大象传媒

This story was submitted to the website by Pam Riding of Kirklees Libraries on behalf of Mr Sutcliffe and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions

I was seventeen when war broke out. I had a spell in the LDV where I learned to fire a rifle. I did night patrols looking for German parachutists, but I couldn't wait to join the RAFVR as my big brother had done.
So 1941 saw me in the Orkneys as a General Duties Clerk(ACZ), with the City of Glasgow Squadron. The squadron were flying balloons from trawlers and drifters as part of the Scapa Flow defences. The Navy was very impressive, particularly when their guns opened up at the odd German spotter plane. I was there for one year- in lousy weather.
1942 saw me joining No.306 (Polish) Squadron RAF at Church Stanton, near Taunton. This was a mobile, operational fighter unit, flying Spitfires in 11 Group of fighter command and on air defence of great Britain. The set up was completely Polish. It is well documented regarding their operations, sweeps, combats, victories and losses during operational flying service.
I was with them for four and a half years attending to liaison and seeing to all English matters in the Squadron's Orderly Room. During this time I found a tremendous admiration for my Polish comrades;daily aware of their bravery, tenacity and 100% loyalty to our British cause and I was proud to be in the team.
We were on some 16 different wartime RAF stations. Some were strip runways on former farmer's fields. Northolt's "top brass" was different though, living in a former convent at Heston. Gunning and bombing ranges in North Wales and on the Gower, Swansea were brilliant diversion.
The time came for the birth of the Tactical Air Force-the formation of 3 Polish Squadrons into 133 Airfield (including 306 Squadron) and 3 others into 131 Airfield. They were all equipped with Mustangs. 306 on Romney Marshes fought off the doodlebugs very creditably.
Operation Overlord (D-Day) was a very well kept secret. We had no idea whatsoever until we found our aircraft had acquired black and white stripes overnight. Then came our concentration area and we moved along the South coast to Littlehampton.D-Day+2 we were at Ford RAF station-our pilots were covering the landings. 131 Airfield ground crews followed into Belgium.
I was demobbed from the RAF Coltishall in 1946. I said a reluctant farewell to No.306(City of Torun) Polish Squadron. In 1947 the Polish Air Force in Britain disbanded. The aircraft Polish badges and squadron markings were painted out. Personnel were scattered, and it was as though they had never been here.
It is due to political wartime correctness, and to my undying shame that the Polish fighting forces were not invited to take part in the Victory Parade.
In 1948 I married Brenda and we had 52 years of wonderfully happy married life together. I am 82 now and widowed-these are some of my memories.

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