BNP's Spitfire was part of Polish squadron

A BNP Euro election leaflet which opposes “mass immigration” shows a picture of a Second World War Spitfire - flown by a pilot who happens to be Polish.

The leaflet was delivered earlier this week through the St Andrew’s home of semi-retired computer expert John Beales who regards military aviation as a hobby.

The leaflet says: “It’s not racist to oppose mass immigration”.

Mr Beales, 61, said the markings on the plane showed that it was flown by Jan Zumbach, CRRT commander of the legendary 303 ‘Kosciuszko’ Squadron comprised of Polish pilots who were rescued from France shortly before Nazi occupation.

Mr Beales said: “Presumably, if the BNP had been around at the time they would have opposed the employment of these Polish airmen too.”

BNP party chiefs have defended their use of the image and insisted they knew all about the background.

They say the plane is a symbol of the Battle of Britain and represents the economic struggle the country is facing at the moment.

A spokesman said: "It's not like the BNP are against Polish people as a nation. We are against Polish people coming over here and undercutting British workers.”

During the Battle of Britain in 1940, the Poles shot down 203 Luftwaffe aircraft – around 12 per cent of total German losses.

Mr Beales said the Spitfire was obviously the plane used by Zumbach because of the Donald Duck motif which can clearly seen on the fuselage in front of the cockpit.

Other markings on the nosecowl and the ‘RF’ lettering proved that the plane was used by 303 Squadron from various Northolt, Kirton-in-Lindsey, Coltishall and other RAF stations in Britain between 1941 and 1945.

303 Squadron was the most effective Polish squadron in the war and iIts pilots were the only representatives of the Polish Army invited to the London Victory Parade in 1946. They refused as no other Polish units were invited.