Aviation - Pologne : beaux livres - histoire et avions

The Polish Aviation Museum in Cracow, Poland, has an amazing collection of aircraft, including one of the biggest collections of MiG jets and WW I aircraft from the former Hermann Goering collection.

This independent guide to the collection describes and illustrates the aircraft in the display.

Packed with excellent colour photos, this book provides an essential guide to potential visitors, and a full reference for those unable to make the trip!

Poland was in ruins after World War I. The fighting front had rolled through some areas more than seven different times, and the result was the almost complete destruction of the roads, railways, bridges, water systems, and power plants.
The government was based mainly on civil servants of Polish descent who remained on the job after the fall of Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary. Even after Poland regained her independence in 1918, the borders were not yet defined and the nation was vulnerable to continued threats from Germany and Russia.

This work presents the story of the Kosciuszko Squadron, a small group of American flyers that formed without the support of the State Department and the American Expeditionary Force in Europe, to defend Poland from the Bolshevik armies and to prevent the communist revolution in Russia from uniting with a Germany frustrated by provisions of the Treaty of Versaille.

The book covers the events leading up to the formation of the squadron and the first efforts to enlist American military help for Poland in 1918. It explores why that small group of Americans felt compelled to fight for Poland and what they knew about who and what they were fighting for and against, and discusses the people, events, and issues that figured prominently in the war.
The Squadron was named, of course, in honor of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who famously came from Poland in 1776 to join the Colonial forces fighting the War of Independence from Britain.

This book in the popular Polish Wings series tells the story of the famous German parasol-winged WWI fighter monoplane in Polish Air Force service.
The Polish Air Force captured 17 of these Fokkers, but only seven (six E.V and one D.VIII) were in airworthy condition. All were used against Bolshevik forces in the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-1920.
Lieutenant Stefan Stec earned the first kill for the Polish Air Force, by shooting down a Ukrainian Nieuport fighter on 29 April 1919. In 1921, the remaining Fokkers were withdrawn from front-line units and transferred to the Szkoła Obsługi Lotniczej (Air Personnel School) at Poznań-Ławica airfield.

The book includes over 120 photographs and nearly 30 colour plates to profusely illustrate these aircraft. Their technical details, military markings and maintenance stencils are shown in detail.

By the beginning of 1941 there was a fully fledged Polish Air Force operating alongside the RAF. With 14 Squadrons it was larger than any other of the Air Forces from Nazi-occupied Europe that had joined the Allies.
Over 17,000 men and women passed through the ranks of the Polish Air Force while it was stationed in the UK. They shot down 745 enemy aircraft, with a further 175 unconfirmed. They dropped thousands of bombs and laid hundreds of mines, flying 102,486 sorties notching up a total of 290,895 operation flying hours. They achieved this at a cost of 1,973 killed and 1,388 wounded. They won 342 British gallantry awards.

This book describes the history, organisation and actions of this forgotten forgotten air force, that helped to liberate Western Europe.

After being overrun during the early Blitzkrieg in September 1939, and later in France in 1940, the Polish Air Force - flying British and American made fighters and bombers out of England in their own units - made a tremendous contribution to the Allied air victory.
The PAFs gallant, lonely fight in September 1939 inflicted the first losses on the mighty Luftwaffe and allowed Britain a nine month grace to strengthen her air defenses. Their part in the Battle of Britain became legend, and its contribution to the early RAF bomber offensive on Germany was equally great. PAF exploits over Dieppe, North Africa, and during the invasion of Europe received special commendations from the RAF.

This book (the first of two volumes) is the result of years' painstaking research of the official RAF and PAF documentation, and is fully supported by the Polish Air Force Association. After a brief introduction to the PAF's formative years and to the political background to the war itself, the factors shaping PAF operations in Great Britain and to the abandonment by Britain of her most faithful ally are discussed.
The book also provides a wealth of information about all PAF squadrons, their participation in operations, the great variety of aircraft flown by the PAF - Hurricanes, Spitfires, Mustangs, Warhawks, Mosquitoes, Lancasters, Wellingtons, Bostons, Liberators and many others - their achievements and disappointments, victories, and losses.
These are supplemented by operational statistics in detailed appendices, lists, charts, maps and over 400 black and white and color photographs, and color profiles.

Volume 1 covers: the origins of Polish aviation; the air war against the Luftwaffe during the initial Blitzkrieg; the air battles over France and the formation of the Polish squadrons; the establishment and development of the PAF squadrons in Britain after the battles in France; the Battle of Britain; PAF units over Dieppe and North Africa; expansion of the PAF and operations in 1941-1943; and PAF bomber squadrons and bomber operations 1940-1943.

This second book of a two volume set is the result of years' painstaking research of the official RAF and PAF documentation, and is fully supported by the Polish Air Force Association.

Volume 2 covers: PAF fighter, bomber, and reconnaissance operations prior to and during the Normandy invasion; operations in support of the Polish Home Army and Freedom Fighters; Polish air unit operations on the Russian front; Poles in the RAF aircraft ferry and transport operations; training units; Poles in aviation research and technology; postwar activities.
Also included: twenty-nine appendices, bibliography, complete index covering both volumes.

The summer of 1940 and the Battle of Britain - the darkest days of World War II. France, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Norway had all been crushed by the powerful Nazi German war machine. Great Britain stood alone, fighting for its life.

Thrilling action story of the celebrated squadron of Polish fighter pilots whose superb daring and aerial combat skills helped save England during its most desperate hours.
The 303 "Kosciuszko" Squadron flew with the RAF, downing three times the average RAF score, while incurring only one-third the average casualties during the Battle of Britain. Underdog heroes who rose to defend against the deadliest German Luftwaffe attacks, the pilots of 303 Squadron were lionized by the British press, congratulated by the King and adored by the British public.

With an immediacy that vividly brings to life those harrowing days, Arkady Fiedler paints the bravery, the poignancy, the breathtaking gambles with death risked daily by this exceptional group of young men far from home, who fought to preserve freedom for all.

This book describes in detail the camouflage and markings of the day fighters used by the Polish Air Force in 1939-1947. Aircraft of Polish, French, British, American, Soviet and German origin are shown.
Written by well-known distinguished Polish aviation historians. Many historical photos and colour profiles.

Aircraft described in volume 1: PWS-10, PZL P.7a, PZL P.11a & PZL P.11c, Morane Saulnier MS.406, Bloch MB.151 & 152, Caudron-Renault CR.714, Curtiss H-75A, Dewoitine D.520, Koolhoven FK.58, Dewoitine D.501/510, Hawker Hurricane I-IV, Supermarine Spitfire I-II, Supermarine Spitfire V.

Pilots of the Polish Air Force saw action from the first day of World War 2 until the final victory in Europe. Flying hopelessly outmoded P.11 fighters in defence of their country in September 1939, a handful of aviators inflicted serious losses on the Luftwaffe before being overwhelmed.
The survivors escaped to then neutral Hungary and Romania, before being ordered to France by the new C-in-C of exiled Polish Armed Forces, General Sikorski. With the invasion of Western Europe in May 1940, the surviving pilots were once more thrust into desperate action in newly-formed Polish units.

Contents: The Last and the First - Into Battle - Sikorski's Troops - Battle for Britain - PAF Reborn - Northolt Wing - Shalski's Circus - USAAF Connection - Invasion and On - Whatever Happened to the Heroes? - Appendices.

Of all Allied airmen, Polish pilots had had the most experience of fighting the Luftwaffe by the time the war came to Britain. As the Battle of Britain raged, they quickly proved themselves as highly aggressive and skilful interceptors, especially when flying the famous Spitfire.

The Polish Air Force eventually became the largest non-Commonwealth Spitfire operator, using some 1,500 Mks I, II, V, IX and XVI to devastating effect. Top scoring USAAF ace of the ETO, Francis "Gabby" Gabreski and a whole host of other Allied and Commonwealth aces flew with Polish squadrons, adding even more to their fighting quality.
Conversely, several Polish pilots were attached to other Allied squadrons throughout the war, demonstrating their prowess alongside airmen from a whole host of nations.

From an expert on Polish fighter aviation, this is a peerless account of the fiery, talented Polish "Spit" pilots, whose country had been overrun and whose aggression and determination to shoot down Axis aircraft was unmatched.

Contents: Get the Spitfire - Defending Britain - Hot summer of 1941 - Against the Focke-Wulfs - Dieppe landings - Mk IXs - Mediterranean adventures - Tactical air force - Get a Spitfire - Appendices.

Karaś, Junak, Iskra, Bies, and finally Orlik. Aeronautics enthusiasts will easily recognise the Polish aircraft with these names. Aviation has come a long way from the first coarse wooden structures wrapped in cotton canvas to today's modern half-shell models.

The history of Polish aircraft manufacturers begins in 1909, when the Warsaw Aeronautical Society Awiata was founded at Pole Mokotowskie. From there, the author takes us on a journey across the country.

In addition to the most well-known centres of the Polish aviation industry - WSK PZL Świdnik and Mielec, the Central Aircraft Study Institute in Warsaw - the book also tells the story of aviation in Poznań, Lublin, Łódź and Biała Podlaska.
The story of Polish aviation, however, is not only about factories and subsequent models of aircraft produced by them, but above all about people whose passion allowed first to develop and then to rebuild the industry destroyed by two world wars. Flight attendants, engineers and aviation enthusiasts are no less the protagonists of this book than the machines.

Text in Polish.

The book takes a closer look at the history of airports in Poland. The authors describe Polish airports in an interesting way - those which used to serve regular passenger air traffic, those operating today and those planned.
Some of them, such as those in Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz or Kraków-Czyżyny, no longer perform any function in aviation, while others, such as those in Gliwice and Słupsk, have lost their status and serve only aeroclubs. Currently, the Register of Civil Airports in Poland has 15 entries. More may soon be added.

The book is divided into chapters showing the development of civil aviation in a particular city. It is enriched by unique photographs and maps taking into account the location of airports performing both contemporary and former passenger functions. In addition, the current state of civil airport infrastructure is illustrated by diagrams created especially for this publication.

Text in Polish.

10 lutego 1920 roku niepodległa Rzeczypospolita odzyskała swobodny dostęp do morza. Generał Józef Haller zaślubił Polskę z morzem, wrzucając platynowy pierścień w toń Bałtyku. Doniosła uroczystość miała miejsce w byłej niemieckiej bazie lotnictwa morskiego w Pucku.
Konsekwencją tego wydarzenia było zaistnienie na Morzu Bałtyckim polskiej Marynarki Wojennej oraz lotnictwa morskiego.

W trakcie tragicznego wrzesnia 1939 roku lotnicy morscy nie mieli okazji wykazać się swoimi umiejętnościami w powietrzu. Zbyt wielka była przewaga wroga. Jednak pokazali, że walczyć potrafią, zadając nieprzyjacielowi znaczne straty w ramach lądowej obrony wybrzeża.
Podczas powietrzno-morskich zmagań u boku brytyjskiego sojusznika utworzono 304. Dywizjon Bombowy Ziemi Śląskiej, który od 05/1942 działał w ramach lotnictwa obrony wybrzeża (Coastal Command). Do jego zadań należało m.in. patrolowanie nad morzem, ochrona konwojów, wykrywanie i niszczenie okrętów podwodnych. Kierownictwo Marynarki Wojennej uznało go za jednostkę lotnictwa morskiego.

Autorzy opracowania postanowili przypomnieć i przybliżyć czytelnikom ważne dzieje jedynej jednostki lotnictwa morskiego II Rzeczypospolitej oraz jej kontynuatora u boku sojuszników w okresie II wojny światowej.
W książce "Polskie lotnictwo morskie 1920-1946" pokazali ludzi tworzących tę jednostkę, problemy techniczne, z jakimi się wówczas zmagała, sposoby zastosowania bojowego.
W sposób popularnonaukowy przedstawili drogę, jaką przebyła polska morska awiacja od roku 1920 do 1946, kiedy to w Wielkiej Brytanii został rozwiązany 304. Dywizjon.
Tę wyjątkową książkę wzbogacają liczne zdjęcia archiwalne i współczesne, schematy wykonywania ataków na okręty podwodne, mapy oraz kolorowe tablice samolotów.