Talk:No. 303 Squadron RAF

Battle of Britain kill-score

According to the main "Polish contribution to World War II" article, the polish 303 squadron accounted for 12% of the total kills in Battle of Britain.

"The 303 Squadron, named after the Polish-American hero, General Tadeusz Kościuszko, achieved the highest number of kills (273) of all fighter squadrons engaged in the Battle of Britain, even though it only joined the combat on 1940-08-30: these 5% of pilots were responsible for a phenomenal 12% of total victories in the Battle"

But this article says 4.7% of total kills for the same Squadron with "only" 126 confirmed kills. So which article is correct?

I have corrected the number of confirmed kills by the 303 squadron.--Witkacy 12:16, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

We can use a reference for this. What sources did you use? --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus ^Talk 17:43, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

Te 126 pochodzi (jak sie nie myle) z ksiazek Jerzego Cynka - co do tych 273 nie wiem do czego ta liczba nawiazuje, moze do zestrzelen wszystkich polskich pilotow (nie tylko z dyonu 303) podczas bitwy o Anglie.--Witkacy 19:47, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

I think 273 is the confirmed amount of kills for 303 Sqn for the entire war Pkmink 15:49, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

Royal Air Force

Was the 303 a RAF squadron or not? The article seems to skirt round this issue.GraemeLeggett 13:04, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

How could it not be? It was a RAF squadron manned by Polish pilots...-- _{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus | talk}  14:02, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

Just wanted to clarify before altering the introductory paragraph.GraemeLeggett 14:07, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

And clearing up soe other ambiguity, on 11 June 1940, the Polish government-in-exile signed an agreement wherein the Poles would form two bomber squadrons at the Polish government's cost. The squadron members would be subordinated to British statioon commaners, quartermasters and paymasteres and subject to the King's Regulations (Zamoyski, "The Forgotten Few" 1995, p. 64.). Other aspects of the arrangement included the Poles wearing RAF uniforms, flying aircraft with British markings and the Polish Air Force flag could fly beneath that of the RAF on station. On 5 August 1940, a new agreement between the British and Polish government meant that all Polish Air Force members ceased to be RAFVR and only then did they become a sovereign body. No. 303 Squadron was formed on 2 August 1940, so for a brief time operated as part of the RAF under the auspices of the original formal agreement of June 1940. FWIW Bzuk 19:57, 8 August 2007 (UTC).

Sorry Bzuk, but Polish squadrons were never part of RAF. Initially Polish pilots could fly in RAF squadrons as volounteers only and then they were RAF pilots. Polish soldiers in Polish squadrons worn RAF uniforms with Polish insignia (Polish Air Force Eagle on caps and "Poland" arm patch) and aircraft had Polish insignia next to British ones. Regards, Piotr Mikołajski 17:33, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

This question of Polish autonomy within the RAF is a grey area; While politically the Polish government in exile exerted its own chain of command on 'Free Polish' air force units, prior to the formation of 303 many Polish pilots had already served with existing RAF squadrons in 1940 under the administrative control of the RAF Volunteer Reserve. However it should be remembered that just with RCAF and RAAF squadrons, non RAF squadrons were essentially front line combat units under direct RAF strategic and tactical command, and as such were treated no differently to the traditional RAF units. Harryurz 21:10, 11 August 2007 (UTC)

Sorry, but it isn't grey area. Before agreements about forming squadrons Polish pilots were allowed to fly in RAF units and many Poles fight in RAF squadrons during BoB. Many fought later, till the end of the war, and few Poles were commanders of RAF squadrons too. Polish squadrons were under RAF command / operational use till 1944 when PAF became independent. I don't want to translate all articles and publications released in recent yeras in Poland but it's really hard to prove that PAF squadrons were in fact RAF squadrons. Regards, Piotr Mikołajski 18:08, 12 August 2007 (UTC)

Zdzisław Krasnodębski article

The article on Zdzisław Krasnodębski needs some work, if anyone is available to clean up, get references and improve the article. Thanks! Leena (talk) 07:02, 19 June 2008 (UTC)

V1

Please look for materials concerning Polish pilots take downs of V1 machines (might be interesting). Boys from 303 were the only ones thats ware able to get near V1 (wing-to-wing) and take them out of course. [Greeting to all RAF from PL]