大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by a volunteer from csvberkshire on behalf of Kazimierz Pakula and has been added to the site with his permission. Kazimierz Pakula fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

A tribute to Sgt. Navigator Pawel (Naftali Hirsz) Kuflik.

I met Paul (Pawel) for the first time in the Summer of 1942 in Eastbourne where we were both student trainees on the Air Navigation course and shared living quarters in the Grand Hotel. Paul was the proud owner of a gramophone and, with 2 or 3 friends on the course, we spent many happy hours on Sunday afternoons on the hills in the vicinity of Beachy Head, listening to music, revising course subjects, chatting and enjoying life.
As I understood from Paul, he was born about 1921 into a Jewish family in Poland where his parents had a successful business in the 1930s. However by 1939 they had emigrated to Holland where he was living when he volunteered to join the Polish Air Force, part of the RAF, at the beginning of the war, and so trained to be a Navigator.
I liked Paul from the first, he was of similar family background to mine, did not smoke or drink , and liked music. We became friends. I respected and admired him for volunteering to play a part in the war for Poland and England.
After successfully completing the course in Eastbourne our training followed identical paths. In October 1942 we were posted to A.O.S. (Air Observer School) in RAF Jurby, Isle of Man, for the flying part of our Navigators course on completion of which in January 1943 we gained our 鈥淲ings鈥� and the rank of Sergeant.
A further course of flying training followed at RAF Squires Gate (Blackpool), and finally in July came the posting to No.6 O.T.U at RAF Siloth where the crews were to be formed from the large group of pilots, navigators and air gunners. All except 3 were NCOs, Sergeants and Flight Sergeants, and a crew consisted of 1st. and 2nd. Pilots, a Navigator and 3 Gunners. Paul joined Flight Sergeant Adamowicz鈥檚 crew as Navigator whilst I was with Colonel Werakso (the most senior in the group and an RAF Squadron Leader).
On completion of the course in September 1943 came the posting to 304 Polish Bomber Squadron which was now Coastal Command. This was night-time anti-submarine flying over the Bay of Biscay from the bases of Davidstow Moor and Predannack both in South West England On average these trips lasted for about 10 hours and crews had to be fit enough to endure the long working hours combined with training days and other duties with 2 to 3 rest days in between.
It was the morning of December 21st 1943 at Predannack that we heard the devastating news that Paul鈥檚 aircraft had crashed over the South West coast of Ireland with all crew killed. A few weeks later, in our quarters, we witnessed the Station Warrant Officer with his staff collecting the personal effects of friends lost in another crash. This was not a happy period for us. I learnt later that Paul was laid to rest in the Jewish Cemetery at Carnmoney, Belfast, and the other 5 members of the crew were buried in Miltown Catholic Cemetery.

Paul and other friends I met in war-time training and flying have often been in my thoughts.
Paul was my special friend; we spent nearly a year training together, and he had the initiative and courage to volunteer to take part in the war effort. His memory was particularly revived in September 2003, when with my family, we took part in the World Reunion of the Polish Air Force Association in Warsaw, where the newly built memorial for Polish Airmen lost in the 1939-45 War was consecrated and unveiled by the Polish President. After his departure, I with others went towards the wall on which were displayed over 2000 names. After checking the 3 names of my friends from the same school in Poland I moved towards the 鈥淜鈥� column . I noticed a lady who went close to the wall and gently moved her hand several times over the name KUFLIK, as if she were caressing it. I moved near to her and said, in Polish, 鈥淚 knew Kuflik and he was my best friend鈥�. The lady could not understand and moved away with the crowds. I then realised that had I spoken in English or German she might have understood me. I searched for her in the crowds but failed to find her. Ever since I have been puzzled by whom she was.

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