303 Squadron - The Descendants
A Gathering Planned for 2-5 September 2010

2010 marks not only the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain but also the last year of the existence of the Polish Airforce Association which is being disbanded. It has been the Polish Airforce Association that has been responsible for organising the annual ceremonies at the Polish Airforce Memorial on the first Saturday in September. Although RAF Northolt are going to take over responsibility for the actual ceremony each year it seemed to me that the essential connection to the Polish pilots who flew from RAF Northolt was in danger of being lost.

My father, Miroslaw Feric, flew with 303 Squadron and initiated the now famous diaries. He was killed in 1942 and I subsequently also lost my mother to the War. As a result I was raised as an Englishman, outside the Polish fold. After the War the Polish pilots were scattered across the world and many of their children also grew up largely ignorant of the roles their fathers played, their amazing courage, tenacity and skill. They also knew nothing of their fathers’ friends and colleagues of that time.

I have therefore decided that now is the moment for me to move forward with an idea that has been in my mind for some time. I am now in the process of putting together a gathering to which I hope that as many children of pilots of 303 Squadron will attend. I am also hoping to find as many remaining Polish fighter pilots of the period as possible. I am hoping that I can arrange for us to meet for a dinner and reception so that we can exchange stories and meet each other and hopefully form relationships that will keep our fathers’ memory alive and, hopefully to carry this forward through future generations.

As many of the guests will have come from considerable distances for the gathering I am hoping that the whole event (spread over two-three days) will also include private visits to RAF Northolt and RAF Uxbridge, culminating on Saturday 4th September at the Polish War Memorial at Northolt for the Annual Parade and Service.

However, I do need help. I need help in finding the ‘children’ of the 303 pilots, remaining Polish fighter pilots and also, most importantly, I really need some sponsors!

This year I am confining my quest to pilots and their descendants but, should the idea prove successful, I hope that in future years we can extend our quest to finding ground crew and descendants to join us. However, as it is just my wife and I organising everything we have to limit our horizons this year!

If anyone can help with any of this please they make contact via this website or my email address below - we look forward to hearing from you !

Philip Feric-Methuen
pfericmethuen@btinternet.com
Hampshire, UK
April 2010