Never was so much owed by so many to so few was a wartime speech made by the british prime minister winston churchill on 20 august 1940. Twentynine polish pilots, including ludwik paszkiewicz and josef frantisek, lost their lives in combat against the luftwaffe during the battle of britain. From july to october 1940, the fighter pilots of the raf struggled to defeat the german luftwaffe, fresh from its victories. The battle of britain ran from july 10 until october 31, 1940, but its climax was september 15. The polish were considered the most remarkable of the rafs foreign pilots. All images and music included are not in my own possession. The polish squadrons of the raf were quite superior to the lessexperienced british pilots. The polish pilots who flew in the battle of britain imperial war. Frantisek, urbanowicz, johnny kent, atholl forbes, jan zumbach, pisarek and many more all are tol of in great detail. Stanley cloud a question of honor is the littleknown, story of the scores of polish fighter pilots who helped save england during the battle of britain and of their stunning betrayal by the united states and. The battle of britain ran from july to october 1940. The bestknown pilots of this squadron were jan zumbach, witold urbanowicz, miroslaw feric and witold tolo lokuciewski. The author is topnotch and in my opinion has something worthy to say. Before the 122day conflict ceased, over 500 air force pilots and more than 40,000 civilians were killed.
Sgt josef frantisek, czech pilot flying with 303 polish squadron, was one of the top fighter pilots of the battle of britain, with 17 confirmed kills. Nonbritish personnel in the raf during the battle of britain. They even acknowledged the many non british pilots who fought and died with a particular emphasis on polish pilots. The battle of britain is one of the landmarks of our military history. In fact, the 303 squadron, also known by the name of kosciuszko squadron became the most efficient raf unit during the battle of britain.
When germany and the soviet union invaded poland at the outbreak of world war ii, the polish air force was quickly defeated. Dedicated to the the forgotten few, this ltd edition print has been signed by the artist along with 7 polish spitfire pilots and 1 raf flight instructor, who trained many of the poles during 1940. Legendary wwii story of polish raf pilots to hit the big. Last of polish pilots who defended england during battle. One of the greatest aces of the battle of britain was czech pilot josef frantisek, whose career total of 28 enemy planes destroyed included 17 shot down during the battle of britain. Never was so much owed by so many to so few wikipedia. After poland fell to the nazis, thousands of polish pilots, soldiers, and sailors. Polish fighter squadron, were the most efficient airmen during the battle. Of the 2,927 pilots who manned a fighter at any point between june and november, 146 just under 5 per cent were poles. Devoted to liberating their homeland, some would form the rafs 303 squadron. Around 145 polish pilots fought alongside british and pilots of other nationalities in the battle of britain, the largest group of nonbritish pilots in fighter command in 1940. Dywizjon 303 is a nonfiction book written by polish author arkady.
And it must be remembered, enemy fighter pilots and bomber pilots who thought that they were the best in the. Directed by denis delic, the film stars polish actors, including piotr adamczyk. Despite their achievements, a clear tribute has not been credited to polish pilots, as is the case with many other polish soldiers or units. Three pilots born in southern rhodesia took part in the battle of britain. The british pilot in the battle of britain shot down enemy aircraft. From july to october 1940, nazi germany laid siege to the united kingdom in what is now known as the battle of britain. The book regarded as definitive on the subject has been out since 2000, and its clear that in this time dr bungay has honed his talk to perfection. The polish pilots who flew in the battle of britain. In the days following britains vote to leave the eu, the country was shocked by a spate of antipolish hate crimes, including the desecration of a polish cultural centre in london. Three polish raf squadrons were based at raf chailey, an alg in sussex in support of dday 1944. During the battle of britain only the two abovementioned polish fighter squadrons were formed. The battle of britain involved a small number of fighter pilots against a larger number of enemy fighter pilots and bombers.
In total, 145 polish pilots, the largest non british contingent in fighter command at the time, fought in the. Polish pilots killed germans a chilling statement but one that accurately reflects the attitudes of those involved in the violent fight for supremacy in the air. Why did we humiliate the polish aces after their battle of britain heroics. Hull, the highestscoring raf ace of the norwegian campaign earlier in the year. The polish contribution to an allied victory both in the battle of britain and the second world war is clear to see.
The trailer for a new blockbuster about the vital role of polish pilots in the battle of britain has been released. How an ungrateful nation wanted to deport the men our women fell. Commanderinchief of fighter command, air chief marshal sir hugh dowding, who once was so reluctant to allow polish pilots into battle. The squadron consisted of polish pilots, many of whom were veterans of the air battles involved in germanys invasion of poland. On 1 september 1939 the german army, supported by the air force luftwaffe and navy kriegsmarine invaded poland from three sides. A wonderfully written, long researched book, straightening out the myths from the true legends that flew with the famous polish squadron in the battle of britain and beyond.
They fought bravely alongside british air force crews, playing an important part in the battle of britain which was fought in the skies over southern england between july and october of 1940. The polish british film follows the story of pilots from the legendary 303 squadron. Why did we humiliate polish aces after battle of britain. The 147 polish pilots claimed 201 aircraft shot down. The polish pilots were incredibly brave and also had the advantage of having had a 3 or 4 week short campaign practice against germany when germany overthrew poland. Here are their collective results for the battle of britain. It became one of the top scoring squadrons in the battle of britain and its pilots ranked high on the ace lists for 1940 also. France was invaded by the german army in june 1940, and over 8,000 polish airmen were evacuated to england their island of last hope. Squadron leader caesar hull, pilot officer john chomley, and flight lieutenant john holderness.
Today a polish war memorial stands at raf northolt, commemorating those who served and died both for their country and for europe. The british film battle of britain told the story of the pilots and ground personnel wonderfully. Only one of the american pilots who flew in the battle of britain managed to survive the war. This is a story not previously available in english about polish airmen in england at the time of the battle of britain. A few americans in the battle of britain historynet. The battle of britain is officially deemed to have ended on 31 october. This experience stood them in good stead, and marked them apart from the raf b. A lot of this i knew already, and i know much more about the aircraft involved than do the authors.
Battle of britain 80th anniversary public group facebook. Polish pilots and the battle of britain historic uk. A question of honor is the gripping, littleknown, and brilliantly told story of the scores of polish fighter pilots who helped save england during the battle of britain and of their stunning betrayal by the united states and england at the end of world war ii. Richard has provided as fine a tribute to these men of the polish 303 squadron as the memorial at northolt. The exiled polish pilots who flew against the nazis. Meanwhile, many polish fighter pilots were assigned to rafs british squadrons. The battle of britain was still gaining momentum when a flight of young royal air force pilots climbed into their hawker hurricanes on the morning of august 8, 1940. Bringing up the rear of the formation was a young polish pilot, witold urbanowicz, who had escaped his country when the germans and their soviet allies overran it in september 1939. The first part of this book details the role played by polish pilots in the defence of britain from the luftwaffe during the battle of britain in august and september 1940. Warfare featured articles the battle of britain the. This dramatised documentary recounts how, during the most decisive phase.
The battle of britain also known as the air battle for england. This book is a thickish book full of great accounts and is a marvel of around 10 years research. Dont waste any time on this tripe watch bob instead and see how to make a proper film. Commanderinchief of fighter command, air chief marshal sir hugh dowding, who once. Many pilots escaped to france and britain, eventually forming a force. The exploits of 303 squadron raf during the battle of britain. After flying mosquito divebombers and blenheims, john haviland returned to spitfires in late 1944 and was awarded the distinguished flying cross as a flight lieutenant with 141 squadron on february 16, 1945. Subsequently known in the uk as battle of britain day, this was when the raf effectively hammered the last nails into the luftwaffe coffin, ending any realistic prospect of operation sealion. Polish few, polish airmen in the battle of britain by peter sikora. The american knights of the air who risked everything to fight in the battle of britain by alex kershaw, t.
In wwll this valiant group of pilots ensured the continued freedom of the british isles and ultimately the world. A question of honor is the gripping, littleknown, and brilliantly told story of the scores of polish fighter pilots who helped save england during the battle of britain and of their stunning. He flew at first with the raf on 145 hurricane squadron and then with 303 polish hurricane squadron. After poland fell to the nazis, thousands of polish pilots, soldiers, and sailors escaped to england. Of the 145 polish pilots who took part in the battle of britain, 31 died in action. It was a military campaign in which the raf royal air force sided with the uk and fought against the german air force. A series of 4 evenings of talks held to raise money for the battle of britain bunker at raf uxbridge ended with a flourish, as dr stephen bungay spoke about his seminal book on the battle the most dangerous enemy. Polish pilots contribution to the raf in wwii uk itv news 3rd september 2018 duration. Would the raf have survived the battle of britain without. A new film tells the story of the legendary squadron 303 of polish pilots who fought in the battle of britain during the second world war. Booktopia has polish few, polish airmen in the battle of britain by peter sikora. They fought in the air, at sea, and as boots on the ground.
Tadeusza kosciuszki of polish air force fighter pilots who flew with great britains royal air force r. Polish airmen in the battle of britain peter sikora on amazon. Having more than demonstrated their mettle, sawicz and his fellow survivors took part in other operations. Three days later they again lost two pilots in battle, while two more killed themselves landing in bad weather.
During the battle of britain, they downed more german aircraft than any other. A question of honor is the gripping, littleknown story of the refugee polish pilots who joined the raf and played an essential role in saving britain from the nazis, only to be betrayed by the allies after the war. The name stems from the specific line in the speech, never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few, referring to the ongoing efforts of the royal air force crews who were at the time fighting the battle of britain, the pivotal. Its a story well known by the royal air force raf and those in england.
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