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53the RAF, which, according to veterans, was efficient, fair and understanding of their needs. The air force was truly meritocratic and it is enough to say that it encouraged the best and the brightest of two principled, courageous and resourceful peoples to participate fully in the defence of Britain%u2019s territorial integrity and of what remained of European civilisation. Let the last words be those of John Kent, who had been reluctant to serve with the Poles. On leaving %u2018303%u2019 he added the following to the Squadron Chronicle: %u2018Best wishes and all the luck in the world. To the finest Squadron in the whole world, and with profound thanks for keeping me alive and teaching me to fight%u2026%u201970 He appears to have meant it for not long after he broke the nose of a British Army officer unwise enough to refuse to stand for the Polish national anthem. Fg Off Zdzislaw Henneberg, Flt Lt John Kent and Fg Off Marian Pisarek, No 303 (Polish) Sqn, Leconfield, October 1940 (RAF Museum)