Instead of blaming Britain for Stalin’s paranoid psychopathy, how about the other allies, all charged with maintaining boundarys and order; where was the US? they came out of the war no longer in recession,with Britain owing them more money than you can shake a stick at, strategic bases in Britain, Germany, west indies, and most of the captured “Nazi” technology and scientists.

Stuart, of course you’re right about Britains rather poor condition, economically and otherwise, in 1945. I don’t think anyone can reasonably blame Britain for Stalins deeds at war’s end. (My personal opinion is that in many respects Britain was much worse-off in 1945 than Poland, compared to their respective 1939 positions.)
The point is, however, that British politics did not start in 1945 or even in 1941. In 1939 Britain willingly declared her support for Poland should this country be attacked by Germany (as did France). Germany duly attacked Poland, Britain (and France) declared war on the invaders and then simply and completely failed to fulfil those self-assumed obligations. That’s where it all started. And my opinion is that back in 1939 Britain and France had quite serious chances of beating Germany when Hitler was very busy in Poland, just like they had those chances when Hitler incorporated the Czech Republic, or Austria before, or when he reintroduced German armed forces to Rheinland… What they lacked was not as much military power as the will to use it.

I’d be interested to read his opinion about how Poland could have been freed in 1945…..but I doubt that they’re in the book.

You’ll never know that until you try to read it.

that’s just utter nonsense…
Is the American author (Stanley Cloud) serious?

Probably he’s not. After all he’s just written a book, having spent several years researching it. What’s that compared to your well founded posts on a web forum…

Poland’s much changing and disputed territory

I always thought Poland’s territory was pretty fixed until it was invaded. On the other hand, any country’s territory becomes ‘changing and disputed’ once it’s overrun by foreign forces.

The treaty was presumably designed to prevent German aggression against Poland, one Germany invaded its intention was irrelevant.

It’s a pity Messrs Chamberlain & Co. did not make it clear to the Poles, who thought it was all serious, for example in those paragraphs which said something about Britain attacking Germany (IIRC) with all her force within a fortnight from entering the war.

And, as has been stated, what could Britain have done that it did not? Poland is on the other side of Germany from Britain; what aircraft did the RAF have that could even reach Poland? The effects of Bomber Command’s efforts against strategic targets in Germany in the early war years are well documented failures; Poland would have succumbed despite any effort by the RAF and that effort would possibly have brought us into conflict with the Soviet Union, at the time allied to Germany.

That’s all very reasonable and well known today, but at the time there were people (in Poland among others, perhaps even among top politicians) who thought Britain was a powerful empire, you know.

My wife is Belorussian and has been called things such as “Stinking polish” etc which in any form is racism.

I dare say you are wrong both linguistically and politically. The English, the Byelorrusians and the Poles are all the same race, so this is not a case of racism in terms of actual meaning of words. It’s just stupidity and rudeness. And in fact I think we often unnecessarily elevate some people in their own eyes by calling them strong and serious words, like “racist”, “fascist” or “Nazi” when in fact what we deal with is plain stupidity.

Give my regards to your charming wife.

AND The Fighter Collections’ F22 (PK624 is it?) one day!

I thought we were talking about airworthy aircraft?

It was when I saw it last September. Or so they said…

Guys do any of you know how I can find the lat & long (location) present day location on Google maps of where this unit was stationed?

I have the B### airfield somewhere in my records but I would like to find out where the airfield was located in May 1, 1945.

Anyone have any clues on were and how to start searching for this site?

Not sure about “this site” but if you care to look it up on a map in a book, you can try “RAF Squadrons” by C. G. Jefford. Are you looking for B114 Diepholz or B154 Rheinsehlen?

a little Aviation book shop in Tunbridge Wells

I like that! Not sure Simon would, though…

I am currently reading “Po wyzwoleniu” (“After liberation”), and incredible book by Barbara Skarga. As a young girl she was involved in anti-German resistance in occupied Poland. In 1944, after that part of Poland was “liberated” by the Soviets she was arrested. The book is her recollections from the 12 years she spent in gulag camps in Siberia. Strongly recommended, but you have to read Polish, I’m afraid.

This is the same Spitfire as in Spitfireman’s post 18. The only other candidate for wheels down landing that I have come across is N3103 of 54 Sqn in which P/O Gribble landed on the beach on 25 May. That Spitfire must have alighted rather gently as two days later P/O Stevenson of 74 Sqn arranged salvage of its blind-flying panel, machine guns and ammunition boxes.