Polish Fighting Team

Polish Fighting Team
Badge of the Polish Fighting Team
Active	13 February 1943 to 22 July 1943
Country	Poland
Part of	Desert Air Force
Nickname(s)	"Skalski Circus"
Battle honours	North African Campaign
Insignia
Unit code	ZX + individual number (0-10)
Aircraft flown
Fighter	Supermarine Spitfire

The Polish Fighting Team (PFT) (Template:Lang-pl), also known as "Skalski's Circus" (Template:Lang-pl), was a Polish unit which fought with the British Commonwealth Desert Air Force in the North African Campaign of World War II, during 1943. Its nickname was derived from its commander, Stanisław Skalski.

History

The unit was sent to North Africa at the insistence of the Free Polish HQ, which wanted to train a cadre of experienced pilots in harsh conditions. The team was attached to No. 145 Squadron RAF, flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX.

A total of 15 Polish pilots were chosen, under a plan for personnel rotation every three months. After initial preparations at RAF West Kirby in the UK, they embarked on an Atlantic convoy, arriving in North Africa in March 1943.

The unit gained a reputation for effectiveness and style. Flying Officer Mieczysław Wyszkowski was the only casualty in the PFT, shot down and taken prisoner-of-war on 18 April. The German Army in Africa surrendered on 13 May and the PFT was disbanded.

Locations

• 13 March 1943 - Bu Grara
• 11 April 1943 - La Fauconnerie
• 15 April 1943 - Goubrine
• 6 May 1943 - Hergla
• 20 May 1943 - Ben Gardane

Squadron equipment

• 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

Team scores for March-May 1943

destroyed	25
probable	3
damaged	9

See also

• Polish Air Force
• Polish contribution to World War II

References

• Bohdan Arct: Cyrk Skalskiego Warsaw, 1970, MON