Polish Air Force Veterans AssociationPacific Coast Wing
by Barbara Karpinska; translated by Gillian Olechno-Huszcza
On December 21, 1951, Dr. Tadeusz Mrozowski organized former Polish airmen residing in the Metropolitan Los Angeles area into the Polish Air Force Association, Los Angeles Squadron. Its parent organization, the Polish Air Force Association, was founded in 1945 as a universal organization of men and women who could continue the common bond of friendship formed during the war years. Col. W. Zawadzki served as first president of the fledgling group. Other members of the committee were: Dr. T. Mrozowski, vice president; L. Domanski, secretary; and A. Guluk, treasurer.
The main aims and purposes of the P.A.F.A. are: to aid veterans, widows and orphans and other dependents of former Polish Air Force personnel, both in this country and abroad, by fund-raising social functions; to cooperate with other organizations devoted to the needs and welfare of veterans; and to support those educational and cultural activities which promote the ideals of democracy and freedom of all peoples.
On July 29, 1962, the territory encompassed by the group was extended to include Arizona, Oregon and Washington, and the name was changed to Pacific Coast Wing, Polish Air force Veterans Association. As such, it was registered in the State of California as a non-profit charitable organization.
During the past 42 years it has raised and donated considerable sums to charities. The group is self-sustaining; its headquarters arī located at 3424 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles. There have been 19 presidents since the beginning with Marek Mazynski serving 9 times in that office. The membership dropped from 120 in 1962 to 50 in 1993: 50 members have died. During that time the group took part in all religious, patriotic and social events with other Polish organizations with which it kept close ties.
A most important historical event took place in September 1992 in Poland, when Polish Air Force Veterans Association members from all over the world gathered together to witness the transfer of the Polish Air Force standard from Great Britain to the Polish Air Force of an independent Poland. During the Second World War when the Polish Air Force fought out of Great Britain, the Polish women of Wilno offered the standard to the fighting Polish Air Force. After the war the standard was kept in London in the Sikorski Institute and Museum, waiting to return to Poland. The solemn ceremony took place in London first and then in Warsaw in Pilsudski Square and in Deblin - Center of the Polish Air Force. Since October, 1992 Stefania Barbara Karpinski has been the 20th president of the Pacific Coast Wing, P.A.F.A. and Danuta Zawadzka - Vice President.
From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.