An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/881384
www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 7 in honour of a poliSh pilot A special 75th Anniversary Commemoration was held outside Ratoath Community Centre on 23rd August 2017 in honour of a Polish pilot, Flight Officer Bolesław Józef Sawiak. Flight Officer Sawiak tragically lost his life on 23rd August 1942 when his Spitfire crash-landed in Ratoath, Co Dublin following an aerial battle with a German Junker JU88. The Polish Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Ryszard Sarkowicz together with local TD and Government Minister Regina Doherty laid a wreath in honour of Flight Officer Sawiak. Teresa Lowe MC'd the commemoration with some local people who had witnessed the tragedy in attendance. Great credit is due to the local Ratoath Heritage Group who began some years ago to record for posterity the tragic incident that befell a young 24 year old from the city of Przemysl, situated near the Polish border with modern day Ukraine. Photo: Thomas O'Doherty defenCe forCeS VeteranS Members of the Mullingar Branch of ONE were out in force on the 4th August in Market Square, Mullingar to raise funds for DF Veterans who have fallen on hard times. Pictured: Frank Stenson and Michael McDonnell, LAC Chairperson. Photo: Claire Corrigan, Topic Newspapers 2017 iifa fiata diploMa graduation Pictured on the 5th September are graduates of the Irish International Freight Association (IIFA) FIATA Freight Forwarding Diploma in the Spencer Hotel, Dublin. Pictured L/R: Sgt Michael Byrne, Cpl Patrick Daly and CQMS John Barnes all from the Customs Clearance & VAT Control Office, D Ord, DFHQ with Grainne Thornbury of the Irish International Freight Association. Photo: IIFA/ Philip O'Neill Photography roSe of tralee Cpl Anthony O'Donoghue, 3 Ops Wing, Air Corps is pictured at the 2017 Rose of Tralee Festival. Tony along with 63 other escorts was paired off with two very lucky Roses. Photo: Denis Walsh Photography rdf 3-Star CourSe tralee 1 Bde RDF 3-Star Course completed their two-week full time training and passed out as 3 star privates on the 17th August. The course comprised of engineers, musicians, martial arts experts, tech specialists, law students, mechanics, dancers and chefs. The training staff was drawn from C and E Coy, 12th Inf Bn and 1 Bde Tpt. Photo: Sgt Ian Sims RDF, C Coy, 12 Inf Bn eutM Mali Sgt Billy Wykes, 2 Arty Regt from Athlone, is pictured in his role as a tactical instructor with fellow 'Gunners' in Mali on deployment with EUTM. Photo: RSM Noel O'Callaghan, 2 BAR