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Posts by mattm1970  

Joined: 1 Aug 2008 / Male ♂
Last Post: 7 Jan 2011
Threads: 4
Posts: 9
From: London
Speaks Polish?: no

Displayed posts: 13
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mattm1970   
7 Jan 2011
History / BBC - Center for Military Studies - Gerald Kochan [28]

My Grandfather was a millionaire - he didn't need the money.

The only person who insists that my Grandfather - who was ill and six months away from his death - wanted to give the Log Book away is the complete stranger who turned up at his secluded house in England and somehow is now in possession of the item.

My Grandmother was adamant that she pleaded with him not to part with the item and despite this he parted with the Log Book - an action that we as a family find upsetting

and baffling.

Hence our confusion as to how or why a person unknown to any family member now has the item in his private collection thousands of miles away from the County he made his home.

I'm sorry "Harry" but if you are trying to get a reaction out of me then you are going nowhere with this.
mattm1970   
7 Jan 2011
History / BBC - Center for Military Studies - Gerald Kochan [28]

Yes I have provided proof of my position Trustee of the Estate - I did this months ago directly to his solicitor. My Mother , the Executor of the Estate is in protracted discussions with The UK based lawyers that represent Mr Kochan - these talks are continuing.

My post today was merely a continuation of the direction of this post ( by others) about items going abroad - I mention Gerald Kochan as he is the person our family has encountered - there are plenty of other characters out there who have collected items that in an ideal world would stay within the family or alternatively an appropriate museum.

And yes I am "mad" that a complete stranger appeared at the house of my elderly grandfather ( six months away from death ) and left in possession of the most important piece of our family history .That same stranger then bluntly refused point blank to my mothers appeal to repurchase the item back in 2006 ( when she first discovered it was not with all the other personal items that he left HER )

The Grandfather I knew would not have sold it to anybody as he was so insistent on everything staying within the family - so snide comments from others in this forum add nothing to the real debate .

We are not the only family in this position - since my first post I have been contacted by over ten other families both here and abroad - all of whom must just be a bit "mad that his grandfather sold something that he wanted " ( delphiandomine / Harry )
mattm1970   
7 Jan 2011
History / BBC - Center for Military Studies - Gerald Kochan [28]

Why are Poles,living in Britain selling family history to a Yank ? isthatu2:

Gerald Kochan is an American of Polish decent , he speaks Polish and clearly has rehearsed his sales approach - those that have sold to him are very elderly Poles or the immediate relatives of WW2 Veterans who have recently passed away.

mattm1970   
30 Nov 2010
History / BBC - Center for Military Studies - Gerald Kochan [28]

Just to make sure you are aware that there is NO physical " Center For Military Studies " in Texas - Mr Kochan has finally admited this in August 2010.

The Address given for Greenville Texas is a PO box at a local Post Office and the listed "Office Number" is actually his home number in Rockwall Texas.
mattm1970   
13 Oct 2010
History / RAF podcast tells tale of Polish pilots fighting in the Battle of Britain [12]

A new set of podcasts produced by the RAF Museum in the United Kingdom reveals the bravery of Polish pilots during the Battle of Britain, whose 70th anniversary falls this year.

The 11th October, has been specifically selected to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the withdrawal of 303 (Polish) Squadron from the front line after a successful tour of duty which recorded the destruction of 126 enemy aircraft in 42 days

The record made '303' the most successful of all the RAF Squadrons that defended Great Britain and its peoples during the Battle of Britain.

mattm1970   
17 Aug 2010
Genealogy / Fl Lt Tarkowski - Polish Airforce [6]

Just for the record

"Mr. McCarthy contacted us prior to posting anything on your forum demanding that we sell back his "grandfather's" logbook." G Kochan

If you scroll up you wil lsee my first post is Aug 26, 08
mattm1970   
9 Aug 2010
Genealogy / Polish Aircrew in the UK (Tulinski) [50]

RyszardJ

Can you ask about Fl Lt Tarkowski 307sq as well pease ? Do you have any pics of that time ? matt

RyszardJ

Kazimierz Jaworski - did you ever get any further in your investigations into 307 sq ?
mattm1970   
4 Aug 2010
Genealogy / Polish Aircrew in the UK (Tulinski) [50]

Operation Nest Egg (307 Squadron )

Squadron was detailed by Fighter Command to put up six Mosquitoes to recon the islands and attack the Germans if fired at. Also to provide protection for the navy. Three aircraft each from A and B Fights were led by W/Cdr Andrzejewski flying with W/O Kaliszewski in EW*R NT547/G. The crews saw white surrender flags covering everything and no action was necessary.

Pacholczyk F/O (hand signature)
mattm1970   
21 Jul 2010
History / BBC - Center for Military Studies - Gerald Kochan [28]

I was contacted last night by a BBC TV reporter regarding the sale of WW2 Polish Memorabilia - specifically in relation to my forum posts about the issues with my Grandfather ( 315 and 307 Squadrons PAF) and the loss of his WW2 PAF Log Book to the Center for Military Studies in Greenville Texas .

I have been contacted by families from The UK , Canada and Europe on the issue and was wondering if anybody else had any stories / information regards this area ? Please feel free to contact me and I will pass on any further information about this emotive issue to him.

Not Great News

Mr. McCarthy, I regret that I have no information to help you.
I am not familiar with The Center of (for) Military Studies or the name Gerald Kochan. I have checked the membership database of Texas Association of Museums. There is no record of the center .

Executive Director
Texas Association of Museums


UPDATE : I was misinformed about the situation, Mr. Gerald Kochan is not at fault. It was incorrect of me to write the thread without checking my facts.Reference: dallas.pl/viewtopic.php?p=2954
mattm1970   
2 Jul 2010
Genealogy / 307 , 315 , 605 squadrons photos needed [6]

Does anybody have any photos please ? Many of the old geocites online seem to have gone down in the last couple of years - mattm1970@mac.com
mattm1970   
2 Jul 2010
History / The Untold Battle of Britain [205]

channel4.com/programmes/the-untold-battle-of-britain/episode-guide/ser ies-1/episode-1

channel4.com/programmes/the-untold-battle-of-britain/articles/witold-u rbanowicz-interview

These are the links to the TV show - Add " h t t p . / / w w w. " to the link - the forum won't let me add links due to a spam filter
mattm1970   
1 Jul 2010
Genealogy / Fl Lt Tarkowski - Polish Airforce [6]

Hi - I have changed my email to mattm1970@mac.com if you can send me any relevent links or info to here that would really help pls - tks matt ( Flt Lt Tarkowski 315 + 307 sqd )
mattm1970   
26 Aug 2008
Genealogy / Fl Lt Tarkowski - Polish Airforce [6]

I am attempting to research my Grandfather - Fl Lt Tarkowski who flew with 605 , 315 and 307 Squadrons – If anybody has any information , articles , photos etc it would be a great help.

I am also looking for any info etc on Lady Jersey ( Virginia Cherrill and her husband Florian Martini )
Matt1970@bloomberg.net