Battle of Britain Day - September 15 1940
A group of pilots of No. 303 Polish ("Kościuszko") Fighter Squadron walking toward the camera from a Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 (possibly F/O Jan Zumbach's RF-F V6684) after transferring from RAF Northolt for a well earned rest period.
RAF Leconfield, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK - October 1940
Left to right, in the front row are - Pilot Officer Mirosław Ferić; Flight Lieutenant John A. Kent (the CO of 'A' Flight); Flying Officer Bogdan Grzeszczak; Pilot Officer Jerzy Radomski; Pilot Officer Witold Łokuciewski; Pilot Officer Bogusław Mierzwa (obscured by Łokuciewski); Flying Officer Zdzisław Henneberg; Sergeant Jan Rogowski; Sergeant Eugeniusz Szaposznikow. In the centre, to the rear of this group, wearing helmet and goggles is Pilot Officer Jan Zumbach.
(Photo source - © IWM CH 1535)
The Poles were keen to fight but the RAF would not at first let them fly operationally. This was because few of the exiles spoke English and there was concern about their morale. What the British did not yet realise was that many of the Poles were excellent pilots. Having come through the Polish and French Campaigns, they had more combat experience than most of their British comrades and they employed superior tactics.
As the Battle of Britain wore on, and the shortage of trained pilots became critical, the exiles were accepted into RAF squadrons and two Polish fighter units, Nos. 302 and 303 Squadrons, were formed. Once committed to action, the Poles flew and fought superbly, shooting down 203 enemy aircraft for the loss of 29 pilots killed. No. 303 Squadron became the most successful Fighter Command unit in the Battle, shooting down 126 German machines in only 42 days. Czech Sergeant Josef Frantisek, also of '303', was the top scoring pilot with 17 confirmed victories.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, who led Fighter Command, would later write:
"Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of the Battle would have been the same."
(Text Source - RAF Museum)
P/O Mirosław Ferić (of Croat origin) Died 14/2/42
Fl/Lt John "Johnny" Kent Died 7/10/85
F/O Bogdan Grzeszczak Died 28/8/41
P/O Jerzy Radomski Died 1978
P/O Witold Łokuciewski Died 17/4/90
P/O Bogusław Mierzwa Died 16/4/41
F/O Zdzislaw Henneberg Died 12/4/41
F/Sgt. Jan Rogowski Died 17/8/97
F/Sgt. Eugeniusz Skaposznikow Died 1991
F/O Jan Zumbach Died 3/1/86
(Colourisation by Irootoko jnr. from Japan)
