RAF Hero or Nazi Collaborator?
Julian Zuromski was on the cusp of becoming a fully qualified fighter pilot when Hitler invaded Poland in 1939. Immediately promoted to lieutenant, Zuromski took to the air to fight the invaders but, overwhelmed by the Luftwaffe, he and few of his comrades escaped to Romania. Escaping would become a feature of Zuromski’s intriguing career.
The Polish military were imprisoned upon arrival but Zuromski among others was able to escape once again, making his way to France. Flying with the French Air Force, he took part in the Battle of France, defending the French ports, only being forced to flee when the French capitulated. Like so many of his fellow countrymen, he found refuge in Great Britain, joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Bearing the rank of flying officer, he was posted to RAF Dumfries in April 1941, to act as an instructor. It was there that he witnessed the aircraft of Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess crash close to the airfield. It was not until 5 August 1941, that Zuromski flew his first operational patrol in a Hurricane from RAF Unsworth. Another year would pass before Zuromski would claim his first aerial victory in a Spitfire with 308, recording the ‘probable’ destruction of an Bf 109. Achieving the rank of flight lieutenant, he was to record two more ‘kills’ with 308 Squadron and destroyed a Fw 190 with 66 Squadron on 30 July 1943. That day would prove a momentous day for the young Pole for he too was shot down, being wounded and forced to bale out.
Taken into captivity, Zuromski soon found himself in Luftwaffe interrogation camp, Dulag Luft. It was there that Zuromski began writing anti-Bolshevik ‘scriptures’ which attracted the attention of the Germans, and he was removed from the Luftwaffe interrogation camp and taken to a special camp in Berlin. Thereafter he was officially registered as a prisoner of war in IIID camp at Zehlendorf, conducting German political propaganda radio transmissions from the German capital.
Taking advantage of the Allied bombing of Berlin, Julian Zuromski escaped the control of his captors. It was a route to freedom into Poland to find his wife to be and together they crossed war torn Europe to safety. However, a spotlight of suspicion fell upon Zuromski for his activities in captivity, being suspected of collaborating with the enemy.
He was eventually exonerated by the Judge Advocate General but not by his fellow flyers. Stigmatised, by the other RAF pilots, Zuromski was recruited by the Royal Pakistan Air Force, serving as a squadron leader.
As well as telling the fascinating story of Julian Zuromski, Colin Pateman describes the fate of his father who had opposed the Soviet invasion and was one of the thousands of Poles executed at Katyn, and he brings to life the many other Polish pilots who flew with the RAF during the Second World War.
