Time has come for the next chapter of the Polish Wings. Rhade will post the first batch of planes later today, or tomorrow, and before that I'll put here a historical introduction (even though probably nobody is going to read it anyway
).
Polish Military Aviation 1921-1939
Supreme Aviation Authorities
In 1921 highest authority of Polish Military Aviation was (since february 1920)
Departament Żeglugi Powietrznej Ministerstwa Spraw Wojskowych (
DŻP MSWojsk, Department of Aerial Navigation of the Ministry of Military Affairs) headed by gen. Gustaw Macewicz. Because of his deteriorating health, he was replaced in january 1923 by French colonel (later brigadier general) Francois-Leon Leveque. Thanks to quite generous French financial military assistance he was soon able to present ambitious plan of expansion for the air force, which called for 50 squadrons in 10 regiments by 1926 (32 reconaissance, 16 fighter and 2 bomber, with 572 first-line aircraft. Though realization of the plan didn't proceed quite as planned (after year and a half Polish air force had the same number of squadrons - 13 - as when Leveque was appointed to his post), total number and average serviceability of planes was indeed raised and infrastructure was greatly developed.
In august 1924 Leveque was replaced by gen. Włodzimierz Zagórski. He continued his predecessor's policy of reliance on purchases (or license manufacturing) of great number of French aircraft (which were at the moment even too numerous to be used). In 1925 he presented even more ambitious plan, calling for 200 squadrons (66 divisional, 90 army-level and rest at the GHQ disposal) with 2306 aircraft by 1937, although this plan (never formally accepted in full) was too ambitious for economical realities of Poland, it remains very interesting document. On more practical level, by the time he was removed from post (first temporarily in march 1926, and later permamently in may of the same year), Zagórski managed to raise number of operational squadrons to 26 plus 2 maritime (in large part thanks to Leveque's efforts).
Zagórski's succesor, colonel (from 1934 brigadier general) Ludomił Rayski was the longest-serving air force chief of the pre-war Poland (june 1926 - march 1939). He took his post in the aftermath of marshal Józef Piłsudski's coup d'etat of may 1926. Piłsudski, hero of the independence struggle and already head of state 1918-1922, considered aviation merely an auxiliary service, useful mainly for reconaissance, but to little more. That itself wouldn't be so fateful if not his ideas for the organization of military authorities. Until 1926, president was supreme commander of the armed forces, who, in case of war, was to appoint a Commander-in-Chief. Minister of Military Affairs was responsible for all matters of military command and administration and army's preparedness to war. Subordinate to him, the General Staff, services and 10
Dowództwa Okręgow Korpusów (plur. - sing.:
Dowództwo Okręgu Korpusu, DOK, Corps District Command).
After May Coup a quite bizarre arrangement was created. On 6 august 1926 a
Generalny Inspektorat Sił Zbrojnych (
GISZ, General Inspectorate of the Armed Forces) was formed, creating a so-called "dual-track" organization of military authorities. It consisted of:
"War Track" -
GISZ with General Staff, which decided of all war and mobilization plans, tactics and development directions for the military. It also consisted of group of officers prepared to take army-level commands in case of war - but who had no staffs (!), and it had no element dealing specifically with aviational matters;
"Peace Track" -
MSWojsk (including air force command) responsible for administration, training and procurement, but only in peacetime, and with subordinate
DOK's, but reduced to administrative role. Worst of it was that "peace track" was not informed at all about plans nor works of "war track", and
only place where both these chains met was in person of Piłsudski himself, who was both General Inspector and Minister.
Rayski attempted to strenghten the air force and especially to develop strong aviational industry, but for the most time he acted in doctrinal vacuum, since he had no information on planned doctrine beyond some vague instructions by Piłsudski about emphasis on army cooperation and liason tasks. In fact, beyond certain bureaucratic and budgetary constraints, he enjoyed almost complete freedom of action (largely due to lack of serious interest in aviation on higher levels of the command chain) as head of
DŻP, in 1927 renamed
Departament Aeronautyki MSWojsk (
Department of Aeronautics of M.M.A.).
Piłsudski's death in 1935 created new political situation, that eventually led to partial overhaul of command arrangement. While it's core structure remained intact, finally first aviational-related department in
GISZ was formed on 4 july 1936, with gen. Gustaw Orlicz-Dreszer (from cavalry) as it's head:
Inspektorat Obrony Powietrznej Państwa (
IOPP, Inspectorate of State Air Defence). Unfortunately, Orlicz-Dreszer died in air crash just 12 days later, and was succeeded by gen. Józef Zając (from infantry). Roughly at the same time,
Departament Aeronautyki (still headed by Rayski), was reorganized into
Dowództwo Lotnictwa (
Aviation Command). Sadly, soon after both these institutions formed their own (totally unrelated and not cooperating with each other at all) Air Staffs.
In 1936 a long-term plan of general military modernization was drafted. As part of it, Rayski presented between 1936 and 1939 series of sub-plans for aviation. Main things that all these plans had in common was gradually shrinking number of planned squadrons (due to budget issues) and main emphasis on bomber aviation, with fighter aviation being seriously under-invested (with sad results in september 1939).
Due to disagreements about planned organization of the air force, Rayski resigned from his post in january 1939 and was replaced by gen. Władysław Kalkus. Soon after gen. Zając's post was upgraded to
Naczelny Dowódca Lotnictwa i Obroy Przeciwlotniczej (
Chief Commander of Aviation and Anti-Aircraft Defence) - though still only within "war track". By that time impracticality of dual-track arrangement was becoming obvious to some officers, finally leading then-minister, gen. Kasprzycki to subordinate Kalkus to Zając, though because such inter-track subordination was expressly forbidden by regulations, Kalkus was made subordinate not "functionally" (as ministry's aviation chief to inspectorate's aviation chief) but "personally" (as one officer to another).
In the last months before war Zając and Kalkus made frantic efforts to modify production plans (towards fighters) and to procure aircraft abroad (ordering, among others, Hawker Hurricanes, Morane MS.406s and Fairey Battles), but side effect of it was creating some chaos in industry at the worst possible moment.
Training Establishments
By the end of Polish-Soviet War Poland's military aviation had 8 schools (4 pilots', 4 observers' and 2 technical), but quickly that number was streamlined to just 4 institutions, including 3 training aviational personnel:
Niższa Szkoła Pilotów (
Lower Pilots' School) in Bydgoszcz,
Wyższa Szkoła Pilotów (
Higher Pilots' School) in Grudziądz and
Oficerska Szkoła Obserwatorów Lotniczych (
Officers' School of Aviational Observers) in Toruń.
That last school was disbanded in 1924 and was used as basis to form an air regiment, but in 1925 in Grudziądz additional
Oficerska Szkoła Lotnicza (
Officers' Aviational School) was formed, in 1927 moved to Dęblin and renamed
Szkoła Podchorążych Lotnictwa (
Officer-Cadets of Aviation School). Also in 1925
Lower School was renamed
Centralna Szkoła Podoficerów Pilotów (
Central School of NCO Pilots).
Two years later, "Higher School" in Grudziądz was disbanded and in it's place
Szkoła Strzelania i Bombardowania (
School of Gunnery and Bombardment) was formed (though it was still running courses of aerobatics for pilots).
In 1929 these schools were reorganized, and in effect there were:
-
Centrum Wyszkolenia Oficerów Lotnictwa (
Aviation Officers' Training Centre) in Dęblin,
-
Centrum Wyszkolenia Podoficerów Lotnictwa (
Aviation NCOs' Training Centre) in Bydgoszcz,
-
Lotnicza Szkoła Strzelania i Bombardowania (
Aviational School of Gunnery and Bombardment) in Grudziądz.
Further reorganization occured in 1937, when Gunnery School was disbanded and it's aerobatics courses moved to Ułęż, and two other schools were renamed
Centrum Wyszkolenia Lotnictwa numer 1 and
Centrum Wyszkolenia Lotnictwa numer 2 (
Aviational Training Centre no.1/2) respectively.
Additionaly there was technical training school, youth cadet school and reserve pilots school. Also, each air regiment had a training squadron.
Balloon troops had their own school - initially in Poznań, then in Toruń (until 1934).
Operational Units
As was mentioned before, in early 1920 air squadrons (sing.
eskadra lotnicza, plur.
eskadry lotnicze) 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, plus a
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: viewtopic.php?p=66411#p66411).
Over the next year some minor adjustments followed, and on 15 february 1921 operational units of the Polish military aviation were as follows:
-
I Dywizjon - Warszawa - with 1th, 8th and 16th reconnaissance squadrons,
-
II Dywizjon - Łuck (now Lutsk on Ukraine) - 6th reconnaissance squadron,
-
III Dywizjon - Lwów (now Lvov on Ukraine) - 5th reconnaissance and 7th fighter squadrons,
-
IV Dywizjon - Brześć Litewski (now Brest on Belarus) - 3rd, 12th reconnaissance and 18th fighter squadrons;
-
V Dywizjon - Bydgoszcz - 13th and 15th fighter squadrons,
-
VI Dywizjon - Kraków - 10th reconnaissance squadron,
-
VII Dywizjon - Grudziądz - 14th reconnaissance squadron
so total of 13 squadrons in 7 wings.
Also, there were three "aeronautical" (balloon) battalions with Caquot M2 and R2 observation balloons:
-
I Batalion Aeronautyczny - Poznań,
-
II Batalion Aeronautyczny - Jabłonna,
-
III Batalion Aeronautyczny - Toruń,
Note: Polish name for reconnaissance squadron was
eskadra wywiadowcza, for fighter squadron
eskadra myśliwska.
In the mid-1921 next reorganization followed, with wings being grouped into three air regiments:
-
1 Pułk Lotniczy in Warsaw,
-
2 Pułk Lotniczy in Kraków,
-
3 Pułk Lotniczy in Poznań.
and six lighter-than air battalions (three already mentioned, two new in Kraków (IV) and Brześć (V) plus an airship battalion in Toruń with single Zodiac VZ-11 Vedette blimp.
Following the gradual strenghtening of the air force under generals Leveque and Zagórski, three more regiments were added until 1925:
-
4 Pułk Lotniczy in Toruń in 1924 (formed from disbanded
Oficerska Szkoła Obserwatorów Lotniczych),
-
11 Pułk Myśliwski (
Fighter Regiment) in Lida (now on Belarus) near Wilno (now Vilnius on Lithuania) in 1924, in 1926 renamed
5 Pułk Lotniczy,
-
6 Pułk Lotniczy in Lwów in 1925.
On the other hand, lighter-than-air units were reduced in 1924 to single battalion in Toruń, with detached company in Jabłonna (which in turn was upgraded to second battalion in 1929).
Forming of
11 Pułk Myśliwski reflected Leveque's and Zagórski's expansion plans, that called for not only mixed regiments, but also specialized (fighter, bomber, reconnaissance) regiments. However since these plans were dropped in second half of the 1920s, unit was reorganized into "typical" mixed regiment.
Typical regiment was supposed to contain at least one bomber-reconnaissance wing, or "line wing" (
Dywizjon Liniowy) and one fighter wing (
Dywizjon Myśliwski). In reality, though, achieving that state took quite a lots of time and effort. On the other hand, regiment in Warsaw was typically stronger, with additional bomber wing(s), initially called "destroyer wing" (
Dywizjon Niszczycielski, later
Dywizjon Bombowy). Additionaly each regiment had training squadron (eventually wing), liason and transport elements etc.
On a note: each reorganization was typically followed by squadron renaming.
In late 1920s new type of sqadrons appeared, namely "accompanying" (army co-operation) ones (sing.
Eskadra Towarzysząca) shortly before war renamed to "observation" -
Eskadra Obserwacyjna), reflecting post-1926 emphasis on army support duties. These squadrons were organized into 3-plane platoons (instead of "flights" in other squadrons), that were to be attached to infantry divisions and cavalry brigades for observation and liason duties. While sound idea in principle (as evidenced by service of Pipers and Austers during WW2 and by helicopters ever since), in practical realities of september 1939 it ended in disaster, when slow and light aircraft of these units were easy prey for Messerschmitts enjoying air superiority.
In may 1939 operational units of the Polish Military Aviation were as follows:
1 Pułk Lotniczy - Warszawa
-III Dywizjon Myśliwski (111, 112 Eskadra Myśliwska),
-IV Dywizjon Myśliwski (113, 114 Eskadra Myśliwska),
-X Dywizjon Bombowy (211, 212 Eskadra Myśliwska),
-XV Dywizjon Bombowy (216, 217 Eskadra Myśliwska),
-13, 16 Eskadra Towarzysząca,
-Eskadra Transportowa (Transport Squadron),
-Dywizjon Szkolny (Eskadra Szkolna, Eskadra Treningowa) - (School Wing/School Squadron, Training Squadron)
2 Pułk Lotniczy - Kraków
-II Dywizjon Liniowy (21, 22, 24 Eskadra Liniowa),
-III Dywizjon Myśliwski (121, 122, 123 Eskadra Liniowa),
-22, 26 Eskadra Towarzysząca,
-Dywizjon Szkolny (Eskadra Szkolna, Eskadra Treningowa)
3 Pułk Lotniczy - Poznań
-II Dywizjon Liniowy (32, 34 Eskadra Liniowa),
-III Dywizjon Myśliwski (131, 132 Eskadra Liniowa),
-33, 36 Eskadra Towarzysząca
-Dywizjon Szkolny (Eskadra Szkolna, Eskadra Treningowa)
4 Pułk Lotniczy - Toruń
-I Dywizjon Liniowy (41, 42 Eskadra Liniowa),
-III Dywizjon Myśliwski (141, 142 Eskadra Myśliwska),
-43, 36 Eskadra Towarzysząca,
-Dywizjon Szkolny (Eskadra Szkolna, Eskadra Treningowa)
5 Pułk Lotniczy - Lida near Wilno
-I Dywizjon Liniowy (51, 55 Eskada Liniowa),
-III Dywizjon Myśliwski (151, 152 Eskadra Myśliwska),
-53, 56 Eskadra Towarzysząca
-Dywizjon Szkolny (Eskadra Szkolna, Eskadra Treningowa)
6 Pułk Lotniczy - Lwów
-VI Dywizjon Liniowy (64, 65 Eskadra Liniowa),
-III Dywizjon Myśliwski (161, 162 Eskadra Myśliwska),
-63, 66 Eskadra Towarzysząca,
-Dywizjon Szkolny (Eskadra Szkolna, Eskadra Treningowa)
Morski Dywizjon Lotniczy - Puck (part of the Navy)
-I Eskadra Dalekiego Rozpoznania (I Long-Range Reconnaissance Squadron),
-II Eskadra Bliskiego Rozpoznania (II Short-Range Reconnaissance Squadron),
-Pluton Łącznikowy (Liason Platoon)
1 Batalion Balonowy - Toruń (2 observation balloon companies, 1 barrage balloon company, 1 training company)
2 Batalion Balonowy - Jabłonna (2 observation balloon companies, 1 barrage balloon company, 1 training company)
Total: 6 regiments,
It should be noted, that later "line" squadrons were renamed "reconnaissance".
Planned strength for 1942
On a note, it should be mentioned how Polish Military Aviation (excluding naval aviation) was to look in 1942 under most complete among pre-war expansion plans:
"Aviation of Cooperation" (subordinated to field armies)
2 Pułk Lotniczy - Kraków:
-1 fighter wing - 2 fighter squadrons (22 PZL 50 Jastrząb, MS.406 or Hurricane aircraft),
-1 reconnaissance wing - 2 reconnaissance squadrons (21 PZL 46 Sum),
-1 observation wing - 2 observation squadrons (21 LWS-3 Mewa);
3 Pułk Lotniczy - Poznań:
-1 fighter wing - 2 fighter squadrons (22 PZL 50 Jastrząb, MS.406 or Hurricane aircraft),
-1 observation wing - 2 observation squadrons (21 LWS-3 Mewa),
-1 reconnaissance squadron (10 PZL 46 Sum);
4 Pułk Lotniczy - Toruń:
-1 fighter wing - 2 fighter squadrons (22 PZL 50 Jastrząb, MS.406 or Hurricane aircraft),
-1 observation wing - 2 observation squadrons (21 LWS-3 Mewa),
-1 reconnaissance squadron (10 PZL 46 Sum);
5 Pułk Lotniczy - Lida:
-1 fighter wing - 2 fighter squadrons (22 PZL 50 Jastrząb, MS.406 or Hurricane aircraft),
-1 observation wing - 2 observation squadrons (21 LWS-3 Mewa),
-1 reconnaissance squadron (10 PZL 46 Sum);
6 Pułk Lotniczy - Lwów:
-2 fighter wings - 4 fighter squadrons (44 PZL 50 Jastrząb, MS.406 or Hurricane aircraft),
-1 reconnaissance wing - 2 reconnaissance squadrons (21 PZL 46 Sum),
-1 observation wing - 2 observation squadrons (21 LWS-3 Mewa);
7 Pułk Lotniczy - Wilno:
-1 fighter wing - 2 fighter squadrons (22 PZL 50 Jastrząb, MS.406 or Hurricane aircraft),
-1 observation wing - 2 observation squadrons (21 LWS-3 Mewa),
-1 reconnaissance squadron (10 PZL 46 Sum);
Total: 6 regiments, 15 wings (7 fighter, 2 reconnaissance, 6 observation), 34 squadrons (14 fighter, 8 reconnaissance, 12 observation), 362 operational aircraft (154 fighter, 82 reconnaissance/bomber, 126 observation).
"Autonomous Aviation" (subordinated to GHQ)
(1) Brygada Pościgowa (Pursuit Brigade) - Warszawa:
-2 pursuit wings (heavy air defence fighter) - 4 pursuit squadrons (42 PZL 48 Lampart ?),
-1 bomber wing (attached for administrative purposes) - 2 bomber squadrons (19 PZL 37 Łoś);
(2) Brygada Pościgowa - Białystok:
-3 pursuit wings - 6 pursuit squadrons (63 PZL 48 Lampart ?);
(3) Brygada Pościgowa - Ostrowiec nad Kamienną (today Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski):
-2 pursuit wings - 4 pursuit squadrons (42 PZL 48 Lampart ?);
Brygada Bombowa (Bomber Brigade) - Brześć:
-2 bomber wings - 4 bomber squadrons (38 PZL 37 Łoś);
(1) Brygada Liniowa (Line - Bomber-Reconnaissance - Brigade) - Skierniewice:
-3 bomber-reconnaissance wings - 6 bomber-reconnaissance squadrons (PZL 46 Sum or Fairey Battle);
(2) Brygada Liniowa (Line - Bomber-Reconnaissance - Brigade) - Kraśnik:
-3 bomber-reconnaissance wings - 6 bomber-reconnaissance squadrons (PZL 46 Sum or Fairey Battle);
Total: 6 brigades, 16 wings (7 pursuit, 3 bomber, 6 bomber-reconnaissance), 32 squadrons (14 pursuit, 6 bomber, 12 bomber-reconnaissance), 330 operational aircraft (147 heavy air defence fighters, 57 bomber, 126 bomber-reconnaissance).
Planned grand total of the whole air force: 12 brigades and regiments, 31 wings, 64 squadrons, 692 aircraft.
Aviational Industry
Some details about Polish aviation industry of the era have been already mentioned in various posts in this thread, so here I'll just give a brief outline of major manufacturers to link it all together.
First aircraft manufacturer of independent Poland were
Centralne Warsztaty Lotnicze (
CWL, Central Aviational Workshops) organized in Warsaw in november 1918. Their primary task was initially maintenance of the aircraft, but in 1919 they made attempt to produce copy of Hannover CL.II aircraft and in mid-1920s also license-production of French Hanriot trainers. Also several attempts were made there to develop various domestic aircraft. In 1928 they were reformed into
Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze (PZL) (further below).
Also in 1919
Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze (
Military Aviational Workshops) in Kraków and Lwów produced small amount of Hansa Brandenburg B.I
biplanes, but their activity in field of manufacturing was short-lived.
Zakłady Mechaniczne E. Plage i T. Laśkiewicz (
Mechanical Works E. Plage and T. Laśkiewicz) was Poland's first "true" (commercial) aircraft manufacturer. Company existed since 1860 as mechanical workshop and steam boiler producer, gradually expanding their activities. In 1920 they begun producing aircraft, initially on Italian license. Because the workforce lacked experience with that kind of production, quality of their manufacture was initially extremely low, but gradually these issues were overcome and in mid-1920s factory acquired contract for license-production of French Potez aircraft, followed by Dutch Fokker transports. In late 1920s
Plage i Laśkiewicz's chief designer become Jerzy Rudlicki, who designed a many various types of aircraft manufactured under brand
Lublin. Rudlicki also invented V-tail, used later on Beech Bonanza, Fouga Magister and F-117. In 1935 factory was forced into bankruptcy and nationalized by military authorities, which subsequently renamed it
Lubelska Wytwórnia Samolotów (
LWS, Lublin Aircraft Factory). Under that name it continued operations until 1939.
In 1923 in Poznań
Wielkopolska Wytwórnia Samolotów "Samolot" (
WWS Samolot, Greater Poland Airplane Factory "Airplane") was formed. Initially it produced mostly trainers on French license, but gradually it started production of trainers designed by Ryszard Bartel. Results of 1929 crisis, together with fire that broke out in factory, led to factory's demise with some of it's activities (and personnel) being taken over by
PZL and
PWS.
Also in 1923, but in Biała Podlaska, a
Podlaska Wytwórnia Samolotów (
PWS, Podlasie Airplane Factory) was formed. It begun with license-manufacturing of French aircraft, followed by Bartel planes and finally with own designs. In 1932 factory was nationalized and in 1936 subordinated to
PZL (without re-branding). Factory was destroyed by aerial bombardment in september 1939.
Early and mid 1920s were period of brief but notable activity of Polish-French company
Francopol. It will be described together with SPAD 61 fighter.
One of the most famous brands of the Polish aviation industry was
RWD, whose name was an acronym from the names of the brands leading designers: Stanisław Rogalski, Stanisław Wigura and Jerzy Drzewiecki, while the manufacturers' actual name was
Doświadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze (
DWL, Experimental Aviational Workshops). It originated in to 1925 when the
Sekcja Lotnicza Koła Mechaników Studentów Politechniki Warszawskiej (
Aviational Section of the Circle of Mechanics of Students of Warsaw Institute of Technology) was formed. It produced many successful sports planes and military trainers, and was only major aircraft manufacturer that succesfuly resisted nationalization efforts of the military authorities in 1930s.
Państwowe Zakłady Lotnicze (
PZL, State Aircraft Works) were formed in 1928 from
CWL. Their first product was French Wibault 70 made on license, but soon they started manufacturing modern monoplane all-metal fighters designed by Zygmunt Puławski. Until the war
PZL produced many interesting and often highly advanced planes, mostly of military types. By 1939 it had two airframe factories (in Warsaw and in Mielec) and two engine factories (in Warsaw and in Rzeszów).
Other notable manufacturers of aviation-related equipment were
Państwowe Wytwórnie Uzbrojenia (
PWU, State Armament Manufacturers) - producing armament, ordnance and ammunition,
Państwowe Zakłady Inżynierii (
PZInż, State Engineering Works) - Poland's main manufacturer of ground vehicles, but also with large metallurgical sector, and
Polskie Zakłady Optyczne (
PZO, Polish Optical Works).
War
Polish Militar Aviation was put on war footing already on 24 august 1939, which resulted in disbandment of all air regiments and subordination of their units either to GHQ or to commands of particular field armies. Subsequently all combat aircraft were dispersed to the camouflaged forward airfields, thus when
Luftwaffe struck the main bases on 1 september, it managed to destroy number of auxiliary aircraft and infrastructure, but inflicted little losses to front-line aircraft (only 7% of combat aircraft was actually destroyed by Germans on the ground).
Before the mobilization stregth of the air force was around 10000 men, reaching 12043 by 1 september (with planned mobilization stregth around 17000, but this was unfortunately never fully achieved), including 1441 officers, 3602 NCOs and 7000 private - of it 1181 pilots, 497 observers and 219 gunners.
Aircraft strength on 1 september was as follows:
-159 fighters active and 118 in reserve, training and maintenance (30+75 P.7 and 129+43 P.11),
-36 bombers active and 40 in reserve, training and maintenance (36+40 PZL 37 Łoś and 15 LWS-4 Żubr in reserve),
-118 bomber-reconnaissance planes active and 85 in reserve, training and maintenance (all PZL 23 Karaś),
-83 observation aircraft active and 135 in reserve, training and maintenance (48+95 Lublin R.XIII and 35+40 LWS Czapla).
Naval aviation had 25 airplanes, including 23 floatplanes and flying boats.
Additionaly there wes around 1000 training and auxiliary planes, including 600 trainers (RWD-8, PWS-16, PWS-18, PWS-26) and rest being transport, liason, air ambulance planes, as well as number of stored aircraft of outdated combat types.
Organizationally it was as follows:
Lotnictwo Dyspozycyjne Naczelnego Wodza (Aviation at Disposal of Commander-in-Chief):
-Brygada Pościgowa:
---III/1 Dywizon Myśliwski (111, 112 Eskadra Myśliwska),
---IV/1 Dywizjon Myśliwski (113, 114, 123 Eskadra Myśliwska);
-Brygada Bombowa:
---II Dywizjon Bombowy Lekki (Light Bomber Wing, 21, 22 Eskadra Bombowa),
---VI Dywizjon Bombowy Lekki (64, 65 Eskadra Bombowa),
---X Dywizjon Bombowy (211, 212 Eskadra Bombowa),
---XV Dywizjon Bombowy (216, 217 Eskadra Bombowa),
---55 Samodzielna Eskadra Bombowa (55 autonomous bomber squadron),
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 4 (Liason Platoon No.4),
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 12;
-16 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
-Eskadra Sztabowa (Staff Squadron - liason/transport unit),
-Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 1,
-Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 2.
Lotnictwo Armijne (Aviation of the Armies):
-Lotnictwo Armii Karpaty (Aviation of the Karpaty Army):
---31 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza,
---56 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 5;
-Lotnictwo Armii Kraków (Aviation of the Kraków Army):
---III/2 Dywizjon Myśliwski (121, 122 Eskadra Myśliwska),
---24 Eskadra Myśliwska,
---23 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---26 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 3;
-Lotnictwo Armii Łódź (Aviation of the Łódź Army):
---III/6 Dywizjon Myśliwski (161, 162 Eskadra Myśliwska),
---32 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza,
---63 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---66 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 10;
-Lotnictwo Armii Modlin (Aviation of the Modlin Army):
---152 Eskadra Myśliwska,
---41 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza,
---53 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 11;
-Lotnictwo Armii Pomorze (Aviation of the Pomorze Army):
---III/4 Dywizjon Myśliwski (141, 142 Eskadra Myśliwska),
---42 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza,
---43 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---46 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 7,
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 8;
-Lotnictwo Armii Poznań (Aviation of the Poznań Army):
---III/3 Dywizjon Myśliwski (131, 132 Eskadra Myśliwska),
---34 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza,
---33 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---36 Eskadra Obserwacyjna,
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 6;
-Lotnictwo Samodzielnej Grupy Operacyjnej Narew (Aviation of the Autonomous Operational Group Narew):
---151 Eskadra Myśliwska
---51 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza,
---13 Eskadra Obserwacyjna
---Pluton Łącznikowy Nr 9;
-Lotnictwo Floty i Obrony Wybrzeża (Aviation of the Fleet and Coast Defence):
---Morski Dywizjon Lotniczy,
---Pluton Łącznikowy Dowództwa Lądowej Obrony Wybrzeża (Liason Platoon of the Command of Land Defence of the Coast).
Opposite that there were two German
Luftflotten (1 and 4) with nearly 2000 planes, including 648 bombers, 219 dive-bombers, 30 attack planes, 210 fighters, 474 reconnaissance and transport aircraft, 348 other support and air defence aircraft.
Despite the valiant Polish resistance, German air force, which enjoyed both numerical and technological superiority managed to eventually gain total supremacy in the air. Polish air units, together with whole army, were gradually pushed towards south-eastern areas of Poland, where it was hoped that it will be able to create a stronghold until expected French-British offensive on Western Front. However Soviet agression on 17 september 1939 made these hopes impossible, and on 17 and 18 september remaining combat formations of the air force had to evacuate to Romania and Hungary, where they were interned. Only active air units that remained in operation on Polish soil after that date were some ad-hoc flights in besieged Warsaw and aviation of "Narew" Group (which made last flights on 2 october 1939).
In total, Polish Military Aviation lost 327 front-line aircraft (average type losses around 75%), 234 members of flying personnel (61 KIA, 63 WIA, 110 MIA).
Still, the German losses were also high: around 130 aircraft shot down in air combat, 150 shot down by anti-aircraft fire and next ca. 280 heavily damaged and subsequently written off. Polish bomber aviation conducted 230 bombardment and 80 reconnaissance missions, dropping 172 tons of bombs (relatively low number, caused by certain hesitation of GHQ) plus several dozen tons dropped by bomber-reconnaissance units of army aviation.
Although Poland was overrun by nazis, that didn't mean the end of Poland's air force in World War 2. Soon forming of Polish Armed Forces in Exile - in France and Great Britain - begun, including air units. There, they continued their fight until the very last day of the war in Europe.
EDIT: Search tags for the Rhade's post below:
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Poland, Farman F.68 Goliath
Poland, Potez XV
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Poland, CWL WZ-IX Pteranodon
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