Faldingworth- 300 Squadron Polish Air Force

A piece of one of the Lancasters lost in battle is placed inside the memorial (MRM3638) - Taken by Market Rasen Mail 15 May 2004

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The Polish Air Force flag flies at the head of the colours and bearers [MRM3633] - Taken by Market Rasen Mail 15 May 2004

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Sounding of the Last Post - Taken by Market Rasen Mail 15 May 2004

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Memorial was designed by Colin Mitchell-Smith based on the original idea of Keith McGovern, of the three towers of Lincoln Cathedral, the stone for which was obtained from the quarry which supplies stone for Lincoln Cathedral, the whole represents Peace a - Taken by dd 09 Jun 2004

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The three aircraft numbers shown above are PB823 Lancaster I, lost on the night of 2-3 Jan 1945; DG358 Halifax V of 1667 HCU lost 23 Jan 1945 and DV 278 Lancaster 1 lost 14 Aug 1944, the other Lancasters were DV286 Lancaster II lost on the night of 12/13t - Taken by dd 09 Jun 2004

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by dd 09 Jun 2004

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Service 1 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 Aug 2004

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Service 2 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 Aug 2004

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Service 3 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 Aug 2004

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Service 4 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 Aug 2004

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Service 5 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 Aug 2004

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Service 6 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 Aug 2004

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Service 7 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 Aug 2004

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Market Rasen Mail 12 Sep 2007

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Lancaster NG269 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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Lancaster PA185 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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Lancaster PB252 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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Lancaster EE124 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 18 May 2013

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Entrance - Taken by Charles J Anderson 05 Sep 2018

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial Memorial Trees - Taken by Charles J Anderson 05 Sep 2018

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 05 Sep 2018

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 05 Sep 2018

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Charles J Anderson - Taken by Charles J Anderson 05 Sep 2018

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Lancaster LL857 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 14 Oct 2019

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Lancaster PA163 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 14 Oct 2019

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Lancaster EB185 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 14 Oct 2019

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LancasterDV286 - Taken by Charles J Anderson 14 Oct 2019

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300 Sqdn P.A.F. Memorial - Taken by Charles J Anderson 14 Oct 2019

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Reference WMO/267102

Address:

Old Airfield

Junction of former main runway and perimeter road

Faldingworth

LN8 3NN

England

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War Memorials Trust case: War Memorials Trust needs to avoid Contributors changing location/description details as we help to protect and conserve this war memorial through our casework. You can still add photographs, update condition and use the tabs below. If you believe any of the information you cannot edit is wrong or information is missing, please make a note of the reference number and include it in your email when you contact us.

Status: On original site

Type: Freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Roadside

Description: Other monument

Materials:

Stone Stone (any)

Lettering: Incised

Conflicts:

Second World War (1939-1945)

About the memorial: At the junction of the former main runway and the perimeter road, east side on the former R.A.F. Faldingworth a memorial 90cm high by 350cm wide by 300cm deep, a metal flagpole and three tree saplings and seat complete the memorial erected to 300 Squadron Polish Air Force as described in the Market Rasen Mail dated Wednesday 19 May 2004 as follows.

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Comments:

Market Rasen Mail Wednesday September 12th 2007
	Faldingworth became something of a global village on Saturday when the village played host to a memorial service to remember the bravery of those who flew from RAF Faldingworth as part of No 300 (Polish) Squadron,
	Veterans and descendants of those who had lost their lives in active service travelled from as far afield as America and Australia to attend the service and an Act of Remembrance at the memorial which now stands at the end of the main runway at the former RAF base. 
	The main A46 through the village was closed to allow a procession to make it way from the memorial hall to the church, the Scunthorpe ATC band providing a musical to the proceedings.
	The music also masked the approach of the Lancaster, which took everyone completely by surprise as it appeared, seeming almost to skim the treetops surrounding the church.
	The Spitfire and Hurricane made a dramatic entrance, before everyone made their way into All Saints’ Church for the memorial service, which was also relayed to the School Hall due to the number of people attending. Members of the Market Rasen ATC provided the guard of honour at the church.
	After the service, the focus was moved to the site of the airfield which had been the base for 300 Squadron, where an Act of Remembrance took place. 
	To honour the Polish aircrew who gave the lives in defence of our freedom, parts from three of their Lancaster bombers, were placed in the memorial along with soil from Mosovia in Poland, the home of the squadron, whilst names of the aircrew were read aloud by Januisz Wach, the Polish Consul General.
	The third part came from another Lancaster which met its fate near the coat of Denmark. The event was witnessed by a young Danish boy, Henning Laderkarl, who found one of the few pieces of wood used in the construction of the Lancaster lying on the beach near where he lived and which he had carved into a model pf a Spitfire, which took pride of place in an exhibition pf memorabilia housed in the |Memorial Hall. He attended the service along a
With s Danish contingent representing the Resistance Fighters who had had helped the surviving aircrew return to this country. Another guest was Neils Erik Stampe. Co-ordinator of the Commonwealth War Graves Group.
	Faldingworth Primary School provided refreshments and quests were treated to another fine display by the ATC band as well as dancing by some of the pupils of the school

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Memorial service to remember
Crew of Polish 300 Squadron
By Michael Steed
A memorial in remembrance of all those who flew with 300 Squadron from RAF Faldingworth, never to return, is to be unveiled on Sunday.
	This year is the 60th anniversary of the first flights of the Polish 300 Squadron Lancaster bombers from the airfield, which was home not just to air crew of the Polish Air Force but also ground staff and crews with at times, British and Commonwealth support.
	Faldingworth opened on July 27 1943 with 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit initially flying Lancasters and Halifaxes until moving to Sandtoft in February 1944.
	The station was also used by 1546 Beam Approach Training Flight with its Oxfords from May1944 until January 1945 and C Flight of 166 Squadron at Kirmington formed there with Lancasters in October 1944.
	300 Squadron arrived at Faldingworth from nearby Ingham on March 1 1944 and converted to Lancasters while continuing to operate its Wellingtons.
	The first operation by Lancasters was on April 18/19 1944, with an attack on the Railway Junction at Rouen in France.
	From June to September, a shortage of Polish aircrew led to B Flight being manned by British and Commonwealth crews from other Lincolnshire-based units.
	The Squadron took part in all the major operations of Bomber Command, and Faldingworth formed part of 14 Base (Ludford Magna, Wickenby and Faldingworth) of 1 Group.
	On January 29 1945 it was handed over to the Polish Air Force, becoming PAF Station Faldingworth.
	300 Squadron’s last operation was a ‘Manna’ supply drop to the Dutch people of Rotterdam on May 7 1945, and it also flew former POW’s back to Britain in Operation Exodos.
The Squadron was the first Polish squadron to be formed in Britain, and the last recorded flying by aircraft of the Polish Air Force in Lincolnshire was carried out by 300 Squadron on November 26 1946.
	In October 1946, 305 (Polish) Squadron arrived at Faldingworth and, following the decision to disband all Polish Air Force units serving in Britain, was disbanded on January 6 1947, with 300 Squadron being disbanded on January 2 1947,
	The station was subsequently used from the 1950s as a special stores (nuclear weapons) which served the Vulcans at Scampton and Waddington, and more recently by Royal Ordnance, although most of the airfield is now back to agriculture.
	The new memorial to be unveiled at about 3.30pm on Saturday May 8th, following a service at All Saints’ Church in Faldingworth at 2pm, is constructed from concrete blacks broken from the old runway, perimeter track and aircraft standings, representing the broken lives and tragedy of war.
	Inside the base will be small parts FROM THE Lancaster that was destroyed in France, Lancaster DV278 BH-A, which took off for the last time from the point on the runway where the memorial will stand.
	Out of the base will rise three columns of stone, representing Lincoln Cathedral known to the aviators as a landmark.
	A stone plaque will be inscribed stating to whom the memorial is dedicated, and behind the memorial will be the old windsock, and trees will be planted to remind people of today’s living world – a world we must now look after.
	Amongst those attending will be Air Vice Marshall Mackay, past Polish President Ryszard Kaczorowski, the Polish Consul General Tomasz Trafas and Captain Dariusz Pojorzelski and local councillors and religious leaders.
	Standards will include the Queen’s Colour of Number One Central Flying School, the Standard of the Polish Air Force Association, Nottingham, the Royal Air Force Association, the Air Crew Association, the Royal British Legion and the Banner of the Air Training Corps 300 Squadron.
	We are grateful to Colin Mitchell-Smith for his help with this article and the provision of photographs. Anyone interested in attending the service or the dedication should ring Mr. Mitchell-Smith on 01673 885384.

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At the junction of the former main runway and the perimeter road, east side on the former R.A.F. Faldingworth a memorial 90cm high by 350cm wide by 300cm deep, a metal flagpole and three tree saplings and seat complete the memorial erected to 300 Sqdn Polish Air Force as described in the Market Rasen Mail dated Wednesday May 19th 2004 as follows
Visitors pay respects to 300 Squadron
By Dianne Tuckett
	Far from their homeland. Members of 300 Squadron Polish Air Force were remembered in a moving ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the squadron's arrival at Faldingworth
	Four hundred people came to pay their respects and take part in the dedication of the memorial to those crewmembers that flew from the base, never to return.
	Inside the memorial – newly constructed from concrete broken from the old runway, perimeter track and aircraft standings – were placed small parts of four Lancasters from 300sq. which were lost over France, Germany and Holland, together with a Halifax lost in Wales.
	The names of the crews were read out as the memorial was completed.
	Alongside the four pieces of aircraft placed into the holes was, in each, a handful of earth from Mosovia, the area of Poland after which the squadron was named.
	The whole event was filmed for Polish television and amongst those present were former Polish President Ryszard Kaczorowski; Air Vice Marshall Mackay OBE, representing HRH Prince of Wales; Colonel Tadeusz Jedrzejczak; Consul General Tomasz Trafas; Vice-chairman of LCC Charles Ireland; Chairman of WLDC Irmgard Parrott; many Polish veterans; their families; local councillors and people of all ages who just wanted to pay their respects to all who fought for their freedom.

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Inscription:

Main memorial - 300 SQN POLISH AIR FORCE/ 1944-1947/ 1667 HCU RAF 1943/ TO THOSE/ WHO WHEN TYRANNY THREATENED/ FLEW FROM THIS RUNWAY/ SOME NEVER TO RETURN/ AND THOSE WHO SUPPORTED/ THEM ON THE GROUND/ WE REMEMBER YOU ALL. Separate inscription - 300 Dywizjon Bombowy ‘Ziemi Mazowieckief’ 305 Dywizjon Bombowy .Ziemi Wielkopolskiej’ Polskie Sily Powietrzne RAF Faldingworth 300 Squadron of the Polish Air Force operated from RAF Faldingworth with Avro Lancasters between 1944-1946 as part of No. 1 Group Bomber Command. In 1946 it was joined by 305 Squadron with de Haviland Mosquitos and both Squadrons disbanded in January 1947. Air Force Memorials of Lincolnshire – Mike Ingham -pages 31-2

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