On Friday, 29 November 2024, at 11:00 AM in the Museum’s Main Hangar, the vernissage of an exhibition telling the story of stealing the secret of the V2 rocket from the Germans and smuggling its parts to the West during a heroic aerial operation codenamed “Bridge III” took place. The exhibition was created as part of the “Home Museums” project aimed at reviving identity in local communities of Małopolska. The exhibition partner is the “Bridge III” Operation Museum, created and run by Fr. Zbigniew Szostak, custodian of the Sanctuary of Blessed Karolina Kózkówna in Zabawa.
The vernissage was opened by Tomasz Kosecki, Director of the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, who welcomed the guests, including Fr. Zbigniew Szostak, Director of the “Bridge III” Operation Museum, and Kazimierz Kurczab, Director of the Museum of the Tarnów Region.
Military representatives and the Kraków Aviation Seniors Club were also present at the event.
Fr. Zbigniew Szostak spoke about the history of the establishment and development of the Museum he runs in Zabawa. He emphasised that this place is an important element of historical awareness for people from the region and that he strives to maintain and cultivate the memory of Polish heroes who participated in one of the most important transfer operations of World War II.
The exhibition curator, Jarosław Dobrzyński from the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, briefly described how the Home Army obtained information about tests conducted by the Germans using the V2 and discussed the exhibits and information panels featured in the exhibition.
Very interesting mini-catalogues of the exhibition were also available during the vernissage – visitors could take them home free of charge.
We invite you to view the photo report from the event:
The aircraft crew initially thought the brakes had seized, so the brake lines were cut, but two further attempts to move failed. The commanders of the operation decided to evacuate the passengers and burn the aircraft – all of this was happening at night in Nazi-occupied Małopolska… The aircraft was not burned. Thanks to the quick thinking and courage of local heroes, it managed to take off from the “Motyl” (Butterfly) landing strip and smuggle fragments of the V2 rocket to Great Britain.
The V2 was a ballistic missile with a 980 kg warhead, designed by Wernher von Braun, with an engine designed by Dr Eng. Walter Thiel, which used ethyl alcohol as fuel. The rocket had a range of approximately 280 km. Due to its supersonic speed and high flight altitude, there was no defence against it, and combating these rockets on the ground was very difficult because they were launched from easily camouflaged mobile launchers.
On 20 May 1944, near the village of Klimczyce near Sarnaki, a V2 rocket fell without exploding and was captured by soldiers of the Home Army (AK). It was decided to send the most important parts of the rocket and a report containing the analyses of Polish engineers (including Antoni Kocjan) by air to Great Britain. For this purpose, the “Bridge III” operation was planned. As part of this operation, not without obstacles, on the night of 25/26 July 1944, from the “Motyl” (Butterfly) landing strip in the village of Wał-Ruda near Tarnów, the priceless “find” was taken by a Dakota Mk III aircraft to Brindisi in Italy. From there it was transported to Great Britain.
Uncovering the German V2 rocket tests, capturing a specimen, describing it, and sending its parts to Great Britain was one of the greatest achievements of the Polish resistance movement during World War II. Although it did not protect London and other Allied cities from attacks by these rockets, it significantly delayed their deployment, which meant they did not become the “wonder weapon” that would have tipped the scales of victory in Germany’s favour.
The exhibition features remains of V2 rockets, photographs and educational panels. The exhibits come from the “Bridge III” Operation Museum in Zabawa, created by Fr. Zbigniew Szostak, Custodian of the Sanctuary of Blessed Karolina Kózkówna in Zabawa.
The exhibition is part of the “Home Museums. Reviving identity in local communities of Małopolska” series.
It will be available to visitors until the end of February 2025.
The event patron is Kraków Airport.
