Wartime resistance hero to be reunited with aircraft he flew during daring missions, before emotional trip to homeland.
A Polish war hero, who flew daring missions to supply the resistance movement in his decimated homeland, will be reunited with one of the aircraft he used to fly next week.
Tony Rogers flew a variety of aircraft during the dangerous sorties to supply the Warsaw Resistance, after enlisting in the Royal Air Force when he arrived in the UK at the age of 20.
Now aged 88 and Mr Rogers, who prefers to use his Anglicised name, will shortly return to Poland to pay his respects to fallen comrades, thanks to the help of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF) and Big Lottery Fund.
But before he takes part in the trip, he will visit Cotswold Airport, at Kemble, in Gloucestershire, on Thursday (May 20), where he will be reunited with the only remaining airworthy Mk1 Spitfire – similar to the type he flew during the latter stages of the war.
The aircraft is one of the star attractions at this year’s action-packed two-day 2010 Cotswold Air Show, on June 19 and 20, which will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
Mr Rogers, who lives in Fairford, Glos, will be attending the traditional pre-air show media day on Thursday, during which other aircraft and display acts due to take part in the show, will also take to the skies.
The air show also proudly supports the RAFBF, whom Mr Rogers approached to ask for assistance in returning to Poland.
Air show organiser Glen Moreman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr Rogers to Kemble and to provide the opportunity for two war heroes, one human and one aircraft, to be reunited.
“I am sure Thursday will bring back many memories for Mr Rogers and we are also extremely pleased to have secured the only flying Mk1 Spitfire for this year’s show.”
The RAFBF, which has already provided Mr Rogers with a mobility scooter to help him maintain his independence, has now linked up with the Big Lottery Fund’s Heroes Return 2 project to fund his return to Krakow and Zakoplane – two of the areas he flew over during his missions.
Mr Rogers said: “I am so appreciative to the RAFBF for all the help given to me; without my scooter I would be housebound. It is not quite a Eurofighter, but it has given me back my life.”
Martin Henshaw, Regional Director of the RAFBF, said: “The RAFBF is delighted to be able to fund the cost of Tony’s general needs during his visit to Poland.
“It’s highly appropriate that we should do our best to help a hero like Tony, who fought so hard and devoted so much of his life to the RAF.
“This is a great example of how we deliver support to serving and former members of the RAF and their families, where is makes the most difference.”
Mr Rogers will also have the opportunity to meet up with another wartime flyer at the media day, as fellow Spitfire pilot Joy Lofthouse will also be in attendance.
Mrs Lofthouse, from Cirencester, and her sister, Yvonne MacDonald, were members of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) and were responsible for delivering Spitfires to operational squadrons, factories and maintenance units during the war.
The ATA, founded in 1938, was a civilian unit, which delivered more than 300,000 aircraft of 130 different types from factories to frontline airfields.
By 1945, it had 650 pilots, including 164 women, from 22 countries around the world including Chile, South Africa and the US.
The pilots often flew in terrible weather conditions, such was the demand, and more than 150 crew members lost their lives.
Mrs Lofthouse, who is a regular visitor to Cotswold Airport (formerly Kemble Airfield), and delivered many aircraft to the wartime RAF Kemble, is also looking forward to being reunited with the Mk1 Spitfire; one of the types she flew.
Meanwhile, the South Cerney-based Renegades civilian parachute team, who are making their display debut at the Cotswold Air Show, will descend on proceedings from an Antonov AN2, which is the world’s biggest single-engine bi-plane.
The day should help set the scene for the Air Show itself, which will feature, among other attractions, the world-famous Red Arrows aerobatic display team (making their annual pilgrimage back to their former home of 20 years), the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and a giant C17 Globemaster aircraft, which will be on static display and open to the public.
Tickets for the event are priced at £19.50 for adults (£25 on the day), £5 for children aged six to 16, while under fives will be admitted free.
They are available through the air show website (www.cotswoldairshow.com) and from the following Touirist Information Centres: Cheltenham, Chippenham, Cirencester, Corsham, Malmesbury, Stroud, Swindon, Tetbury, Warminster, Bath, Bourton-on-the-Water, Melksham, Trowbridge, Gloucester and Tewkesbury.
End