To commemorate the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the 100th anniversary of the Polish Air Force University, the Historic Aircraft Collection and Polish Heritage Flight worked together to send a Hawker Hurricane on a commemorative flight from Duxford to Dęblin, Poland, in early August 2026, painted in the colors of the Polish No.302 Squadron based at Duxford during the Battle of Britain. The Hurricane, registration G-HURI, is based at the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden airfield and made the flight in tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Polish and Allied airmen who fought in WWII.
This project symbolically “brings a Hurricane home” in honor of the shared history of Polish and Allied airmen who could never return home. At the very heart of this project is a personal commemoration Pilot’s Logbook that became a flying memorial. Through the “Your Words, Their Wings” initiative, the public is invited to submit a message of tribute to remember people, crew, family, friends, or anyone who served. It can commemorate a squadron, an event, a place of remembrance, or simply express thanks to Polish airmen during WWII.
This Hurricane, G-HURI, spent nearly 40 years at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, where it was restored and operated by The Fighter Collection before ownership was transferred to the Historic Aircraft Collection in 2002. The aircraft wears the color scheme of the 302 (City of Poznan) Squadron, and is on display at the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden. Now the aircraft has become a unique flying memorial in this symbolic journey. Every message and dedication left on their donation page is being handwritten by the pilots of Polish Heritage Flight into the logbook that will travel inside the cockpit of the Hurricane during the entire journey, and will be presented to the Polish Air Force as a permanent tribute at a special event.
The aircraft left the UK on August 7 and spent several days in Poland at various airfields and events commemorating the history of the region and Polish aviation. After returning to the UK on August 12, it continues to participate in events that will conclude with the presentation of the logbook.
Polish Heritage Flight has currently raised over 90 percent of their fundraising goal of £30,000 (~40,000 USD) to cover the costs of insurance, flight permits, fuel, aircraft maintenance, support aircraft, logistics, and more. Donations are accepted at the online portal here. Funds are also raised through the sale of unique collectible merchandise from partners Runway25 and Wisdom Art Prints. Follow the project on the Polish Heritage Flight Facebook Page, their Instagram account, or website at polishheritageflight.com. This Hurricane’s commemorative flight is creating a bridge between generations as both a thank you and a promise to never forget.
Adding personal memories to this aircraft that means so much to so many will both honor the past and inspire the future. As the “Duxford to Dęblin” project draws to a close, the memorial logbook will be presented to Officer Cadets from the Polish Air Force University Dęblin at RAF Northolt on August 29. This airfield was the famous home of 303 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, and having this aircraft with its squadron markings at the commemoration here is a full-circle moment.
