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307 Squadron. No. Before July, when it came under Polish command. Experienced Logistics Manager known for my consistent ability to remain focused, calm and always show grace under pressure. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. 303 Squadron was the most effective Polish RAF squadron during the Second World War. His Hurricane crashed in a back garden of a house in Loughton, killing a family of three in their shelter. In June 1943, the squadron was withdrawn to Yorkshire, then to County Down, Northern Ireland in July. Types of aircraft used by the PAF during the invasion of Poland, including a PZL.37 'Los' medium bomber of the 1st Air Regiment with row of PZL P.11 fighter planes of the 111th and 112th Fighter Escadrilles in the background, photographed at Okecie airfield near Warsaw in early 1939. Contain next 1,311 names. On 9 June 1943, F/O liwinski claimed the unit's 200th victory, a Fw 190. At the outset, serving RAF officers were appointed to serve as CO (S/Ldr RG Kellett) and Flight Commanders (F/Lt JA Kent and F/Lt AS Forbes) alongside the Poles, as the Polish pilots were unfamiliar with RAF Fighter Command language, procedures and training. In the following weeks the squadron achieved a truly astonishing score of 126 enemy planes, as well as 13 probables and 9 damaged, claiming the title of the best scoring unit of the Battle of Britain. F/O ak was wounded and bailed out over Horsham and four Hurricanes were lost in total. On their part the British, like the French before them, accepted as truth the German propaganda about Polish ineptitude in resisting the German-Soviet invasion and were doubtful about the flying skills of the Polish pilots. served in the Polish Army Air Force and flew with the RAF 317th Squadron. The number of convoy patrols carried out by the Squadron steadily increased as 1944 progressed with the Poles even noticing that some of the troop ships were full of American soldiers. After their defeat, tens of thousands of Polish servicemen made their way to France to continue the struggle against a common enemy. In a dogfight over Kent, "A" Flight claimed four confirmed and two probable victories over Messerschmitt Bf 109s, possibly of LG 2. It soon became clear to the British that the Poles were extremely skilled pilots. POLISH SQUADRONS REMEMBERED This thread was started a few years ago. Polish pilots in RAF squadrons played a substantial part in all operations against the Luftwaffe in increasing numbers. [8] After a period of training, the squadron was scrambled for the first time on 24 August 1940, although it did not come into contact with any enemy aircraft on this occasion. Neither his body nor his Spitfire were ever found and W/C Hancock is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.Routine returned in early 1944 with No. On 12 November 1943, the unit was posted to RAF Ballyhalbert in Northern Ireland and soon after S/L Koc assumed command.