THE POLISH AIR FORCE IN THE NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, 1941-1943

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Object description

Polish youths kneeling during the service, 9 March 1943.

Object description

A training school for Polish boys was founded in early 1943 at a RAF station near Cairo. The object of the school was to educate and train youths exiled from their native land by the Soviets to become Polish Air Force servicemen. Several hundred boys took part in a religious service and marched past the school, the first of several to be founded in the Middle East. The school was officially opened by a padre who was a priest in Silesia before the war. Solemn Mass was celebrated on the parade ground and was also attended by solders of the Independent Carpathian Rifles Brigade who came to fight in the Western Desert. After Mass the Polish Air Force ensign was unfurled beside the Royal Air Force one and the boys marched proudly past it. During the ceremony they were addressed by the Polish Minister to Egypt.

Object details

Category: Photographs
Related period: Second World War (production), Second World War (content)
Creator: Royal Air Force official photographer
Production date: 1943-03-09
Materials: whole: Nitrate
Catalogue number: CM 4765
Part of: AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION

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THE POLISH AIR FORCE IN THE NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, 1941-1943

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THE POLISH AIR FORCE IN THE NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, 1941-1943

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THE POLISH AIR FORCE IN THE NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, 1941-1943

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THE POLISH AIR FORCE IN THE NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN, 1941-1943

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