South African airmen who lost their lives during a tragedy of World War II are remembered every year by the Polish community of Johannesburg. The annual Warsaw Flights Commemoration was held in September with the current year marking the 74th anniversary of the historic flights.

According to the secretary of the Warsaw Flights Commemoration Organising Committee, Jean Urry, a record crowd of more than 200 people attended. “We were honoured to have some distinguished guests present, including the speaker of Johannesburg, councillor Vasco Da Gama and the Polish ambassador to South Africa, Andrzej Kanthak. We were also fortunate with regard to the weather; it did not rain on our parade.”

Urry further gave a historical recount of the tragic event. “The heroic Warsaw Flights were carried out by allied forces, including 31 and 34 squadrons of the South African Air Force, to bring relief to Warsaw, which was under siege by the Nazis during the Warsaw Uprising of August 1944.”

He added that Adolf Hitler had taken the Polish capital four years before but as the tide was turning and the allies had made considerable advances, the Polish Home Army felt the time was right to make a stand. “The attempt was a failure and beautiful Warsaw was systematically destroyed. The airborne missions were labelled suicide missions as they were extremely dangerous and many perished,” said Urry.

After the religious service at the Katyn Memorial, at James and Ethel Gray Park in Melrose, a reception followed at the Ditsong National Museum of Military History in Saxonwold.

For anyone interested in the commemoration, please contact Jean Urry on [email protected]

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