Page 46 - Demo

46Polish and one Czech) swung into the fight with a dash and enthusiasm which is beyond praise. They were inspired by a burning hatred for the Germans which made them very deadly opponents.%u201941 He would add: %u2018Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of the battle would have been the same.%u201942 After an uncertain start, the RAF had trusted the Poles and Czechoslovaks and they had repaid that trust with interest. The delighted British were generous with their praise. The King visited %u2018303%u2019 at Northolt and signed their Squadron chronicle; in Cabinet it was said that: %u2018the morale of the Polish pilots is excellent and their bravery much above the average%u201943 and the British ground crews of %u2018310%u2019 took to wearing Czech buttons on their tunics. Over the summer the people of Britain took the Central Europeans to their hearts and none more so than young women. This affection was fully reciprocated, and the Poles in particular enjoyed a deserved reputation as lady8killers. In fact, their appeal to women was such that it was not unknown for British airmen to acquire Polish shoulder flashes and speak in broken English in the hope of improving their chances. The RAF built on the success of the exiles in the Battle of Britain. Further Polish squadrons were formed and by VE Day there were 15 PAF fighter, bomber, coastal and special duties units served by a force of 14,000 men and women. Polish personnel earned a reputation for exceptional courage and devotion to duty and a total of 2,408 Polish airmen was killed in combat or in accidents. Due to recruiting difficulties, the Czechoslovak contingent remained small, with only four squadrons, but the quality of the men engaged might be summed up by the motto of 312 Squadron: %u2018Not Many but Much%u2019. Czechoslovaks served with distinction in all commands and out of 2,500 flying personnel a total of 511 gave their lives. Throughout the war, Poles and Czechoslovaks continued to serve in, and even lead, British units. To its credit, the RAF respected the cultures and traditions of its allies and it recognised their complete equality with British nationals in terms of rank, pay and career development. It is