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Polish Air Force
in Lincolnshire |
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Polish Air Force
in Lincolnshire |
The Polish Air Force (Polskie Sily Powietrzne) was founded at the end of the Great War and in the 1920s/1930s was supported by a
substantial aviation industry. It was the first air force in the world to equip its front-line fighter force entirely with all-metal monoplanes, and many
international aviation records were established.
Originally part of the Army - Lotnictwo Wojskowe (Military Aviation) -
it became an independent part of the Polish Armed Forces in 1940.
After the fall of France the Polish government was established in London and Polish armed forces came under the overall
allied command.
During the Battle of Britain in 1940 1 in 8 of allied pilots was Polish, and the highest scoring allied fighter pilot flew with 303 Squadron of the
Polish Air Force.
It is said that the Battle of Britain was won by a narrow margin, and the contribution of the already combat experienced Polish pilots
was decisive.
At its peak strength the Polish Air Force was the largest allied air force after the RAF and USAAF, with 15 Squadrons and many training and support units.
It flew day fighter, night-fighter, bomber, coastal, army-cooperation, and transport aircraft. A large part of the Polish Air Force was based in Lincolnshire.
The tragedy of allied victory was that Poland did not regain its freedom. The Polish Air Force remained in Britain, finally being disbanded in
January 1947.
It left behind an indelible record, and the sacrifice and endeavour of its personnel in the cause of freedom forms a bond between
our two countries that will always be recalled with honour and with pride.
The links remain - there is a large Polish community in Britain, Poland is now joined with Britain in
the European Union, and the
modern Polish Air Force (Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej) together with
its Naval and Army counterparts form part of NATO (the multi-national North Atlantic Treaty Organization),
partners once more with the
Royal Air Force.
Following the invasion of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939 the Polish government and forces evacuated to Romania, and on into France where
they reformed.
this page last updated 12 February 2008
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