WORLD WAR II: BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

A collection of nine RAF combat reports from Polish Squadrons 302 AND 303. RAF Duxford (302) and RAF Northolt (303), August 31st to september 26th, 1940.

A collection of nine RAF combat reports from Polish Squadrons 302 AND 303. RAF Duxford (302) and RAF Northolt (303), August 31st to september 26th, 1940. Carbon copies of combat reports (form 1151 on green paper), 3 for 302 and 6 for 303, all typed out from the verbatim reports of the Polish pilots daily sorties during the Battle of Britain, and each signed by the pilot. Slightly browned at edges.

A fine series of historic flying documents documenting, at first hand, the enormous numerical odds that the Polish flyers were up against, day on day. Each report documents the number and type of enemy aircraft, the location and height of the aerial combat and the casualties. The Polish flyers in the RAF were renown for their aggression against the German Luftwaffe, since most had managed to slip out of Poland as it was overrun by German Forces in 1939, and make their way to Britain. Although by the end of the war there were 16 squadrons of Polish flyers in the RAF, at the time of the Battle of Britain only 2 fighter squadrons had been set up, the 302nd and the 303rd, both flying Hurricanes. One report for the 302, dated September 15th reports the actions and the death of pilot Tadeusz Chlopiik, over south east London, another documents Squadron Leader Kellett's action on August 31st 1940, who set up the 303 squadron, in Blackpool on July 1940.