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The History of the Kosciuszko Squadron |
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World War I ended on November 11,
1918. The same day saw the rebirth
of an independent Poland. The
resurrected state found itself in a
mortal struggle with the newly
ensconced Communist government of
Russia. A long a bitter struggle
ensued between the Poles, who sought
to protect their newly re-gained
independence, and the Russians, who
saw the destruction of Poland as the
first step in the westward march of
Russian power and Communist
ideology. |
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In the first days of independence a
group of American pilots embraced
the Polish cause and volunteered for
service with the Polish forces.
Sixteen Americans joined four Poles
and a Canadian pilot to form the 7th
Squadron of the Polish Air Force.
In tribute to the famous Pole
Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who had served
with such distinction in the
American Revolution, the squadron
took his name. Thus was born the
famous “Kosciuszko Squadron” of
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the Polish Air Force, a largely
American contingent consciously
repaying the great Pole for his
service in the American cause by
aiding Poland in its time of need.
The squadron emblem, a distinctive
Polish four-cornered cap and crossed
scythes on a field of thirteen
stars, combined powerful Polish and
American symbols. The cap and
scythes commemorated Kosciuszko’s
famous victory over the Russians in
1794, which owed much to the local
peasantry’s gallant charge, and the
13 stars represented the original
American colonies.
The squadron featured Merian C.
Cooper--the moving spirit of its
creation. Cooper was linked to
Poland by a family legend that one
of his ancestors had fought
alongside Kazimierz Pulaski during
the American Revolution. Pulaski,
Kosciuszko’s dashing fellow-Pole,
died at Savannah in 1779 after
playing the lead in creating the
American cavalry. |
The Kosciuszko squadron
played a worthy role in
Poland's bitter war against
the Russians in 1919-21 and
its American pilots
consciously regarded
themselves as “repaying the
debt” owed Poland from the
era of the American
Revolution. After Poland’s
victory in the war, every
year Warsaw would
commemorate the three
Americans who died while
serving in the squadron’s
ranks. Between 1921 and the
outbreak of World War II in
1939, one of Poland’s Air
Force squadrons (the 111th)
always bore the name
“Kosciuszko” and
participated in the
ceremonies.
The Second World War: The
Kosciuszko Squadron’s Finest
Moment |
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In 1939 the 11th played a heroic
role in the vain effort to protect
Warsaw from the German invasion,
which opened World War II on
September 1. Its now all-Polish
pilots downed 7.5 German planes, and
the obsolete Polish Air Force
outfought the Germans over Poland,
suffering only 116 loses while
bringing down 129 of the enemy who
had the advantage of the most modern
equipment. After the evacuation of
elements of the Polish military and
government to England following the
fall of France in 1940, the
Kosciuszko Squadron was reborn as
the 303 Polish Fighter Squadron
serving with the RAF
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This squadron played a very
significant role in the Battle of
Britain joining more than 150 fellow
Polish pilots in this crucial
encounter. The Kosciuszko squadron’s
performance was extraordinary. It
shot down 126 German planes and lost
merely eight pilots in the effort,
far surpassing the performance of
any British squadron and earning
itself permanent membership in the
ranks of the most illustrious
military formations in aviation
history. Many of the |
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squadron’s men won
decorations, some
repeatedly, many became
aces. The Battle of Britain
was a turning point in the
war, and the Poles played a
large and disproportionate
role in the victory. Merian
Cooper visited the Poles of
the squadron in London in
1940, joining many in
saluting these heroes of
Poland.
A few months later the
squadron joined in the
famous Dieppe raid over the
continent. Forming less than
10 percent |
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of the air contingent, they shot
down 20 percent of the German
opposition and suffered only 3
percent of the losses, again far
out-performing all British units.
Despite their large contribution to
the war and their heroic
performance, the Kosciuszko Squadron
shared with all Poles the bitterness
of a defeat in victory in
1945. Abandoned by their erstwhile
British and American allies, the
brave Poles saw their homeland
occupied by the Russians and
refashioned as a Communist state.
Now, after a generation of
subjugation, Poland is again free,
and the Air Force of Poland, a NATO
ally of the United States, again
features a Kosciuszko Squadron.
Hence, the brave Americans of 1919
live again, as does the spirit of
Poland through the symbols of its
dedication to national freedom and
personal honor. |
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