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The unveiling of a 1/4 scale Spitfire memorial intended as a tribute to Polish fighter pilots stationed at Northolt during World War II. The location is the Orchard Inn in Ruislip.
During the years 1940-1943, Northolt became home to many Polish fighter squadrons. Polish flying personnel quickly selected the Orchard Inn as their favourite, frequenting it to such a degree that the owner had a sign put up over the counter stating briefly but informatively: ENGLISH SPOKEN.
The people on the photo are the late Sqn/Ldr ‘Tad’ Andersz and Mike Booth of Flying Legends, who produced the Spitfire in the background, finished as Polish Spitfire Mk. VB. The event took place on 30 October 2007; sadly, the 90yr old Tad sadly passed away one month after this picture was taken.
[Mike Booth]
My father Witold `Lanny’ Lanowski put the original spitfire up, with an unveiling ceremony in the 1980’s. The RAF memorial flight also passed over in remeberance at the unveiling of the monument which was designed by my father and was originally two steel curved tubes with an Aluminium spitfire mounted on top.
A further note is that My father flew with Anderz when they were both posted to the 56th FG at Boxted in April 1944 flying thunderbolts. Anderz only stayed a few weeks but my father remained with the 56th along with Mike Gladych till the end of hostilities.
It wouold be nice that my father is remembered as having put the memorial at the Orchard originally when there was nothing there in remeberance of all the Poles who flew from Northolt
What happened to the original Spitfire Memorial?
Chwała Bohaterom i cześć Ich pamięci!
Essential reading on the subject of Polish pilots’ contributions during the Battle of Britain is ‘A Question of Honor’ by Lynne Olson and Stanley Cloud. The role played by The Orchard Inn is well covered in chapter 10.