Polish WW2 hero laid to rest in Newcastle

By Keith Akehurst, ITV News Newcastle.

He was the most decorated Polish pilot of the second world war. A hero to the British, Polish and Jewish people.

As a sixteen-year-old Willi Kaczan had seen his father abducted by the Nazis and his whole family slaughtered.

So he escaped Poland to join the RAF to liberate his country. He stayed in Britain after the war, marrying and living on Tyneside.

Today the 93-year-old, who won Poland's top military medal three times, was remembered as he was laid to rest in Newcastle.

Awarded ten medals for his wartime efforts, Willi Kaczan was described at his funeral as an extraordinary man.

He survived more than one firing squad and was shot down twice, on one occasion, when protecting London, he was back in the air fighting the German Luftwaffe just four hours later.

During interrogations, he was subject to fake firing squads, with blanks instead of real bullets, in an attempt to coerce information from him.

He was a fighter and a bomber pilot who flew spitfires, hurricanes and mosquitos.

The 93-year-old who lived in Killingworth refused to have a biography written about him, but there are suggestions there might be one in Poland.

Willi Kaczan rarely spoke about his wartime exploits, fighting for his native and adoptive countries.

He always claimed his medals were purely for being in the right place at the right time.

Willi was awarded the Cross of Valour - Poland's highest military honour - three times. The equivalent of the Briitish Victoria cross.

Willi came to Britain as a sixteen year old penniless, polish refugee. He became a company director, father and grandfather.

Like so many who fought in the Second World War he was a hero who refused to be called one.

His RAF colleagues said they stood in awe of Willi Kuczan, and because of him the world is a better place.

People live in freedom due to men like Willi and we owe them a debt, a debt we can never repay.