A true friend of Poland ­— Newark airman thanked by the Polish Ambassador and thousands of his countrymen for his role in the Warsaw Uprising

One of only three surviving RAF heroes of the Warsaw Uprising has received thousands of messages of thanks and support from a grateful nation in his time of need.

Jim Auton, 95, of Newark, was praised and called a true friend of Poland in a letter signed by the country’s ambassador at a time when his health is grave. In addition, many messages of support and thanks have been sent to him via Facebook.

Jim and his comrades were instrumental in the British-led Warsaw Airlift operation, which resupplied the besieged Polish resistance, the Home Army, in their uprising against Nazi Germany during the second world war.