Gallery – Polish Air Force

Postcard of ship that took 2,000 Poles from Mumbai (Bombay) to Greenock, Scotland for RAF training (Feb.28, 1943 - Mar. 29, 1943). In peace-time the liner carried 700 passengers but this trip held about five thousand on board.

During WWII

India

Mumbai

Polish Air Force in the UK

"Willy Woodbine" cigarettes were issued free in Deolali, India along with a booklet of English and Hindu phrases.

During WWII

India

World map of Roman's odyssey from Stryj, Poland, and conscription into the Russian Army, to Anders' Army and joining pilot training with the RAF in the UK and Canada.

During WWII

Conscripted into the Red Army

Postcard purchased while en route from Iran to the UK (RAF pilot training). New sights along the way.

During WWII

Postcard purchased while en route from Iran to the UK (RAF pilot training). New sights along the way.

During WWII

Postcard purchased while en route from Iran to the UK (RAF pilot training).

During WWII

Postcard purchased while en route from Iran to the UK (RAF pilot training).

During WWII

Postcard purchased while en route from Iran to the UK (RAF pilot training).

During WWII

Postcard purchased while en route from Iran to the UK (RAF pilot training).

During WWII

Rations Coupon booklet for use in the UK, Blackpool, England

During WWII

United Kingdom

Not a souvenir, but a common item in England for the RAF crews billeted in English hotels where the landladies were paid by the government to feed the men. "I still remember the first two slices of Spam I ever received. It baffled me as to how our landlady was able to cut the slices so thin that I could see through them."

During WWII

United Kingdom

Roman V. Skulski, air crew training, Malton, Ontario Canada, Dec. 1944

During WWII

Canada

Polish Air Force in the UK

Diary drawing by Zbyszek Pulmarowicz, 31.10.43 Brighton, England. Zbyszek died on April 9, 1944 while flying his plane over Nottingham.

During WWII

United Kingdom

Polish Air Force in the UK

Piece of a German pilot's parachute shown down over Brighton, Sussex, Oct. 43. "All the Polish airmen wandered over to the cemetery and everyone cut out a piece of the German airman's parachute as a souvenir. It was said that if one carried a square of parachute in one's pocket one would not have to use a parachute again. A silly superstition but we all believed in it."

During WWII

United Kingdom

Royal Canadian Air Force Flying Log Book for PAF air crew training, Malton (near Toronto), Ontario, Canada, October 1944

During WWII

Canada

He was in the Polish Airforce in Poznan, then was captured by the Russians and sent to Riowne camp, were he spent 2 years, He joined Anders Army in Totskoye , then to Persia and finally to England He landed in Blackpool in July 1942 his service number was703650 Polish Airforce in England . He was Electrician with ground crew in 304 Squadron then 302 with whom he stayed with in Europe till the end of the war

taken either in Chailey Air Base in England or in Europe Ewald Wawrzyniak lying down with cap on

302 Ground Crew Ewald leaning on bonnet

this is my Fathers Service record after arriving in England after being released from Rowne . I have no record yet of his service in Poland before he was captured.

302 Squadron Ground Crew Ewald lying across top of cab

302 Squadron Ground Crew Ewald on the right

the Polish Medal lotniczy is a copy as I can't get the original He was awarded this Medal twice, the others I have just received from the M.0.D as my Father never received them at the time.

302 Squadron Ewald on the left with cigarette

possibly 302 Squadron Ewald sat down 2nd from left

either 302 or 304 Ground crew Ewald stood left touching plane

304 Squadron Aircrew

304 Squadron Group Photo Ewald back far left next to him is Sergeant Marian Bogatek

304 Squadron Group Photo Ewald is back row right hand side looking up at the sky

During WWII

304 Squadron Davidstow Moor Airfield 1943

either 304 or 302 Squadron Ewald Wawrzyniak sat on tail of bomb