Polish Air Force Day 2026

Polish Air Force Day 2026: A Fight For Victory and a Freedom Lost

Join us for Polish Air Force Day 2026: a full program of events celebrating the vital contribution of Poland during the Second World War.

The focus of this year’s celebrations is ‘A Fight For Victory and A Freedom Lost.’  While Polish forces made a vital contribution to Allied victory, their homeland did not regain independence. Instead, Poland came under the control of the Soviet Union, marking the loss of national sovereignty despite their sacrifice.

This unique and poignant history will be explored through a full day of special tours, talks, stalls, and family activities hosted at the Battle of Britain Bunker in collaboration with Polish Heritage Flight and the We Have Ways of Making You Talk Independent Company.

Package deals for the day are available. Make the most out of your visit with Hillingdon Heritage Membership

Event Programme 

Visitor Centre and Polish Displays

A variety of stalls in the Bunker’s award-winning Visitor Centre celebrating Polish history and culture, with food, drinks, music, reenactors, scale models, as well as displays exploring aspects of the wider history of the Second World War.

There’s fun for all the family too, with Polish-themed crafts and activities for families; as well as the Visitor Centre’s permanent displays on the Battle of Britain, and the Europe’s only exhibition dedicated to the Polish Air Force.

10:00-16:30 – Visitor Centre – £8 (concessions apply) – FREE for Members

Polish Bunker Tours

Descend the steps into history and explore the top-secret rooms that shaped the course of the Second World War. Your expert guide will talk you through the vital part the Operations Room and Controllers Cabins staff played during the Battle of Britain, coordinating all fighter cover over London and the Southeast, not least the Polish Air Force pilots in the legendary 303 Squadron. Discover their crucial role in that long ago Summer of 1940.

Tours last approximately 75 minutes and are accessed via 76 steps. Virtual tours are available for those with access needs. Polish language tour notes available.

10:00 – 11:30 – 13:00 – 14:30 – Bunker – £14 (concessions apply)

Polish Talks and Panel Discussion 

George Dziedzic – Two Paths, One War

Two Paths, One War is a tribute to the author’s Polish parents, two remarkable individuals whose lives were shaped by the trauma and service in the Second World War. Though their journeys were vastly different, they each endured immense hardship, contributed to the Allied war effort, and ultimately found one another in post-war England.

11:00 – Auditorium – £5 – FREE for Members

Krys Lanowski – Polish Eagle in Stolen Skies

Krys Lanowski tells the incredible story of his father, Witold Lanowski: the bold pilot who flew in four air forces during the Second World War.  Krys will explore Witold’s extraordinary life, from his birth in Lwow, Poland, in 1915, through his early sports and officer cadet career at Deblin officer training school, his dramatic escape from Poland, fighting in France then Britain flying with 317 and 302 Polish squadrons, and ending the War with his now famous ‘stint’ with the 56th FG, the famous ‘Zemke’s wolfpack’ flying the P47 Thunderbolt.

12:15 – Auditorium – £5 – FREE for Members

Post War Poland: Panel Discussion

Join historians Clare Mulley, Jennifer Grant, and Alina Nowobilska in a thoughtful discussion exploring what the end of the Second World War meant for Poland and post-war Polish history. Questions for the panel can be submitted in advance by clicking the link here.

Hosted by Phoebe Style.

13:30 – Auditorium – £5 – FREE for Members