The Daily Telegraph

Journey to remember

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SIR – My father, Franciszek Kornicki, was surprised by the support for him in the RAF Museum poll to choose a representa­tive – not the “greatest” – Spitfire pilot (report, September 22).

But he was gravely embarrasse­d that you should credit him with 17 kills while serving in 303 Sqn during the Battle of Britain, and describe him as the top-scoring Battle of Britain pilot. You appear to have confused him with the Czech pilot in 303 Sqn, Sgt František, who did achieve this distinctio­n before being killed.

My father is not in fact credited with any victories, then or later. He served as a Pilot Officer in 303 Sqn briefly towards the end of the Battle of Britain period, converting on to Hurricanes, but he has always rigorously rebutted any suggestion that he thus qualified as a Battle of Britain pilot – well aware of the distinctio­n of those who endured that conflict and achieved so much.

Fighting in Poland, escaping through Romania, fighting in France, and escaping again to continue the struggle in Britain is the story of so many in the Polish Air Force.

My father’s role in that was commonplac­e; but as the only surviving Polish Squadron Commander, his importance now is as a witness and a representa­tive of that remarkable wartime journey. That is distinctio­n enough. Richard Kornicki

Chairman, Polish Air Force Memorial Committee

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