MOURNERS have said a final farewell to a Spitfire pilot who defied death and travelled thousands of miles to fight against the Nazi regime.

Jozef Witkowski, from Churchill Avenue, Trentham, died on August 16, aged 87.

From being arrested in his native Poland at the age of 17 and sent to a labour camp, Mr Witkowski went on an amazing journey which saw him eventually land in England, which became his adopted home.

Serving with the 308 Polish Fighter Squadron, he flew Spitfires over Belgium, Germany and Holland, completing 30 missions.

Friends and family yesterday told of his courage as they attended his funeral at St Wulstan's Catholic Church in Wolstanton, followed by a gathering at the Moat House in Etruria.

His daughter Cathie Young, aged 63, who lives in Wales, said: "He was gentle and had an air of humility. He was quite a private man, but as he got older he began to appreciate people were interested in his life.

"He never forgot his fear of the Soviet authorities and so he didn't want to reveal all of what had happened to him."

Her sister Ana Lewis, aged 61, from Bedfordshire, said he had been a devoted grandad to his four grandchildren.

Father Anthony Dykes, who led the funeral, said Mr Witkowski's bravery had been put to the test by Nazis and Communists.

He said: "Jozef responded with heroism, determination and gentleness to the terrible challenges."

In 2008, Mr Witkowski was awarded a medal by the Polish Government in recognition of his courage during the war and as a member of an underground movement resisting communism.

After the Second World War, Mr Witkowski worked as a contracts manager for Stoke-on-Trent building firm Seddon for 30 years from 1960, building many Catholic schools.

John Seddon, retired chairman of the Seddon Group, said: "He would create wonderful sketches so there could be no possible misunderstanding about what he wanted and if you did it wrong, you got told off in all sorts of languages.

"He was chivalrous, modest and well regarded."

Pole Valerian Tyminski, aged 84, from Sneyd Green, was friends with Mr Witkowski for 20 years.

Mr Tyminski, who also served in the war, said: "He was a great chap. He was well educated and you could talk to him about intelligent matters."

Mr Witkowski was married to Cicely for 11 years before she passed away in April 2008, aged 75.

Her sister Irene Cooke, aged 87, from Brindley Ford, said: "He was a gentleman. He had been through the mill though. When he left Poland, he never saw his mum and dad again."