But no longer because acclaimed war historian Dilip Sarkar, the man who first uncovered the story of Pilot Officer Franciszek Surma back in the 1980s, has arranged the replacement of it with a new commemorative tablet. He explained: “Built by our former Malvern Spitfire Team in 1987, back then it was the first and only memorial in the UK dedicated to an individual Polish fighter pilot. “On May 11, 1941, Flying Officer Surma landed by parachute near Madresfield, having abandoned Spitfire R6644 due to an engine fire. My great-grandfather was reported missing in 1915, which I found profoundly moving as a child, and that pilot officer Franciszek Surma remained missing deeply resonated with me. The full story of Flying Officer Surma, Spitfire R6644 and her pilots was published last year and available at www.pen-and-sword.co.uk.