'Wiadomosci ze Swiata', this (initially) rather primitive-looking magazine of the Polish Air Force Front was first published by the Cultural Department of the Polish Air Force Inspectorate in the early months of 1940. It was initially issued at RAF Manston where some of the Polish airmen were allocated when RAF Eastchurch became overcrowded.

It soon after evolved as the official newspaper of the Polish Air Force in the West under the name of 'Skrzydla. Wiadomosci ze Swiata' (Wings. News of the World). It was published throughout the war and afterwards until the Polish Air Force Association was closed in 2010. Peter Sikora: Polish author and Historian

We show a typical newspaper from 1941 - before the more professional version began its life - signed by some 30 Polish airmen - 'Polish Cadets' - who participated in the 45th training course for air gunners at Stormy Down in Wales (1941). Most of the signatures have been deciphered.

The content of the newspaper consists of a letter from RC Cobb, an English teacher with the title 'I’m leaving as a Polonophile', a fragment of the Gospel of St. Luke, the current offer of the Polish bookstore in Blackpool, descriptions of American diving planes with drawings as well as current news from the front.

On the front page of the newspaper there are signatures of Polish Airmen, including (most probably):

– Corporal Edward Kazimierz Zakielarz (300 Bomber Squadron 'Mazovia Province" Squadron (or 'Ziemi Mazowieckiej), decorated with the fifth-class Virtuti Militari, twice decorated with the Cross of Valor, killed in 1942)

– Corporal Adolf Tadeusz Hipp (18 OTU – Operational Training Unit, killed in 1942)

– Lance Sergeant Jan Zdzisław Kobiela (300 Bomber Squadron 'Mazovia Province" Squadron (or 'Ziemi Mazowieckiej), decorated with the Cross of Valor)

- Lance Sergeant Emil Władysław Babijczuk (307 Night Fighter Squadron (Lwowskich Puchaczy - Lwow's Owls or Owls of Lwow),)

– Corporal Florian Sapieha (301 Bomber Squadron 'Pomerania. Defenders of Warsaw' Squadron (Ziemi Pomorskiej. Obroncow Warszawy) - one of few Polish squadron with double names, decorated with the Cross of Valor, killed in 1942)

– Lance Sergeant Stanisław Zygmunt Piechowiak (304 Bomber Squadron 'Silesia' Squadron (Ziemi Slaskiej), initially bomber, later coastal command squadron, three times decorated with the Cross of Valor, killed in 1942)

– Sergeant Major Józef Łapicki (305 Bomber Squadron 'Greater Poland' Squadron (Wielkopolski), decorated with Virtuti Militari 5th class, decorated four times with the Cross of Valor)

– Sergeant Antoni Jan Wesołowski (301 Bomb Squadron 'Pomerania. Defenders of Warsaw' Squadron (Ziemi Pomorskiej. Obroncow Warszawy) - one of few Polish squadron with double names, three times decorated with the Cross of Valor)

– Sergeant Major Zbigniew Więsak (301 Bomber Squadron 'Pomerania. Defenders of Warsaw' Squadron (Ziemi Pomorskiej. Obroncow Warszawy) - one of few Polish squadron with double names, 1586 Special Purpose Squadron, decorated with the fifth class Virtuti Militari, four times decorated with the Cross of Valor)

– Sergeant Major Konstanty Czernek (300 Bomber Squadron 'Mazovia Province" Squadron (or 'Ziemi Mazowieckiej), decorated with the fifth class Virtuti Militari, four times decorated with the Cross of Valor)

– Sergeant Mikołaj Edward Siądecki (304 Bomber Squadron 'Silesia' Squadron (Ziemi Slaskiej), 305 Bomber Squadron 'Greater Poland' Squadron (Wielkopolski), three times decorated with the Cross of Valor)

Source: Sarmatia Antiques is a online business which specialises in historical items associated with Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Here are examples of the improved versions.

Courtesy Peter Sikora, who holds the complete set in his personal archives.

• List of pages related to Poland
• Archiwum Polish Air Force Database
• Allied Losses & Incidents Database - Poland

SY 2022-07-06