Polish Fighting Team
Encyclopedia
The Polish Fighting Team (PFT) , also known as "Skalski's Circus" , was a Polish
unit which fought with the British Commonwealth
Desert Air Force
in the North African Campaign
of World War II
, during 1943. Its nickname was derived from its commander, Stanisław Skalski.
Volunteers had to be experienced (with at least 30 operation missions completed) and some 70 volunteers were considered before 15 pilots were chosen for the operational tour of 3 months.
Formed at Northolt
on 5 February 1943 as the Polish Fighting Team, initial preparations for overseas service took place at RAF West Kirby
, and the unit embarked on 24 February, arriving in North Africa on 13 March 1943.
The team was initially attached as 'C' flight, to No. 145 Squadron RAF
, (under ace S/L Lance Wade equipped with the Spitfire Mk.V and operating from Bu Ghara 150 miles west of Tripoli
.
Commencing flying on 18 March, the unit gained an immediate reputation for combat effectiveness. The unit re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire
Mark IX in late March.
Flying Officer
Mieczysław Wyszkowski was the only casualty in the PFT, shot down and taken prisoner-of-war on 18 April. The German Army
in Africa surrendered on 13 May and the PFT was disbanded.
Three pilots stayed on and became part of Desert Air Force units; Skalski became CO of No. 601 Squadron, Horbaczewski CO of No. 43 and Drecki a Flight Commander in 152.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
unit which fought with the British Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
Desert Air Force
Desert Air Force
The Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
in the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during 1943. Its nickname was derived from its commander, Stanisław Skalski.
History
In late 1942 Polish Air Force Staff Command requested RAF permission to send a group of specially chosen pilots to the North African theatre of operations to acquire experience in operating as a part of a tactical air force in preparation for future Allied landings on the European continent.Volunteers had to be experienced (with at least 30 operation missions completed) and some 70 volunteers were considered before 15 pilots were chosen for the operational tour of 3 months.
Formed at Northolt
Northolt
Northolt is a town in the London Borough of Ealing, England. The town has London Underground and Network Rail stations and is on the A40 road...
on 5 February 1943 as the Polish Fighting Team, initial preparations for overseas service took place at RAF West Kirby
RAF West Kirby
RAF West Kirby was a Royal Air Force training camp in West Kirby, Wirral Peninsula, England.The camp was set up at the beginning of the Second World War to train RAF recruits in physical fitness. Thousands of conscripts went through its gates up until 1960, when the camp was demolished and the land...
, and the unit embarked on 24 February, arriving in North Africa on 13 March 1943.
The team was initially attached as 'C' flight, to No. 145 Squadron RAF
No. 145 Squadron RAF
No. 145 Squadron was a Royal Air Force squadron that operated during World War I, World War II and the Cold War. Its motto was Diu noctuque pugnamus .-History:...
, (under ace S/L Lance Wade equipped with the Spitfire Mk.V and operating from Bu Ghara 150 miles west of Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
.
Commencing flying on 18 March, the unit gained an immediate reputation for combat effectiveness. The unit re-equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
Mark IX in late March.
Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
Mieczysław Wyszkowski was the only casualty in the PFT, shot down and taken prisoner-of-war on 18 April. The German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
in Africa surrendered on 13 May and the PFT was disbanded.
Three pilots stayed on and became part of Desert Air Force units; Skalski became CO of No. 601 Squadron, Horbaczewski CO of No. 43 and Drecki a Flight Commander in 152.
Locations
- 13 March 1943 - Bu Grara
- 11 April 1943 - La Fauconnerie
- 15 April 1943 - Goubrine
- 6 May 1943 - HerglaHerglaHergla is a small cliff-top town in northeastern Tunisia off the Gulf of Hammamet. White houses of Hergla are built in classic style characteristic for this region.- History :In the roman periode Hergla was named "Horrea Caelia"...
- 20 May 1943 - Ben GardaneBen GardaneBen Gardane is a commune and coastal town in south eastern Tunisia, close to the border with Libya. It is located at around .The town is part of the Medenine governorate. Located 423 km - 559 km by road - from Tunis, it is the city furthest from the capital....
Squadron equipment
- 15 March 1943 - Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
F. Vb Tropicalised and Vc (inter alia: AB168, ER539 -7) - 23 March - 26 May 1943 - Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
F. IXc (inter alia: EN261 -10, EN267 -5, EN268 -7, EN286 -8, EN300 -9, EN315 -6, EN361 -3, EN459 -1)
Scores
| destroyed | 25 |
|---|---|
| probable | 3 |
| damaged | 9 |
Personnel
- F/Lt Stanislaw SkalskiStanislaw SkalskiStanisław Skalski DSO, DFC plus two bars, was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II, later rising to the rank of generał brygady. Stanisław Skalski was the top Polish fighter ace of WW II and the first Allied fighter ace of the war, credited, according to official list, with...
(C.O.) (claimed 3-1-0) - F/Lt Waclaw KROL (3-0-0)
- F/O Bohdan ARCT(1-1-2)
- F/O Wladyslaw DRECKI (1-0-1)
- F/O Eugeniusz HorbaczewskiEugeniusz HorbaczewskiEugeniusz Horbaczewski was a Polish fighter pilot, a flying ace of the World War II, also known as "Dziubek" . According to official lists, Horbaczewski was the third highest scoring Polish fighter ace, with 16.5 confirmed kills and one probable kill...
(5-0-0) - F/O Jan KOWALSKI
- F/O Ludwik MARTEL (1-1-1)
- F/O Karol PNIAK
- F/O Kazimierz SPORNY (3-0-0)
- F/O Mieczyslaw WYSZKOWSKI* POW(0-1-0)
- W/O Marcin MACHOWIAK (1-0-2)
- W/O Wladyslaw MAJCHRZYK (1-0-1)
- W/O Bronislaw MALINOWSKI (2-0-1)
- W/O Mieczyslaw POPEK (2-0-1)
- W/O Kazimierz SZTRAMKO(3-0-0)