Polish Consulate said to be supportive of campaign to name Warsaw street after airman who supported 1944 uprising, including Jim Auton of Newark
A mission to have a wartime hero immortalised is taking off.
The Polish Consulate in Manchester is said to be supportive of a campaign to name a street in Poland’s capital, Warsaw, in tribute to the brave airman who supported the 1944 uprising against the Nazis.
The move follows last month’s funeral of Jim Auton who was buried at Newark Cemetery.
Jim was a hero of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, and may have been the last surviving participant.
After his death, aged 95, there were suggestions the crews of those flights that kept resistance fighters supplied from the air be honoured with a street name.
Jim’s carer, Paul Trickett, said: “I had a meeting with the Polish consul and his staff. They are in full agreement about recognising the bravery of Jim Auton and potentially other airmen who assisted the city during its darkest hour.”
While other planes were shot down or turned back, Jim’s crew persisted for 50 minutes on the night of the first drop over a burning city, amid heavy flak, to locate the drop zone so Jim could hit the release.
Jim was seriously wounded during his 37th mission at the age of 20.
He was responsible for the Warsaw Air Bridge Memorial in the cemetery, which commemorates res-istance fighters and the 250 British, Polish and South African airmen who died.
There is a growing support for Jim be similarly recognised with a street name in Newark.
Paul said: “Based on comments to me from ex-Servicemen who read your piece I shall be writing to our local district councillors to suggest both Jim and another airman receive streets named after them in relation to their exploits.”
The second airman is a Pole named Major Jozef Jeka, who like Jim is buried in the cemetery.
Keen military historian Paul said: “Just outside the Polish and Commonwealth War Graves Section lies the remains of a certain largely forgotten hero, Major Jozef Jeka, a Polish-born Battle of Britain ace who flew Hurricanes with No. 238 Squadron RAF.
“He had earlier flown during the invasion of Poland in September, 1939, then, after Poland fell, he reached Great Britain in February, 1940.
“He was one of the 145 Polish-battle hardened and experienced fighter pilots who fought with the RAF during the Battle of Britain.
“On September 15, 1940, the day we now celebrate as Battle of Britain Day which was the turning point of both the battle and the war, he achieved his first kill against an enemy Bf-110 fighter.
“He would go on to become one of the most successful fighter pilots during the Battle of Britain, destroying five enemy aircraft (thus becoming an ace) and sharing in the destruction of two more.
“Jeka had quite an eventful war with a final tally of eight aerial kills. He was awarded numerous decorations, including the Distinguished Flying Medal, and was also shot down over France.
“Jeka died in a flying accident in 1958 and was buried in Newark, as per his wishes, alongside his countrymen.”
To lend your voice to the campaign, email the Advertiser at news@newarkadvertiser.co.uk or contact your local Newark town or district councillor.
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