Despite these difficulties, the Polish airmen distinguished themselves during the French campaign, scoring 52 confirmed, 3 probables and 6 damaged enemy aircraft. During the German invasion of France in May and June 1940, only 174 Polish airmen, or 10% of the available strength, were used in combat. Polish pilots were rarely deployed to combat units. Training was generally inadequate and conducted on obsolete equipment. The combat experience and fighting ability of the Polish pilots was largely ignored by the French. In April 1940 the PAF was comprised of three fighter wings and one close reconnaissance wing, each with two squadrons.
Despite suffering a crushing defeat, Polish airmen maintained excellent morale and relished the opportunity to fight the Germans again. The Polish Air Force (PAF) was recreated and established on French soil following a number of agreements between the French government and the Polish government-in-exile. Polish forces fought with distinction, but Poland was crushed by the two invaders in five weeks.Īfter their defeat, tens of thousands of Polish servicemen made their way to France to continue the struggle against a common enemy.
Polish defences, already strained under a powerful and innovative German assault, collapsed shortly after the Soviets launched their own invasion from the east on 17 September. On 1 September 1939 the German Army, supported by the Air Force (Luftwaffe) and Navy (Kriegsmarine) invaded Poland from three sides.
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