Polish Fighting Team: Difference between revisions
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[[File:PFT Spitfire MK9 ZX6.jpeg|thumb|Polish Fighting Team's [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire Mark IXCs]], with [[No. 145 Squadron RAF]] at Goubrine Airfield in Tunisia. Pilot in foreground 'ZX-6' is PTF [[Commanding officer|CO]] [[Stanisław Skalski]].]] |
[[File:PFT Spitfire MK9 ZX6.jpeg|thumb|Polish Fighting Team's [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire Mark IXCs]], with [[No. 145 Squadron RAF]] at Goubrine Airfield in Tunisia. Pilot in foreground 'ZX-6' is PTF [[Commanding officer|CO]] [[Stanisław Skalski]].]] |
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The '''Polish Fighting Team''' (PFT) ({{ |
The '''Polish Fighting Team''' (PFT) ({{langx|pl|Polski Zespół Myśliwski}}), also known as "Skalski's Circus" ({{langx|pl|Cyrk Skalskiego}}), was a Polish unit which fought alongside the [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] [[Desert Air Force]] in the [[North African Campaign]] of [[World War II]], during 1943. Its nickname was derived from its [[commanding officer]], [[Flight lieutenant|F/Lt]] [[Stanisław Skalski]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Formed at [[Northolt]] on 5 February 1943 as the Polish Fighting Team, initial preparations for overseas service took place at [[RAF West Kirby]], and the unit embarked on 24 February, arriving in [[Tunisia]] on 13 March 1943. |
Formed at [[Northolt]] on 5 February 1943 as the Polish Fighting Team, initial preparations for overseas service took place at [[RAF West Kirby]], and the unit embarked on 24 February, arriving in [[Tunisia]] on 13 March 1943. |
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The team was initially attached as 'C' flight, to [[No. 145 Squadron RAF]] of [[flying ace]] [[Squadron leader|S/L]] [[Lance Wade]] (another non-[[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] enlistee), equipped with the Spitfire Mk |
The team was initially attached as 'C' flight, to [[No. 145 Squadron RAF]] of [[flying ace]] [[Squadron leader|S/L]] [[Lance Wade]] (another non-[[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] enlistee), equipped with the [[Supermarine Spitfire (early Merlin-powered variants)#Mk V (Types 331, 349 and 352)|Spitfire Mk V]] and operating from [[Bou Grara Airfield]], 150 miles west of [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]]. |
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Commencing operations on 18 March the unit gained an immediate reputation for combat effectiveness. The unit re-equipped with the [[Supermarine Spitfire |
Commencing operations on 18 March the unit gained an immediate reputation for combat effectiveness. The unit re-equipped with the [[Supermarine Spitfire (late Merlin-powered variants)#Mk IX (type 361)|Spitfire Mark IX]] in late March. |
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[[Flying officer]] Mieczysław Wyszkowski was the only casualty in the PFT, shot down and taken [[prisoner-of-war]] on 18 April. Following the surrender of the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]] in Africa on 13 May, the PFT was disbanded. |
[[Flying officer]] Mieczysław Wyszkowski was the only casualty in the PFT, shot down and taken [[prisoner-of-war]] on 18 April. Following the surrender of the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]] in Africa on 13 May, the PFT was disbanded. |
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Latest revision as of 15:36, 27 October 2024
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2010) |
| Polish Fighting Team | |
|---|---|
 Badge of the Polish Fighting Team | |
| Active | 13 February 1943 to 22 July 1943 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Allegiance |  Polish Government in exile |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Part of | Desert Air Force |
| Nickname(s) | "Skalski's Circus" |
| Battle honours | North African Campaign |
| Insignia | |
| Unit code | ZX + individual number (0-10) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | Supermarine Spitfire |
The Polish Fighting Team (PFT) (Polish: Polski Zespół Myśliwski), also known as "Skalski's Circus" (Polish: Cyrk Skalskiego), was a Polish unit which fought alongside the British Commonwealth Desert Air Force in the North African Campaign of World War II, during 1943. Its nickname was derived from its commanding officer, F/Lt Stanisław Skalski.
History
[edit]
In late 1942 Polish Air Force Staff Command requested RAF permission to send a group of specially chosen pilots to the North African theatre of operations to acquire experience in operating as a part of a tactical air force in preparation for future Allied landings on the European continent.
Volunteers had to be experienced (with at least 30 operation missions completed) and some 70 volunteers were considered before 15 pilots were chosen for the operational tour of 3 months.
Formed at Northolt on 5 February 1943 as the Polish Fighting Team, initial preparations for overseas service took place at RAF West Kirby, and the unit embarked on 24 February, arriving in Tunisia on 13 March 1943.
The team was initially attached as 'C' flight, to No. 145 Squadron RAF of flying ace S/L Lance Wade (another non-Commonwealth enlistee), equipped with the Spitfire Mk V and operating from Bou Grara Airfield, 150 miles west of Tripoli.
Commencing operations on 18 March the unit gained an immediate reputation for combat effectiveness. The unit re-equipped with the Spitfire Mark IX in late March.
Flying officer Mieczysław Wyszkowski was the only casualty in the PFT, shot down and taken prisoner-of-war on 18 April. Following the surrender of the German Army in Africa on 13 May, the PFT was disbanded.
Three pilots stayed on and became part of Desert Air Force units; Skalski became Commanding officer (CO) of No. 601 Squadron, Horbaczewski CO of No. 43 and Drecki a Flight Commander in No. 152.
Locations
[edit]- 13 March 1943 - Bou Grara Airfield
- 11 April 1943 - La Fauconnerie Airfield (64 kilometres (40 mi) inland from Sfax)
- 15 April 1943 - Goubrine Airfield
- 6 May 1943 - Hergla Airfield
- 20 May 1943 - Ben Gardane Airfield
Squadron equipment
[edit]- 15 March 1943 - Supermarine Spitfire F. Vb Tropicalised and Vc (inter alia: AB168, ER539 -7)
- 23 March - 26 May 1943 - Supermarine Spitfire F. IXc (inter alia: EN261 -10, EN267 -5, EN268 -7, EN286 -8, EN300 -9, EN315 -6, EN361 -3, EN459 -1)
Scores
[edit]| destroyed | 25 |
|---|---|
| probable | 3 |
| damaged | 9 |
Personnel
[edit]- F/Lt Stanisław Skalski (CO) (claimed 3-1-0)
- F/Lt Waclaw Król (2i/c) (3-0-0)
- F/O Bohdan Arct (1-1-2)
- F/O Wladyslaw Drecki (1-0-1)
- F/O Eugeniusz Horbaczewski (5-0-0)
- F/O Jan Kowalski
- F/O Ludwik Martel (1-1-1)
- F/O Karol Pniak
- F/O Kazimierz Sporny (3-0-0)
- F/O Mieczyslaw Wyszkowski (POW on April 18) (0-1-0)
- W/O Marcin Machowiak (1-0-2)
- W/O Wladyslaw Majchrzyk (1-0-1)
- W/O Bronislaw Malinowski (2-0-1)
- W/O Mieczyslaw Popek (2-0-1)
- W/O Kazimierz Sztramko(3-0-0)
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- Bohdan Arct: Cyrk Skalskiego Warsaw, 1970, MON
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Polish Air Force in the United Kingdom during the Second World War | ||
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