Commemoration service honours Polish airmen's contribution to Allied victory in WW2

The annual Commemoration of Fallen Polish Airmen took place under partly cloudy skies at the Polish Air Force Memorial in South Ruislip.

The 63rd iteration of the event, organised by the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee (PAFMC), drew a large crowd of dignitaries, veterans, descendants, and members of the public to pay tribute to the Polish airmen who fought alongside the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

A Spitfire from the Polish Heritage Flight's Historic Aircraft Collection, painted in the colours of the Polish 302 Squadron, flew over the memorial as part of the tribute.

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The ceremony, conducted in both English and Polish, began with the marching in of the replica Polish Air Force Standard by officer cadets from the Polish Air Force University in Dęblin, alongside the Silk Ensign of the RAF.

Polish units flew alongside the RAF from 1940 to 1945, contributing significantly to the Allied war effort.

PAFMC chairman Krzysztof de Berg delivered the opening address, followed by the Polish Roll-Call of the Fallen, carried out by the Polish Air Force officer cadets.

After prayers were offered in Polish, invited dignitaries laid wreaths, followed by veterans and descendants of the Polish squadrons and units commemorated on the memorial.

Piotr Wilczek, the Polish Ambassador to the UK said he was honoured the event.

"We remember with deep gratitude the bravery and sacrifice of the Polish heroes who fought for freedom in the skies during WWII. Their legacy lives on," he said in a post on X.

The chaplain of RAF Northolt led the concluding prayers, followed by the Last Post, a minute's silence, and the Reveille.

The ceremony concluded with the national anthems of Poland and the United Kingdom, followed by the playing of White Roses, a traditional Polish song.

As the official ceremony ended, personal wreaths were laid by those wishing to pay their respects.

The PAFMC has been organising this annual ceremony since 2011, succeeding the Polish Air Force Association Charitable Trust, which was dissolved at the end of 2010.