2nd Work War aviation book recommendation

[CrazyFrog]

I've just finished reading 'For Your Freedom And Ours' by Lynne Olson and Stanley Cloud. It's a potted history of Poland's part in the war, concentrating on 303 squadron but with enormous amounts of background detail. I only had the vaguest idea of Polands role in the war really and I couldn't put it down. Be warned though, it may reduce you to tears and you won't feel proud of being British by the end ☹

Any way, just thought I'd mention it as I know there's are fair few 2nd World War and aviation buffs on here...

[iansoady]

When I was a student apprentice with the CEGB in the late 1960s I spent some time with the instrument mechanics at North Tees Power Station. The foreman was a Polish ex-fighter pilot with a magnificent handlebar moustache who went by the somewhat British name of Stan Drummond.

He told me that he changed his name because when he used his original he found it very difficult to get work once he'd left the RAF. As you say, the contribution of the Poles was overlooked by most in this country.

[themoudie]

Have worked alongside Poles since my first day in forestry, I've found them to be some of the hardest grafters around. The WWII exploits, hardships, depravation, we cannot comprehend.  Whilst the EuroPoles are technically well qualified and willing to get stuck in as well.

Thank you for the book review, I will visit my local library, to see if they can obtain a copy.

My regards, Bill

[Steve Lake]

When i was in the RAF (pulls up sandbag & starts the light swinging ), after an overseas tour, i got the choice of a uk base, i opted for St Mawgan in cornwall (well, coastal command, as it was then, was supposed to be a pretty cushy number, and what's not to like about Cornwall), i was on 3rd line support on Shackletons ... affectionally known as 10 thousands rivets flying in formation.... as an airborne radar/wireless fitter there was very little for me to do, so i took gret delight in helping the engine fitters mucking about with the mighty RR Griffon.
so, in the hangar we had a stores, where all the tools were kept, and a variety of often used parts. Tools had to be booked out, and back in again after use (thus avoiding stuff being left rattling about in the airframe, with the potential for damage & disaster), if you're still with me .... the chap who ran the stores was a Polish Flight Sergeant ... always wore a brown dust coat at work, very unassuming and not very good english....   but i did note that our station C.O.  a Group Captain somebody or other used to pop into the hanger for a chat with him now and again.
Then, we were on a Battle of Britain day parade in Newquay, all in our finest, and i saw our Polish Flight Sergeant resplendent with a full set of 'wings' on his chest, and more medals than the rest of the company put together ! ... 
turns out he was on 303 (polish) squadron for the best part of 6 years, and one of their top pilots... fantastic.
and all we could offer him after the war was a transfer to the RAF as a Flight Sergeant .... with a job as a storman. .... criminal!

[timbo]

Shameful, isnt it. I recently saw a Polish/UK film about the assassination of over 20,000 Polish soldiers in WW2 by their so called allies, the Russians. The British and American governments knew all about it, and proceeded to cover the whole thing up, and spin the story that the Nazis murdered them, so as not to offend Stalin!
On a different note, I just read the excellent Harry Patch autobiography, The Last Fighting Tommy. Read it in one hit as i couldnt put it down.