As part of the RAF Museum’s “Virtual Spitfire 10k” initiative, participants are running and raising funds to honour pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain. This year, Polish pilot Lieutenant Arsen Cebrzyński is among those being remembered. You can donate to the fundraiser here.

The Royal Air Force Museum in London is one of the largest aviation museums in Europe, founded in 1972 and free to visit. Its impressive collection showcases the history of British aviation.

When the Museum organised another Spitfire Virtual 10k event earlier this year, we didn’t hesitate for a moment. The founder of the British Poles, George Jerzy Byczynski, volunteered to run for the charity. The distance of the run is 10 kilometres, and it can be completed anywhere in the world within three weeks (between 25 August and 15 September). During this time, those taking part in the run are raising money to support the Museum.

On the provided list, we found one Polish name, so the choice was clear: Lieutenant Arsen Cebrzyński. Cebrzyński fought in the Polish campaign, then the French campaign, and finally in the Battle of Britain. His extraordinary skills were thanks to his education at the Dęblin Aviation Cadet School and the Advanced Pilot School in Grudziądz. In England, he was assigned to No. 303 Squadron. Remarkably, the Polish pilot predicted his own death, telling his commander, John Kent, that he would die before the end of the month. Tragically, this came true. He fought with great determination until the very end, accepting his fate.

Cebrzynski died on 11 September 1940 at the age of 28. His body was found next to the crashed Hurricane Mk I fighter he commanded in the last battle of his life. He was buried at Northwood Cemetery in London, where the British Poles hold the annual Remembrance Sunday and Polish Independence Day. Fifty-four Polish airmen rest there, including Colonel Franciszek Kornicki, who lived to be 101 years old.

The RAF Museum frequently hosts exhibitions on the history of the Polish Air Force during World War II, as well as lectures, film screenings, and guided tours in Polish.

It is worth recalling that in 2017, for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the RAF, the Museum organised a competition to find the best Spitfire pilot. As British Poles, we then organised a massive public voting campaign for Colonel Franciszek Kornicki, the last commander of a WWII Polish airborne squadron. The effect was stunning, proving that our readers can be counted on.

Out of 350,000 votes cast, the Polish commander won 325,000, sixteen times more than all the other contenders combined – ahead of such British greats as Sir Douglas Bader (6,300) and Jackie Moggridge (2,600 votes). Exhibition curator Peter Devitt did not hide his surprise, commenting: “We did not expect such a mobilisation of Poles. We found that Poles are very proud of their history.”

Now, we have another opportunity to promote the Polish contribution to the fight for the freedom of the United Kingdom and Europe. RAF Museum Director Maggie Appleton thanked all those participating in the Spitfire run, saying, “Your continued support is invaluable and helps us keep sharing the RAF story now and for future generations.”

The minimum fundraising amount is £50. Thanks to active publicity among Poles in Britain and Britons interested in Polish history, £1,542 has already been raised for the RAF Museum Charity. Knowing the generosity of our readers, we are confident that this amount will still be exceeded and the UK will have the opportunity to learn the story of Arsen Cebrzyński and other heroic Polish pilots.

Anyone willing to support the collection for the RAF, please donate here. Even the smallest amount counts. Let this be our way of publicly expressing our deepest pride and gratitude for the invaluable contribution of Polish airmen during the Second World War, particularly in the Battle of Britain.

Maria Byczynski

Photos: British Poles

Main photo: George Jerzy Byczynski runs at the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, commemorating the crews of RAF Bomber Command who lost their lives in the Second World War.