| Revision as of 06:45, 18 November 2004 editHalibutt (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers34,067 edits →1940-1945 (United Kingdom)← Previous edit |
Revision as of 06:47, 18 November 2004 edit undoHalibutt (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers34,067 edits Polish Air Force moved to Polish Air ForcesNext edit → |
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'''Polish Air Force''' (''Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, Sily Powietrzne RP'') - the ] of ]. |
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Until July 1, ] it was officially known as: ''Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej'' (literally: Air and Air Defence Forces, the name existing from 1990). |
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==Organization== |
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''to be supplemented'' |
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==The history of the Polish Air Force== |
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===1918-1922=== |
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The history of the Polish airforce begun in the end of the ]. In 1918, some aircraft escadres were created within the Polish units in allied countries. In Russia, one escadre was created within the Polish corps of Gen. ], then disbanded along with the Corps in May 1918. In France, 5 bomber escadres were created within the Army of Gen. J. Haller. They returned to Poland with all equipement in 1919. |
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The military aviation in Poland started just when Poland regained independence, in November 1918. It consisted first of the German and Austrian aircrafts, captured from the former occupants or left by them in a damaged state. They were first used in a conflict with ] around ] in 1918. Since ] Poland was involved in a ] and started to buy aircrafts abroad. As a result, in ] the Polish Air Forces consisted of a variety of the British, French, German, Austrian and Italian aircraft of the World War I era, in quantities ranging from a few to some dozen pieces. The main fighters used were (in order of quantity): ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] (D.VIII). The most numerous became two-seater ] (105 units), used a scout plane. Main ]s and ] planes were: ], ], ], ], different variants of ], ], ]. |
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===1923-1932=== |
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After the Polish-Soviet war, the World War I vintage aircrafts were gradually withdrawn, and the airforce was equipped mostly with the French aircraft. From 1924-26, the typical fighter became ] (280 pieces). The standard light bombers were also French: ] (245), then ] (250) and ] (316). Potez bombers were produced in Poland. The medium bombers were ] and later a military variant of ]. |
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Before developing fighters of own design, 50 Czech biplane fighters Avia BH-33 were licence-produced under a designation PWS-A. The first Polish design was a high wing fighter PWS-10, used in 80 pieces from ]. The Polish naval airforce used a number of French flying boats, mainly Schreck FBA-17, LeO H-13, H-135 and Latham 43. All these aircraft were withdrawn from the combat units by 1939. |
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===1933-1939=== |
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In ] entered service the first of high-wing all metal fighters of Zygmunt Pulawski design, ]a, built in a series of 150. It was followed by 30 improved ]a. The final design, ]c, entered service in ] in a series of 175. Though it was a modern fighter in 1935, but it remained the only Polish fighter until 1939, when it was made obsolete by a quick progress in aircraft designing. Its development ] was built for export only, and was bought by four countries. The new fighter prototype, PZL P-50 Jastrząb (Hawk), similar to ] layout, was designed too late to be produced. The two-engine heavy fighters PZL-38 Wilk and PZL-48 Lampart remained prototypes. |
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In a bomber aviation, Potez XXV and Breguet XIX were replaced by all-metal monoplane ] (250 built, since ]), but in 1939 Karas wasn't much modern. Finally, in ] the Polish factory PZL designed a modern twin-engine medium bomber ], but too few of them entered service before the war. As an observation and close reconnaissance plane, Polish escadres used slow and easy to hit high-wing ], then ]. The Polish naval aviation used Lublin R-XIII on floats as well. Just before the war, some Italian torpedo planes ] were ordered, but only one was delivered, without armament. The main trainer planes were Polish-built high-wing ] (primary) and biplane ] (trainer). In 1939, Poland ordered 160 of ] and 10 ] fighters abroad, but they weren't delivered before the war. |
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At the beginning of the ], by ], ], all the Polish combat aircrafts had been deployed to the field airfields, so contrary to a common opinion, they avoided destruction in bombed air bases. The German bombers managed to destroy on airfields mostly trainer planes. The fighter planes were grouped in 15 escadres. 5 of them constituted the Pursuit Brigade, deployed in ] area. Despite being obsolete, Polish PZL-11 fighters shot down a number of German planes as well. The bombers, grouped in 9 escadres of the Bomber Brigade attacked armoured columns, suffering heavy losses. 7 reconnaissance and 12 observation escadres, deployed to peculiar Armies, were intensively used for reconnaissance. Most of the Polish airforce was destroyed in the campaign, the rest of aircraft were captured or withdrawn to Romania and taken over by this country. A great number of pilots and air crews managed to breakthrough to France through European countries. |
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===1940 (France)=== |
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After the fall of Poland, the Polish airforce started to be reborn in France. The only complete unit, created before the German attack on France, was the GC 1/145 fighter squadron, flying on ] light fighters (it was the only unit operating C.714). The Polish pilots were also deployed to different French squadrons, flying on all French fighter types, mainly on ]. |
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===1940-1945 (United Kingdom)=== |
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::''See also: ]'' |
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Starting from 1940, Polish squadrons were created in the United Kingdom, as a part of the ], called the Polish Air Force (PAF). The first were: 300 and 301 bomber squadrons and 302 and ] fighter squadrons. The fighter squadrons, flying on ], came into action in the third phase of the ] in August 1940, with a very good result. The 303 squadron became the most efficient RAF fighter squadron at that time. Many Polish pilots were also flying in the RAF squadrons. In the following years, further Polish squadrons were created: 304 (bomber, then ]), 305 (bomber), 306 (fighter), 307 (night fighter), 308 (fighter), 309 (reconnaissance,then fighter), 315 (fighter), 316 (fighter), 317 (fighter), 318 (fighter-reconnaissance). The fighter squadrons were flying initially on Hurricanes, then ]s, eventually on ]s. The bomber squadrons were flying initially on ]s and ]s, then ]s (300 Sqdn.) and ]s and ]s (305 Sqdn.). After the war, in a changed political situation, their equipement was returned to the British and only part of the pilots returned to Poland. |
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===1944-1989=== |
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Along with the Polish People's Army (''Ludowe Wojsko Polskie'') in the USSR, there was created ''Ludowe Lotnictwo Polskie'' - Polish People's Airforce. In late 1943 there were created: the 1st fighter regiment "Warszawa", flying on ] and ], the 2nd night bomber regiment "Krakow" (] (since ] also produced in Poland as ]), and the 3rd assault regiment (]). In 1944-45, the next regiments were created, included into the 1st Mixed Air Corps, consisting of the Bomber Division, Assault Division, Fighter Division and a mixed Division. After the war, they returned to Poland, giving birth to the airforce of the ]. |
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In the following years, Poland received from the USSR also bombers ] and ] (since ]) and training bombers ] and ]. Since ] were used also ] - transporters adapted to bombing. In ] to service enters ] - fighter, ] -transporter, ] - trainer and ] - bombig trainer. Starting in ], the Polish airforce was equipped with jet fighters ] and ] (also training version ]), then in ] with ] (]) (since ]). MiG-15 was produced under licence as Lim-1 (since ]), MiG-15bis (since ]) as Lim-2 (since ]), Mig-17 (since ]) as Lim-5. A domestic ground attack variant of Lim-5M was developed as Lim-6bis (]). The only jet bombers used were ] (since ]). Poland used only small number of ] (from ]), because the basic supersonic fighter from ] became ]. It was used in numerous variants from MiG-21F-13, through MiG-21PF and MF to MiG-21bis. Later, the Polish Air Force received 37 ] (]) and 12 ] (]). Main attack plane since ] was ] (since ] also training version ]) From ] Poland also used a substantial number of attack planes ] (since ]), replaced with 27 ] (since ]) and 110 ] (]) as the main attack planes. The only jet trainer was domestic-built ], which replaced proper engine ] (in service ]), ] (in service since ]) and ] (since ]). Other polish jet trainer - ] was used for some time but many problems with this type caused that all maschines returned to ] for modification (so I-22 is not currently in service). As multirole planes were used ] (since ]), ] (since ]) and ]. Transporters were: ] (since ]), ] (since ]), ] (since ]), ] (since ]), ] (since ]) and ]. |
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<br>Helicopters used by Polish Army were: ] (under licence of ]) - multirole (since ]), ] - multirole (since ]), ] - multirole (since ]), ] and ] (later ] (since ]) - multirole and ] (since ]) - combat helicopter. Also ] as amphibios helicopter are used, and ] as transporters. |
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In ], the Air Force was merged with Air Defence Force, creating Air and Country Air Defence Forces (''Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Przeciwlotniczej Obszaru Kraju'' - WLiOPL OK). It consisted from aviation and anti-aircraft units. In ] WLiOPL OK were separated again into: the Air Force (''Wojska Lotnicze'') and the Country Air Defence Force (''Wojska Obrony Powietrznej Kraju''). On July 1, ] they were merged again in the Air and Air Defence Force (''Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej'' - WLiOP or WLOP). |
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===From 1990=== |
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After a political change in 1989 and an arms reduction in Europe, the Polish airforce was reduced. In 1990 it consisted of MiG-21s, MiG-23s, MiG-29s, Su-20s and Su-22s. The rest of Lim-6bis were withdrawn in the early 1990's, followed soon by Su-20. MiG-23s were withdrawn by 1999 due to their small number. Since 1990, Poland haven't bought any new combat planes, only managed to acquire further MiG-29s from Czech Republic (]) and Germany (]). MiG-21s were finally withdrawn in 2003. In ] the only combat aircraft used are ] and Su-22. The fleet of Su-22 needs modernization to retain a combat value, but its future is unclear. In ], ]C Block 52 was chosen as a new multirole fighter, the deliveries are scheduled on some ]. |
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===Types of machines in service=== |
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*] (22 - Air Force) |
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*] (98 - Air Force) |
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*] (25 - Air Force, 6 - Navy) |
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*] (10 -Air Force) |
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*] (4 - Air Force; 8 - Navy incl. 6 M-28 Bryza) |
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*] (2 - Air Force, 8 in plans till ]) |
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*] (2 - Air Force) |
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*] (9 - Air Force) |
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*] (97 - Air Force; 18 - Navy) |
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*] (37 - Air Force) |
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*] (65 - Air Force, 5 - Navy, 66 - Land Forces) |
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*] (12 - Air Force, 29 - Land Forces) |
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*] (13 - Navy) |
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*] (2 - Navy, 6 - Land Forces) |
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*] (43 - Land Forces) |
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*] (18 - Air Force; 9 -Navy incl. 7 W-3RM Anakonda, 36 - Land Forces) |
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*] (2 - Navy, 4 in plans ) |
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*] (1 - Air Force) |
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Machines that will enter to service in near future: |
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*] (in ]) |
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*] (in ]) |
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==External links== |
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* http://www.scramble.nl/pl.htm |
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