Not quite, they were the best squadron during the Battle of Britain(July – October 1940). Not the entirety of WW2. Many of the great English pilots where either dead, Injured, shot down and captured etc. by that time.
>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, During the Battle of Britain the Czech Sergeant Josef Frantisek was Fighter Command’s most successful pilotwere 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. With 17 confirmed victories, Sergeant Josef Frantisek, a Czech national serving with No. 303 Squadron, was one of Fighter Command’s most successful pilots.
I think you mean “composed”. Or alternatively you mean “comprised”. But in that case the most correct usage would be “Eastern Europeans, primarily Polish comprised the best British pilot squadron (Squadron 303)”
CalCapital on
*Comprised. Compromised means something very different.
Also – it is known the Poles were next level fighter pilots. Serious badasses in the sky.
ShermanDidNthWrong on
Come on dude, we’re not eastern Europeans, Poland is located in C E N T R A L Europe. Also, the 303rd was entirely Polish with the exception of one Czech pilot.
Not really the best, but it definitely was in the elite. During the battle of England, the 603rd had around 60 confirmed shot downs, 609th 48, 41st 45. 303 from 42 to 50, depending on source.
There is a problem with proper estimations of kills, as during the war everyone overestimated their kills in reports, sometimes multiple pilots claimed one shot down as their own and pilots were not as precise in identifying enemy planes (like taking heavy fighter for a bomber), so historians have to compare allied and German reports which comes with another margin of error.
Lard_Baron on
303 flew out of RAF Northolt. Theres the Polish war memorial there dedicated to the Polish airmen who were killed throughout the war. They were very good but at 1st flew Hurricanes as pictured and were tasked with shooting down the German bombers.
The pilots flying Spitfires were tasked with fighting the German fighter escort.
Spitfires climbed faster and had a higher speed so generally arrived before the hurricanes when the German formation was intact with a high level fighter escort.
It’s a really shitty thing to say you are the best when in reality you were part of a team and the others in the team were working hard to help you.
Eventually all squadrons flew Spitfires.
SpleensMcSometin on
Not the best of the *entire war*, but certainly among the most important ones during the Battle of Britain.
Genuine heroism
Edit: Also of course, cannot forget the Czechoslovak squadron that fought alongside the Poles.
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🇬🇧🤝🇵🇱🫡
Not quite, they were the best squadron during the Battle of Britain(July – October 1940). Not the entirety of WW2. Many of the great English pilots where either dead, Injured, shot down and captured etc. by that time.
>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, During the Battle of Britain the Czech Sergeant Josef Frantisek was Fighter Command’s most successful pilotwere 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. With 17 confirmed victories, Sergeant Josef Frantisek, a Czech national serving with No. 303 Squadron, was one of Fighter Command’s most successful pilots.
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/the-polish-air-force-in-world-war-2/303-squadron/#:~:text=No.,Fighter%20Command’s%20most%20successful%20pilots.
Except Poland is Central European, not Eastern.
I think you mean “composed”. Or alternatively you mean “comprised”. But in that case the most correct usage would be “Eastern Europeans, primarily Polish comprised the best British pilot squadron (Squadron 303)”
*Comprised. Compromised means something very different.
Also – it is known the Poles were next level fighter pilots. Serious badasses in the sky.
Come on dude, we’re not eastern Europeans, Poland is located in C E N T R A L Europe. Also, the 303rd was entirely Polish with the exception of one Czech pilot.
It reminds me of one of my favourite scenes from the film [https://youtu.be/lAx92nlkSr4?t=121](https://youtu.be/lAx92nlkSr4?t=121)
these guys definitely had a style
Not really the best, but it definitely was in the elite. During the battle of England, the 603rd had around 60 confirmed shot downs, 609th 48, 41st 45. 303 from 42 to 50, depending on source.
There is a problem with proper estimations of kills, as during the war everyone overestimated their kills in reports, sometimes multiple pilots claimed one shot down as their own and pilots were not as precise in identifying enemy planes (like taking heavy fighter for a bomber), so historians have to compare allied and German reports which comes with another margin of error.
303 flew out of RAF Northolt. Theres the Polish war memorial there dedicated to the Polish airmen who were killed throughout the war. They were very good but at 1st flew Hurricanes as pictured and were tasked with shooting down the German bombers.
The pilots flying Spitfires were tasked with fighting the German fighter escort.
Spitfires climbed faster and had a higher speed so generally arrived before the hurricanes when the German formation was intact with a high level fighter escort.
It’s a really shitty thing to say you are the best when in reality you were part of a team and the others in the team were working hard to help you.
Eventually all squadrons flew Spitfires.
Not the best of the *entire war*, but certainly among the most important ones during the Battle of Britain.
Genuine heroism
Edit: Also of course, cannot forget the Czechoslovak squadron that fought alongside the Poles.
Forever brothers ❤️