No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron
No. 305 (Ziemia Wielkopolska) Polish Bomber Squadron | |
---|---|
Second Tactical Air Force | |
Nickname(s) | Wielpolska |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Bolesław Orliński |
Insignia | |
Squadron Codes | SM (Aug 1940 – Jan 1947) |
No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron "Ziemia Wielkopolska" ("Land of Greater Poland") (Polish: 305 Dywizjon Bombowy "Ziemi Wielkopolskiej im. Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego") was a Polish World War II bomber unit. It fought alongside the Royal Air Force under their operational Command and operated from airbases in the United Kingdom.
History
The last of the Polish bomber squadrons under Royal Air Force command, 305 Squadron was formed at RAF Bramcote, Warwickshire on 29 August 1940. It was initially equipped with the somewhat obsolete Fairey Battle aircraft, but was reequipped in November 1940 with twin-engine Vickers Wellington heavy bombers. The unit began operational flying in April 1941. Its first mission was bombing of petrol and fuel storage tanks at Rotterdam in the night from 25 to 26 April 1941.[1] Between June 1941 and August 1943 the Squadron was based at RAF Ingham.
In August 1943, the Squadron was moved to
During this period, 305 Squadron was transferred to
Aircraft operated
From | To | Aircraft | Version |
---|---|---|---|
September 1940 | November 1940 | Fairey Battle | Mk.I |
November 1940 | July 1941 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.Ic |
July 1941 | August 1942 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.II |
August 1942 | May 1943 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.IV |
May 1943 | September 1943 | Vickers Wellington | Mk.X |
September 1943 | October 1943 | North American Mitchell | Mk.II |
December 1943 | November 1946 | de Havilland Mosquito | FB.VI |
See also
- Polish Air Forces in Great Britain
- Polish contribution to World War II
- Szczepan Ścibior, a pilot
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
- Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (new edition 1974). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
- Zieliński, Józef. 305 Dywizjon Bombowy Ziemi Wielkopolskiej I Lidzkiej. ISBN 83-11-09813-1. (In Polish)