INTRODUCTION
On June 8, 1946, the Allies celebrated
their World War II success with the London Victory Parade without
Polish colors flying and without Polish soldiers present. Among
those attending was Abyssinia, Brazil, Persia, Mexico, Nepal
and... Luxembourg (?) After having rendered the Allies momentous
service, Poles were excluded from this celebration - and in a
deceitful way. ( Read
more). Although they had
fought on the right side, they had lost. A few weeks after the
Parade, painted "Poles go home" signs appeared on walls
in England. In addition, the British press took an anti-Polish
tone.
They had no free democratic Poland to
go back to, and they became an army of misfits in the political
jigsaw puzzle that was Europe. Among them were thousands of
Polish Air Force personnel, the fourth biggest Ally air force
during the war, which had a lot to show for. Still among them,
were pilots who fought during the Battle of Britain, and
undeniably helped to shift the balance for the British. To some
extent, a certain amount of recognition and credit was bestowed
upon them, but it was soon forgotten.
These
pages were created with an idea to remind the world about Polish
airmen and their significant contribution toward the defeat of
the Nazi Germany, the enemy of the free world. I also wanted to
preserve - if only on a minuscule scale - the memory of Polish
squadrons, as it appeared to me that it is the right thing to do.
Although there were many of them and they withheld nothing, the
efforts of Polish flyers availed them virtually nothing and
history prepared another bitter lesson for them. And I have no
illusions that my proceedings as well, will not change this world
"where the peace is scarce and injustice thrives", but
I invite you to search the site and find many, hopefully
interesting pages, adorned with well over 1000 historical
pictures. Read
also
Created
and maintained by: Wilhelm
Ratuszynski
© Polish Squadrons Remembered
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