Poland Invincible: the Polish Emblem by Eric Kennington, pastel on paper

This pastel drawing depicts the Polish flag attacking a Luftwaffe plane. The eagle emblem on the flag symbolises the collective contributions of the many Polish airmen who served with the RAF.

Eric Kennington gained renown through his First World War paintings and was awarded a two-year full-time commission with the Air Ministry, through the War Artists' Advisory Committee, in 1940 to promote the contribution of the RAF. In April 1942, Kennington spent time at RAF Northolt drawing airmen in the First Polish Fighter Wing. Following the invasion of Poland and the Battle of France, many Polish pilots joined the RAF while exiled in Britain and earned a reputation for exceptional courage. From the Air Ministry allocation of works from the War Artists' Advisory Committee, 1947. Original accession number: LD2019. On loan from the RAF Air Historical Branch (MOD). Copyright: Crown (expired) / RAF Museum.