The exhibition was dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant Waclaw Krol and the material traces of his aircraft — relics of the PZL P.11c recovered from the Niepolomice Forest. The structural fragments and equipment elements presented in the exhibition constituted direct evidence of the dramatic fighting of September 1939, as well as the research work through which local memory was transformed into a lasting monument.
On 3 September 1939, during an attack on German Heinkel He 111P bombers, the aircraft of Lt. Waclaw Krol was hit by defensive fire. The pilot managed to bail out by parachute over the Niepolomice Forest, landing in the area of Cikowice. The wreckage of his machine fell on the edge of the forest, and the crash site remained unknown for decades. It was only the efforts of local enthusiasts that made it possible to reconstruct the course of events and locate the remains of the aircraft.
A key role in the discovery was played by Janusz Czerwinski, a resident of the Klaj commune and aviation history researcher, who, based on accounts and documents, identified the probable crash location. In April 2012, fieldwork was carried out by the Exploration and Research Group of the Polish Historical Society under the leadership of Tomasz Jastrzebski, with the participation of representatives from the Polish Army Museum, the Home Army Museum, and the crew of the TV programme “Bylo, nie minelo” led by editor Adam Sikorski.
During the exploration of an area of approximately 200 m², numerous fragments of the fighter were found: two machine guns with ammunition, engine components, cylinders, magnetos, spark plugs, data plates, tyre remnants, and skin fragments with preserved protective paint. The recovered relics were secured and transferred to the Klaj Municipal Regional Heritage Room, where for years they served as an important symbol of remembrance of the events of 1939.
The exhibition presented at the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow juxtaposed these recovered fragments with the pilot’s biography and materials documenting the search. It showed both the technical aspects of the recovered elements and the human dimension of the story — the courage of Waclaw Krol, the engagement of the local community, and the importance of shared care for aviation heritage.
It is particularly worth noting that the Museum’s collection includes the only surviving example in the world of the PZL P.11c fighter — the same type of aircraft flown by Waclaw Krol. The juxtaposition of original fragments with a complete aircraft allowed visitors to experience in a unique way the history of Polish wings and the dramatic events of September 1939.
The exhibition was created as part of the project “Home Museums — Reviving Identity in Local Communities”, carried out by the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region. Thanks to cooperation with local partners, it became possible to make priceless memorabilia, previously kept in a local heritage room, available to the wider public.
The exhibition was educational and commemorative in nature — it honoured the heroism of Polish pilots, supported the protection of regional heritage, and brought closer a history that shapes our shared identity.
The exhibition was open from 6 November 2025 to 6 January 2026.
Exhibition curator: Ewa Cuber-Strutynska
Project team: Jaroslaw Dobrzynski, Piotr Kolasinski, Blazej Mludzik, Szymon Placha, Szymon Pstrus
Graphic design: Anna Firszt
Proofreading and promotion: Zuzanna Kaczorowska
