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Europe

Ashes of Polish Battle of Britain ace return home for burial

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    A wooden urn with the ashes of Polish fighter ace Capt. Kazimierz Sporny, credited with downing at of least five enemy planes in the Battle of Britain,is carried with military honors at the Krzesiny Air Base in Poznan, Poland on Thursday, August 25, 2016, after being brought from London for a military burial in his hometown. The burial ceremony of Sporny, who died in Britain in 1949 was part of ceremonies honoring Poland's Air Force at a time when the conservative government attaches great importance to defense because of Russia's actions in western Ukraine. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

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    Image 2 of 2

    A wooden urn with the ashes of Polish fighter ace Capt. Kazimierz Sporny, credited with downing at of least five enemy planes in the Battle of Britain, is greeted with military honors at the Krzesiny Air Base in Poznan, Poland on Thursday, August 25, 2016, after being brought from London for a military burial in his hometown. The burial ceremony of Sporny, who died in Britain in 1949 was part of ceremonies honoring Poland's Air Force at a time when the conservative government attaches great importance to defense because of Russia's actions in western Ukraine. (AP Photo) Poland Out (The Associated Press)

WARSAW, Poland – The ashes of Polish fighter ace Capt. Kazimierz Sporny, who is credited with downing at least five enemy planes in the World War II Battle of Britain, have been brought from London to western Poland for a military burial.

The ceremony Thursday in the western city of Poznan was part of events honoring Poland's Air Force and marking 10 years of F-16 fighters' serving in the force.

Poland's conservative government attaches great importance to defense amid tense relations now with Moscow over Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine.

Sporny was born in Poznan in 1916. From 1940-44, he was a pilot in the Royal Air Force's Polish Fighter Squadron 303 and 302.

He died of brain tumor in England in 1949 and was buried at London's Catholic St. Mary's cemetery.