Poles' contribution to PAF

After all, how many people in Pakistan know about the contribution Poles made in building a strong airforce for Pakistan! Probably, not many. Even many young air force officers would not be able to tell the story of the development of Pakistan Air Force because the elders and the retiring officers who had the responsibility of passing on traditions to their juniors did not do so.
And those who had the knowledge and a desire to pass it on to their juniors found talking about it futile as the juniors show little regard to history. They, mostly the third generation of officers, seldom take interest in pure and abstract knowledge, which does not seem serving their immediate purpose.
Yet there are people who love to remember their past and enjoy living with memories - sweet and sour. They share their experiences with others and wish to enrich others' storehouse of information.
Retired Air Vice Marshal M. Akhtar, the other day, was invited by the Polish Consul General Ireneuzs Makles to give a talk on Air Commodore Wladystaw Turowicz and the officers and technicians of Polish Air Force who contributed to the building of Pakistan Air Force.
Akhtar is still remembered for his brilliant career as an airforce officer and as one of the directors-general of the Civil Aviation Authority under whose command the Authority flourished and expanded. He is one of those officers who had worked with Torowicz. Whatever he remembered about him was not enough but at least enough to arouse curiosity of his listeners to know more about Torowicz and other Poles about their contribution to Pakistan Air Force.
Akhtar said that late Air Commodore (General) WJM Torowicz, the assistant chief of the Air Staff (engineering) Pakistan Air Force, was an exceptional aeronautical engineer and a test pilot who laid the foundation of a strong engineering branch of the Pakistan Air Force. In recognition of his exceptional services to Pakistan and PAF. The Government of Pakistan conferred upon him the high awards of Tamgha-e-Pakistan, Sitara-e-Pakistan and Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam.
Akhtar dwelt on the qualities Torowicz was endowed with and said, he was a high caliber professional and a human being with tender heart that would welcome people in distress. "In Poland there is a heart warming proverb that all Poles take very seriously. It translates roughly into a guest in the house is God in the house. This is why; regardless of where or how Poles live, they draw on long tradition to welcome people with warmth and affection. This is our way of hospitality too in Pakistan."
Speaking on the occasion Anna Turowicz Ahmed, daughter of Air Commodore Waldyslaw Turowicz, said that his father came to Pakistan towards the end of 1948, together with a group of about 30 other Poles on a three-year contract with the Pakistan Air Force.
He was initially based in the Technical Training Section (TTS) at Drigh Road. His wife, Zofia, served as a civilian gliding instructor pilot. Several other Poles were posted in Pakistan Air Force based at Peshawar and Chacklala bases.
In 1952 Turowicz, popularly known as "Toro" rose to the rank of Wing Commander and became Station Commander of PAF Chaklala.
Most of the Polish contingent left Pakistan after their contract period was over but Turowicz opted to stay in Pakistan. Out of thirty Poles in the Pakistan Air Force two were killed in flying accidents in Karachi and a few joined Orient Airways (now PIA).
By the time Turowicz decided to live in Pakistan his wife Zofia, besides being a pilot, had taken up a teaching job at the Karachi American School. In 1961 the couple obtained the nationality of Pakistan.
In 1967 Turowicz retired from the Pakistan Air force and was appointed Executive Director of SUPARCO and finally retired in 1970. He died on January 8, 1980 and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Karachi.
Polish Consul-General in Pakistan Ireneuzs Makles has said that he intended to prepare two feature films to project the contribution Polish people towards the well being of Pakistan.
While introducing Turowicz and his family and giving an overview of the contribution Poles have made in Pakistan, Makles said Turowicz was a great Polish patriot who fought during World War II with Allied Forces for freedom of Poland and when he came here, served Pakistan as his homeland.
When the World War II was over he could not return to his motherland because Poland was then under Soviet sphere of influence and a communist government was in power. He never wanted to serve under them. During his stay in Britain he met people involved in freedom struggle. He, along with many other Polish people, decided to come to Pakistan and serve the newly emerged independent country. The spirit was to build a strong Pakistan where democracy was likely to progress.
Turowicz also knew well that during the war many Polish families had fled their homeland and settled in Karachi. He knew the hospitality and sense of accommodation people of Karachi had shown to them. "He knew that when Polish people were in need, Karachities helped us, they gave shelter to Polish refugees, hospitality and opened for them their family homes."
The Polish Consul-General said, "We wish to preserve and pass on to our future generations these pages of our common history to tell them about the generosity, hospitality of Pakistani people."
Though Pakistan has not done enough to remember its heroes, there are others to remember them. Poland wishes to put up at Polish Air Force Academy a memorial blackboard devoted to Air Commodore Wladyslaw Turowicz. It will describe service to Poland and his contribution to building of Pakistan Air Force.