Polish Wings

Bit of history, as an introduction to the next chapter.

Polish Military Aviation 1918-1921

Although today the ceremonial date of the regaining of independence by Poland is set on 11 november (1918), it was actually a long, gradual and complicated process that - for various territories - extended over the course of almost four years (1918-1922).

First part of Poland that declared independence after 123 years of partitions was Królestwo Polskie (Kingdom of Poland) - former Russian partition, since 1915 under German-Austrian occupation, whose figurehead Polish authorities, Rada Regencyjna (Regency Council) issued a proclamation of independence on 7 october 1918. However due to strong German-Austrian forces of occupation it had initially limited practical effect until after 11 november 1918 when a negotiaded disarming and withdrawal of these forces begun.

Next to threw off the foreign yoke was the Austrian partition: Galicja (not to be confused with Spanish Galicia), where on 31 october 1918 Polska Komisja Likwidacyjna Galicji i Śląska Cieszyńskiego (Polish Liquidation Commitee of Galicja and Cieszyn Silesia took control of Kraków from Austrian authorities (disarming, in the process, local garrison) and day later fighting erupted in Lwów between Poles and Ukrainian nationalists (that lasted until 22 november, with whole Polish-Ukrainian War lasting until 17 july 1919 and ending with Poland's victory).

Process of gaining indepencence in the German partition was more prolonged, though. It started in Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) with the eruption of the uprising on 27 december 1918, that lasted until 16 february 1919 (and also ended with Poland's victory). It was followed by three Silesian Uprisings (16-24 august 1919, 19-25 august 1920, 2 may-5 july 1921), which although not fully succesful, managed to achieve 1/3 of disputed territories with 50% of industry and 76% of coal mines (it's main economical asset). Finally, between 18 january and 11 february 1920 Pomorze (Pomerania - actually it's eastern part), awarded to Poland in the Versailles Treaty and taken over gradually after the withdrawal of German troops.

On the eastern frontier the process was even more prolonged and bloody. On the south-east it was already mentioned Polish Ukrainian war. Along the whole eastern border it was followed by two-year long Polish-Soviet War from 14 february 1919. It's most extreme territorial highlights was Polish-Ukrainian (who, by then, become our allies against bolsheviks) capture of Kiev from Soviets on 7 may 1920, followed by Soviet counter-offensive that ended with a decisive battle at the gates of Warsaw (12-25 august 1920), ending in great victory of Poland under marshal Józef Piłsudski and total rout of Soviet forces under leadership of Mikhail Tukhachevsky. That in turn led to ceasefire on 18 october 1920 and formal peace treaty signed in Riga (Latvia) on 18 march 1921.

Last major part of Poland's independence process was gaining of Wilno (Vilnius, today's capital of Lithuania) and it's surroundings. Posession of the city was hotly disputed between newly-independent Lithuania (for which it was historical capital) and Poland (overwhelming majority of the region inhabitants were Polish and Jewish, with less than 3% Lithuanian). Because of the international complications that would result in a forceful attempt to capture the city by regular Polish Army, a fake "mutiny" of one of the divisions (formed from volunteers from that region) was staged, leading to the creation of nominally-independent Republika Litwy Środkowej (Republic of Central Lithuania) that subsequently declared it's will to join Rzeczpospolita Polska ( Republic of Poland), which took place on 18 april 1922.

Process of creation of the Polish military aviation (at home) reflected all these events.
It began with the capture of the airfield in Kraków on 31 october-3 november 1918 with some 30 aircraft, followed by airfields at Przemyśl (31 october), Lwów (3 november) and Lublin. From 11 november airfields in Kingdom of Poland were taken into Polish hands, including Warsaw's Pole Mokotowskie (Mokotów Field) airfield with 70 aircraft. Altogether in Kingdom and Galicja a total of 206 airframes of 30 types and 232 engines of 14 types were captured, allowing to create first eskadry (sing. eskadra - squadron) of the Polish military aviation - although shortage of qualified personnel of Polish origin (being present in country) was a significant obstacle (less than 200 men in early 1919). One squadron each was formed in Kraków and Warsaw, two in Lwów and an demi-squadron was formed in Lublin.

These events were followed by creation of higher command and administrative authorities. On 14 november 1918 a Sekcja Żeglugi Powietrznej Departamentu Technicznego Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (Section of Aerial Navigation of the Technical Department of the Ministry of Military Affairs, short name of ministry was MSWojsk.) was formed, headed by lt.col. Hipolit Łossowski. It was reorganized into Szefostwo Lotnictwa przy Naczelnym Dowództwie (Chief Administration of Aviation at Supreme Command), and in march 1919 into Inspektorat Wojsk Lotniczych MSWojsk. (Inspectorate of Aviational Forces of the MMilA), all initially headed by Łossowski.

Major strenghtening of the Polish military aviation occured as a result of the uprising in Greater Poland. On 6 january 1919 Poznań airfields (Ławica and Winiary) were captured with 300 airplanes (about 70 of them flyable, rest stored). Together with some planes captured elsewhere in the region it allowed creation of local air squadrons which on 9 jaunary conducted first aerial bombardement by independent Poland's military aviation (on Frankfurt airfield).

In may 1919 gen. Józef Haller's Błękitna Armia (Blue Army) had arrived from France, together with it's 7 squadrons, flight school and some 100 planes. In june the air squadron of the 4 Dywizja Strzelców (4th Rifle Division) arrived from southern Russia via Romania, although without airplanes. Around the same time negotiations begun to secretly purchase certain amount of aircraft from German war surplus.

In september 1919 "central" air force, Greater Poland air force and Blue Army aviation were merged, with the col. (from 1920 brig.gen.) Gustaw Macewicz becoming the head of the unified force. Together it numbered 22 squadrons - 11 from Kingdom and Galicja, 4 from Greater Poland and 7 from Blue Army, as well as three aviation schools (with fourth, offering advanced course, was formed in Poznań shortly after). Some reorganization and streamlining followed, and in the end of 1919 Polish aviation had 19 squadrons with 130 aircraft (nominal squadron strength was 6 aircraft).

Eventually, during the course of the 1918-1921 conflicts, Polish air force had 20 "full" squadrons - 4 fighter, 1 bomber and 15 reconnaissance. Total of 8 schools were formed (4 for pilots, 4 for observers and 2 for ground personnel) which until november 1920 trained 285 pilots, 81 observers and 502 technicians. War-time conditions necessitated an influx of further airplanes. Besides those captured from Germany, Austria and later also Ukraine and Soviet Russia (total number of captured planes from all sources could be around 968), large numbers were obtained elsewhere. Some were secretly purchased in Germany. Significant amount was donated by France and more were bought. Also significant purchases were made in Great Britain and Italy. In Kraków and Lwów airfield workshops started production of Brandenburg B.I trainer of which several dozen were made. In total, between 1918 and 1920 Polish air force had some 1800 planes of over 100 types/models/sub-variants (although not all of them simultaneously, with certain number of these being just single planes, not always in flyable conditions, many more were worn-out and used only very briefly). Significant problem in the development of the force was shortage of qualified personnel - in february 1920 vacancies amounted to 30% of pilots, 45% of observers and 40% of ground technicians.

Initially Polish air force fought in separate squadrons, attached as needed to particular armies or fronts (army groups). From early 1920 they were combined into Grupy Lotnicze (sing. Grupa Lotnicza, Aviational Group), in april 1920 renamed into Dywizjony (sing. Dywizjon, rougly Wing equivalents) - 4 reconnaissance, 2 fighter and 3 reserve. Also in 1920, after gaining access to Baltic, naval aviation was formed in form of Morski Dywizjon Lotniczy (Maritime Air Wing - sometimes translated as Naval Air Squadron - issues with translation of Polish terms "eskadra" and "dywizjon" into english are described here, in point 4: http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 411#p66411) with base in Puck.

In the course of the 1918-1921 conflicts Polish aviators flew total of 5000 sorties in 9465 hours. In dogfights shot 7 aircraft (4 Soviet and 3 Ukrainian) and 3 balloons, losing 3 aircraft in air-to-air combat and 34 more due to ground fire. 116 aviators were killed (more than half of them in accidents, though).

In 1920 Polskie Lotnictwo Wojskowe (Polish Military Aviation - the name being ultimately adapted as formal one) had 210 combat aircraft and 420 pilots and observers. After the war it was partially demobilized and reorganized (but that will be described later).

EDIT: Search tags for the Rhade's post below:

Poland, Hansa-Brandenburg C.I
Poland, Hansa-Brandenburg B.I
Poland, Lloyd C.II
Poland, Lloyd C.V
Poland, Oeffag C.I
Poland, Oeffag C.II
Poland, Oeffag D.III

and for the post on the next page - http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 690#p93690

Poland, Nieuport 17
Poland, Nieuport 21
Poland, Nieuport 23
Poland, Nieuport 24
Poland, Nieuport 80/81/83
Poland, SPAD S.VII (S7)
Poland, SPAD S.XIII (S13)
Poland, Salmson 2A2
Poland, Breguet XIV
Poland, Caudron G.III
Poland, Morane-Saulnier MS.29/30
Poland, FBA S-4

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