Neither Nastorowicz or his Hurricane Mk.IIa (Z2814, coded WX*K) were seen again. 302 and 303 Squadrons were ordered to ride tricycles - all equipped with radio, speed indicators and compasses - around airfields in flying formations. Code: RF and OD post war. "Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry," wrote Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, head of RAF Fighter Command, "I hesitate to say that the outcome of the Battle (of Britain) would have been the same. Pilot Officers Jan Zumbach (left) and Miroslaw Feric, two aces of no. 303 Squadron carried on the 11th Escadrille's traditions. 605 (County of Warwick) Squadron, the unit of the first (British) commander of the new squadron, F/Cdr. Three days later Flying Officer Ostowicz scored the first Polish kill in the Battle of Britain by sharing aHe 111over Brighton. On 30 September 1940, F/O Urbanowicz once again claimed four victories, while a Do 17 was brought down by P/O. Last edited: Mar 29, 2010. I am now firing at the Messerschmitt and see my bursts sink into its fuselage and wings. [20] On 21 June, Drobiski badly damaged the Bf 109F-2 of Oberst Adolf Galland, CO of JG 26, who made a forced landing at Calais, while W/C Kent downed Fw. . [42][43], 303 Squadron was the subject of the 2018 films Hurricane and Dywizjon 303 (Squadron 303).[44]. Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, who once was so reluctant to allow Polish pilots into battle, summarised their contribution in probably the most telling way: 'Had it not been for the magnificent work of the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of battle would have been the same'. From left are: Pilot Officer Witold 'Tolo' Lokuciewski (leaning on the chair); Flight Lieutenant Witold Urbanowicz (seated in the chair in the foreground); Zygmunt Wodecki, the squadron doctor (in a dark uniform); Sergeant Josef Frantisek (in the back, face partially covered); Flight Lieutenant John Kent; Flying Officer Ludwik Paszkiewicz. Did this woman die because her genitals were cut? Aircrew Remembered. 303 Squadron and one of the best scorers with 15 kills. In April 1944, the squadron moved to the advanced landing ground at Horne, 30 miles south of London and joined No 142 Fighter Wing. P/O 'Mike' Bolesaw Gadych claimed three confirmed but was wounded and managed to crash land in the UK. 501 Squadron RAF, who on 24 August claimed five enemy bombers, which were shot down in three combat sorties over one day. Any Luftwaffe fighter opposition now remained largely absent from the Squadron's sphere of operations, but flak defences still took a toll. No. 303 Hurricanes intercepted a German bombing formation escorted by Bf 109s, with the Poles claiming five Bf 109s and three Junkers Ju 88s for one loss: P/O apkowski who bailed out wounded. In the following weeks the squadron achieved a truly astonishing score of 126 enemy planes, as well as 13 probables and 9 damaged, claiming the title of the best scoring unit of the Battle of Britain.