Poles in the Battle of Britain: A Photographic Album of the Polish 'Few'

By Peter Sikora

A pictorial history of the valiant Polish aviators who aided the RAF in the fight against the Luftwaffe.

The Polish Air Force, which was created in Britain in the summer of 1940 from flying and ground personnel evacuated from Poland and then from France, proved to be one of the most successful formations to fight the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. Overcoming the obstacles of language and operating in a foreign country, the Polish Air Force gained independent status, flying alongside the RAF rather than being a part of the RAF—and for the first time, the Polish Air Force became a separate air arm of the Polish Armed Forces.

It’s said that 145 Polish pilots fought in the Battle of Britain, many of them experienced and battle-hardened. These men fought not only for the freedom of their own homeland but also for British people, of whom they often knew very little. The Poles were able to form four squadrons, two bomber and two fighter, that went into operations during the Battle of Britain. Many other Polish fliers were dispersed across the Fighter Command, joining various RAF squadrons. They all made a decisive impact, when they were needed the most, gaining the respect of their British colleagues and the British public.

In this superb collection of photographs, the story of the Polish Few is told—from their hazardous journey from Poland to the UK to the great struggle for control of the skies above Britain during that memorable summer of 1940.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Aug 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781526782427

Peter Sikora

Peter Sikora is an aviation researcher, historian and writer who specialises in the history of the Polish Air Force between 1918 and 1946, with the particular interest in the achievements of the Polish airmen during Second World War. Based in Berkshire, England, Peter has already had a number of books published in Poland, including Aces of the Polish Air Force, Battles of the Polish Air Force 1918-1945 and Polish Wings over Ireland. He also writes historical articles for the leading Polish aviation magazines, and is a member of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee at RAF Northolt. In his private life, he is married to Maggie, and together they run a non for profit organisation that helps to reduce unemployment.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Into the Dark

Lieutenant Antoni Ostowicz (far left) was a fighter pilot who, alongside Lieutenant Władysław Nowak (in the middle) and Corporal Jan Kremski (right), represented the 2nd Air Regiment and won the prestigious first place during the Central Fighter Competition in Toruń. The picture was taken on 10 October 1937 when the trio of III/2 Fighter Dywizjon (which was similar to an RAF Wing) received the main prize. When the war broke out, Ostowicz was flying with a Prototype Flight and with no chance for combat. Instead he was given a task of evacuating aircraft of the Independent Experimental Air Squadron. He is best known by historians mostly as the first Pole who reported an aerial victory during the Battle of Britain. Sadly, he was also the first Polish pilot killed in action over England.

An interesting photo of 2nd Air Regiment fighter and aerobatic team of pilots upon their return from Rumania in 1933 with Captain Jerzy Bajan (winner of the 1934 Challenge contest) in the middle and PZL P.7 aircraft as the backdrop. Most of them in 1940 participated in the Battle of Britain, including Lieutenant Antoni Wczelik (1st), Lieutenant Jan Czerny (2nd), Lieutenant Bronisław Kosiński (5th) and Corporal Karol Pniak (7th). Captain Kazimierz Niedźwiecki (3rd) was in charge of the group of pilots who in 1939 went to Rumania expecting delivery of aircraft from France and Great Britain. He was also initially planned to be the first Polish commander of No. 302 Squadron in Britain. Sadly Niedźwiecki was unable to complete this task as he was killed in a flying accident prior to this post, while in 6 OTU. His Hurricane I 324 (L1887) collided with Hurricane L2082 piloted by Sergeant Dudley McGee, who was also killed.

PZL P.11a as well as its twin ‘c’ version was the Polish ‘first-line’ fighter plane of the 1939 Campaign. Here is an aircraft No. 4 with the serial number 7.14 from 113th Fighter Squadron (IV/1 Fighter Wing / 1st Air Regiment in Warsaw) that was photographed on 30 April 1939. This unit was commanded by Lieutenant Wieńczysław Barański, who fought over Britain from 1940.

Corporal Antoni Markiewicz went into the Battle of Britain with significant combat experience gained initially in Poland, where he flew with 122nd Fighter Squadron and then in France, where he joined 1/145 ‘City of Warsaw’ Squadron. In total he claimed three shared victories over Poland and a further two shared in France. Here he is sitting in the middle, with blond hair, while playing cards with other airmen, and looking straight into the camera. This is quite an unusual view, according to his daughter, as he was very shy of cameras. This can be confirmed by the short film recorded during the Battle of Britain that shows the whole of 302 Squadron singing. Markiewicz, who again is sitting in this footage, is avoiding any eye contact with the recording camera. Note distinctive white ‘paper horse’ emblem, which was 122nd Fighter Squadron’s badge, as well as individual number 6, both visible on PZL P.11’s fuselage.

Reviews for Poles in the Battle of Britain

[atticusfinch1048 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Poles in the Battle of Britain – A Stunning Collection of PicturesPeter Sikora has gathered together a wonderful of collection of photographs of Polish Airmen, who also happened to be part of Churchill’s few at the Battle of Britain in 1940. While much is said about the brave men of the RAF, it is often forgotten, that those with the most ‘kills’ were the Polish airmen.Sikora, uses pictures to explain some of the issues that the Polish faced when they arrived in Britain after the fall of France. Reminding us that the arrival of the Polish airman caused a few complications for the British Government. How the formation or in the Polish case, reformation of a foreign air forces on British soil and that legislation was required.Some of the most poignant pictures are those of the pilots that were killed in action, some of whom still lie undiscovered in the English Channel. These were men who had flown against the Luftwaffe in Poland, France and then in the Battle of Britain. Pictures of these men with their Hurricanes and Spitfires, both symbols of ‘Standing Alone’ against the Germans.Sikora has also used a spread of pictures that the Germans had taken of Pilot Officer Witold Głowacki after his crash landing in German occupied France. Also explained that he had 18 operational sorties during the battle, clearly before he was downed and captured. He died in a German military hospital, there has always been speculation about his death, but that is whole different story.What we are reminded is that the Polish personnel in the RAF were paid according to their RAF rank, which were often higher payments than they had received when in Poland. Which shows that their flying skills were recognised as equal too and sometime better than some of their English colleagues.Sikora has put together an excellent photographic record that is second to none. It is a clear and concise record, with clear explanations. One can learn so much from this excellent book.