The Polish Air Force at War

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After being overrun in September 1939 and later in France in 1940, the Polish Air Force, flying British and American fighters and bombers from England, significantly contributed to the Allied air victory. Their courageous efforts in September 1939 inflicted the first losses on the Luftwaffe, granting Britain a crucial nine-month period to bolster its air defenses. The PAF's role in the Battle of Britain became legendary, and their contributions to the early RAF bomber offensive against Germany were substantial. Special commendations were awarded for their exploits over Dieppe, North Africa, and during the European invasion. This two-volume set is based on extensive research of official RAF and PAF documents, supported by the Polish Air Force Association. It begins with an overview of the PAF's early years and the political context of the war, discussing the factors shaping PAF operations in Britain and the eventual abandonment by Britain of its most loyal ally. The work details all PAF squadrons, their operations, the diverse aircraft they flew—including Hurricanes, Spitfires, and Lancasters—and their triumphs and setbacks. Operational statistics, appendices, charts, maps, and over 700 photographs enhance the narrative. Volume 1 covers the origins of Polish aviation, the air war against the Luftwaffe, battles over France, the formation of PAF squadrons in Britain, the Battle of Britain, and PAF operations from 1941-1943.