Hidden heroes: Chelsea Foundation honors Jewish RAF members from WWII
Abramovich’s club partners with British Royal Air Force Museum to tell ‘untold stories’ of valor
The Chelsea Foundation, sponsored by Russian-Israeli Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, is partnering with the British Royal Air Force Museum in London on a unique project called Hidden Heroes, which tells untold stories of Jewish military personnel during World War II.
Hidden Heroes: The Untold Story of Jewish Personnel during the Second World War, was created mainly in part to raise awareness regarding the roles Jewish members of the RAF played in the outcome of World War II and to preserve the memories of those veterans for years to come as a “challenge to antisemitism, racism and discrimination.”
The Chelsea Foundation will be inaugurating the final project at the Royal Air Force Museum early next year, following the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
“We are tremendously grateful to Roman Abramovich and Chelsea FC for supporting the RAF Museum’s Jewish Hidden Heroes project. The Battle of Britain was the RAF’s defining moment, when they stood firm against Hitler and fascism,” said RAF Museum CEO Maggie Appleton MBE. “With many Jewish RAF personnel playing crucial roles, the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain in 2020 provides the perfect opportunity to remember these incredible people. By highlighting their stories, we want to play our part in calling out the rise in antisemitism – and wider racism – in our society.”
The Luftwaffe was defeated by the crucial efforts of the RAF. While it’s noted that all denominations were responsible for the collective effort of defeating the Luftwaffe and the Nazis forces in general, the Chelsea Foundation will be spotlighting the stories of Jewish personnel who traveled from every corner of the world to join the RAF and fight against the Nazi takeover of Europe
The Chelsea Foundation notes that many of these Jewish volunteers joined the RAF knowing very well that they risked torture and possible execution if captured, but that the need and desire to fight against tyranny, racism and antisemitism outweighed any fears they had.
A pre-launch event will be held to further bring awareness about the project on December 4 at the Stamford Bridge football stadium, where Jewish RAF veterans, special guests and other keynote speakers will be in attendance to relay their historical first-hand accounts of the World War II.
“We are delighted to be able to support the RAF Museum with this project,” Chelsea FC Chairman Bruce Buck said. “Chelsea FC is committed to tackling antisemitism through education and the
Jewish Hidden Heroes tells important stories about the bravery of Jewish RAF personnel during the conflict. Since we launched our ‘Say No to Antisemitism’ campaign in January 2018, and under the leadership of Roman Abramovich, we have been focused on tackling racism and discrimination in the stands and in wider society. There can be no place in our society for antisemitism or any form of discrimination – and we are determined to join with others to tackle this vital cause.”
The RAF and the Chelsea Foundation are inviting people from all over the world to “submit their own stories – as well as those of families and friends, of Jewish personnel in the Second World War – so they can be preserved and shared online and at the museum’s public sites.”
Stories can be submitted to rafstories@rafmuseum.org.