The Warsaw Uprising began on 1^st August 1944 and was defeated in 63 days on 3^rd October 1944 with great human losses. It is estimated that about 16,000 members of the Polish resistance were killed and about 6,000 badly wounded. In addition, between 150,000 and 200,000 Polish civilians died, mostly from mass executions. The uprising did not have a chance for long time success fight without help from abroad because uprising forces were lack of people and material. Allied air support began during night from 4^th August to 5^th August 1944 and during whole operation Polish, British, South African, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and US crews of Liberators and Halifaxes flying from bases in Italy have made round trips of 1,700 miles through area strongly defended by German fighters. An estimated 360 airmen (249 British and Polish) and 41 British (19), Polish (15), South African and American aircraft were lost.

95-year-old Jim Auton, MBE, a veteran of two RAF flights to supply the Warsaw Uprising as a bomb aimer, attended the remembrance ceremony, too. Jim Auton is a founder of the Warsaw Air Bridge Memorial erected in Newark on Trent in 1989. Mr Jim Auton, MBE captivated attention by his military cap of the Czech Air Force with rank of Colonel because he is an honorary Czechoslovak pilot and he holds Czech, Slovak, Polish and British awards.

Annual Air Bridge Commemoration Service