Guildhall between Monday 11 November and Saturday 16 Novemer 2013.

The event will honour the members of 307 (Polish) Squadron RAF who protected the skies over Exeter during the Second World War and were described as Exeter's Guardian Angels.

Local historian, Michael Parrott, who is also a "Friend" of Higher Cemetery, was researching the history of the cemetery's two chapels when he was shown a wooden memorial to a 307 Pilot tucked away on the wall of an unused corner of one of the chapels.

He managed to obtain a translation of the memorial dedicated to Kazimierz Jaworksi and this led to further research on the night fighter squadron that defended the skies over Exeter and the surrounding area between 1941 and 1943. During the Blitz of Exeter the outnumbered Polish crews fought bravely against their enemy and had it not been for their presence then the city would have suffered more devastation and almost certainly more people would have been killed.

Four Luftwaffe Junkers bombers were shot down on the main night of the blitz. During the two years at Exeter, 21 of the squadron paid the ultimate sacrafice and 19 are buried at Higher Cemetery.

Michael found in his investigations newspaper articles that described an important event that took place outside the West Front of the Cathedral on 15 November 1942, when Exeter became the first British city to be presented with the Polish National Flag due to the close links that the squadron and the city had formed.

The Polish Flag was blessed by the Bishop of Exeter and then the squadron leader presented the flag to the Lord Mayor of Exeter.

The Squadron Leader said of the flag: "May be it a demonstration of our friendship, may we express our gratitude to the citizens of Exeter for many a proof of friendship which you have given us. May this flag you are about to receive be an outward sign of the tie which united our two nations. May it remind the people of Exeter when the war is over that at one time Poles and Devonians fought and died for the same cause."

The mayor, accepting the flag, said: "The Norman towers of the Cathedral had looked down upon man scenes and changes in the last 800 years, but never had they witnessed a ceremony of greater significance. We shall proudly hang this flag in our Guildhall to remind future generations of what Poland did for us and gave for us in the darkest hours through which this country of ours has passed. May this flag ever be a symbol of our friendship and of the brotherhood of all nations of goodwill."

Michael enquired with the city council as to whether the flag was still at the Guildhall or if it had been mislaid over a period of 70 years. He also suggested that if it had been mislaid then perhaps November 2012 would be a good time to correct the situation.

Exeter City Council have investigated and indeed the whereabouts of the flag over three generations is unknown. They took on board Michael's suggestion and together the Lord Mayor's Office and Michael worked together so that a special event was able to take place last year exactly 70 years after the Polish Flag Ceremony.

At the Guildhall a new Polish flag was blessed by the Lord Mayor's Chaplain, and then in the presence of the Lord Mayor, the Chief Executive and the Leader of City Council, four relatives of squadron personnel and special guests, the Polish flag was raised over the Guildhall for the day, which in Exeter was named 307 Polish Squadron Day.  An exhibition that has been made by Michael was on display for three days.

Every year from now, 15 November will be 307 Polish Squadron Day in Exeter where the Polish flag will proudly fly over the Guildhall.

This year, on Friday 15 November, like every 15 November from now on, will be RAF 307 Squadron Day in Exeter and the Lord Mayor will raise the Polish flag over the Guidhall.

During his research, Michael has written a book about the Polish squadron titled Exeter's Guardian Angels.  The book, published by Precious Moments in Exeter, is available from the author for £14.99 plus P&P, from the Tourist Information Centre (Paris Street) and the shop at Powderham Castle.

The exhibition is open from Monday 11 November to Wednesday 13 November, 10am-4pm; Thursday 14 November, 1pm-4pm; and Friday 15 November and Saturday 16 November, 10am-4pm.