In this powerful episode of Walking the Ground: Battle of Britain, James Holland and Al Murray uncover the extraordinary story of the Polish and Czech fighter pilots who helped save Britain in 1940. Having escaped from occupied Poland and Czechoslovakia, these determined airmen made their way to Britain through France and North Africa, driven by one goal — to keep fighting the Germans.

Once integrated into the RAF’s Fighter Command, they faced enormous challenges: language barriers, limited training time, and unfamiliar British aircraft. Yet their courage, skill, and ferocity in the air soon became legendary. Squadrons like No. 303 “Kościuszko” Squadron and No. 302 Squadron not only adapted quickly to the Hawker Hurricane, but went on to become some of the highest-scoring units in the entire Battle of Britain.

James and Al explore how these foreign volunteers reshaped Britain’s air defence effort, flying hundreds of sorties at immense personal risk. Filmed on location at IWM Duxford, this episode also features the Polish Heritage Flight, preserving the legacy of those pilots who gave everything for a country not their own. Discover the remarkable bravery, sacrifice, and spirit of the Polish and Czech aviators who fought shoulder to shoulder with “The Few” — and paid a terrible price for victory.

With Special Thanks to:
Imperial War Museums – Duxford
Polish Heritage Flight