Sikora, Peter Polish Military Aircraft 1918-1939

From Regaining Independence to Hitler’s Blitzkrieg

Although Poland was not a free country for 123 years until the end of the First World War, the roots of Polish aviation, including military aviation, date back to the days of pioneers such as Otto Lilienthal and the Wright brothers. The Polish Air Force has its origins in the second half of 1917 and was officially established when Poland regained its independence on 11 November 1918. The country was now in a position to build its own air force officially known as the Air and Air Defence Forces whose men were proud to be able to call themselves Poles once again. Despite its difficult rebirth, Poland developed a wide range of its own aircraft in the 1930s. These included the PZL P.6 fighter, which became famous as the most advanced of its time and the world's first all-metal fighter, and the PZL P.24 fighter, which was considered for purchase by the RAF. Towards the end of the decade, however, they were overtaken by foreign aircraft designs. In 1939, Poland fought a lonely war against the overwhelming power of the German Third Reich, the fascist state of Slovakia and Soviet Russia. Although surrounded, vastly outnumbered and mostly flying inferior aircraft, Polish pilots inflicted significant losses on the attacking forces, including 500 destroyed and damaged aircraft. In addition to the history of the brave Polish airmen, Polish Military Aircraft 1918-1939 contains a collection of photographs, most of which have never been seen in the West. Together, they take the reader on a journey through the early years of Polish military aviation and show impressive images of German, Austro-Hungarian and Russian aircraft, many of which were captured by the Poles. Also included is a selection of British aircraft used in Poland, as well as a large number of photographs of aircraft designed and built in Poland, including those that faced the Luftwaffe in September 1939.