Thanks very much to VB reader, John Coueslant, for sharing this news of the ORP Blyskawica, a ship that was build in Cowes and which defended the Isle of Wight during the second world war. In his own words. Ed
I thought your readers may be interested to see the photos of ORP (Ship of Polish Republic) Blyskawica post four-month refit in December 2011 (Gdynia, Poland).
In 2012 she will celebrate her 75th anniversary (and still counting) as a ship in the Polish Navy.
70th anniversary of Island defence
On 4th-5th May 2012, it will also be the 70th anniversary of her defence of Cowes (the ship’s birth place) against a large two-part Luftwaffe bombing raid, which will be commemorated in Cowes in May to include a visit from the Polish Navy.
In honour of Cowes and the defence of its people, the ship has been painted in her 1942 camouflage, the same as during that fateful night in May 1942.
Check out the gallery of images courtesy of onet.pl.
