Does the name of No 303 Polish Fighter Squadron ring any bell to you?

Answer 1

No. 303 "Kościuszko" Polish Fighter Squadron (Polish: Warszawski Dywizjon im. Tadeusza Kościuszki) was a Polish fighter squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom on 2 August of 1940 and became officially operational a few weeks later on 31 August. Kosciuszko Squadron is famous for claiming the highest number of enemy kills during the Battle of Britain of all fighter squadrons then in operation through September to October 1940[1]. The squadron was disbanded in December 1946.
It was one of several Polish fighter squadrons fighting alongside the Royal Air Force during the World War II.
Squadron was named after the Polish and American hero General Tadeusz Kościuszko.

But it rings no more of a bell for me than Norwegian Squadron No. 330 Squadron RAF during World War II as part of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service, with a mission of convoy protection in the North Atlantic Ocean. After the war the name was kept and although now using helicopters instead of planes, and having a different mission, 330 Squadron still flies over the North Atlantic.The squadron was established on 25 April 1941 from Norwegian naval personnel. It was the first Norwegian exile air unit and part of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service. Its mission was to guard the North Atlantic Ocean and protect convoys from the USA to Great Britain or Murmansk from attacks by submarines and surface ships from the German Kriegsmarine.

The squadron first operated Northrop N-3PB torpedo bomber sea planes from Reykjavík on Iceland. The squadron got its first Catalinas in June 1941 and a detachment was based at Akureyri from July 1941. On 28 January 1943 the entire squadron relocated to Oban, Scotland where it began to re-equip with Sunderlands.

The second maritime exile squadron was 333 squadron established in 1943 in Woodhaven, Scotland equipped with Catalina sea planes and Mosquito fighter-bombers.

Both aircraft and running costs were financed by the exiled Norwegian government.

At the end of the war the squadron was disbanded as an RAF unit, and passed to the control of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

All the brave nationals from various countries who served with the RAF including, Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, Americans, Polish, Czech, Dutch, Greek, French all helped to ensure we speak English today not German

Answer 2

Michael J has the right info - hope if any are still alive they are having the care in old age they deserve. Read a worrying article on a Polish web site the other day about how the old are being deserted and there is now a shortage of carers as most of the youth is leaving Poland to come to the uk to do our low paid care jobs instead. Fine for us, but i feel sorry for the Polish people -the Pols had some of the worst treatment in the 2nd world war- have this knowledge first hand as my mother was an immigrant to the uk.

Answer 3

Yes. A veteran flier from that squadron lives in Southern Nevada and he was in our Veterans Day Parade this year (as he has been in past years) in his full dress Polish uniform.

Answer 4

i knew there was a polish squadron thought fought in the battle of britain. and i know that britain had planes but no experienced pilots to fly them.

Answer 5

yes it does

Answer 6

Here you go.

Answer 7

No, sorry.

Answer 8

sorry ..no