Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

At last Franek has already done/published it. It was planned a few years (or even 10 yeras ago) ago for Stratus in Poland in English (written and done).

Now it is the third biography of S. Skaliski done by Polish authors. Two earlier have been published in Polish.

Congratulations to Frank! It will be the first biography in English, :-)

regards,
mw

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Any reviews? Should be out now.

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Davai! It cannot be that none of the boarders has read the book?!

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-war-hero.html

http://www.mediadrumworld.com/2017/05/22/8813/

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Thanks!

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

The book is now out!

Jay
Publisher
Fonthill Media

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

The Daily Mail specialises in those two things.

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Just a comment. The book is much larger than the text that was not published, and is largely based on primary evidence. I think most of the information was not available to the English reader before.

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Three things! Don't forget the tacky yet hot chicks showing off their boobies!

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Not in the book, I am afraid.

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Franek I am very curious:

How much did you go forward than K. Ochabska (2007) and W. Krajewski (2007)?

mw

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Krajewski's brochure was based on my research, Ochabska's book was not documented, just reworked memories of Skalski.
My book is based on documents and numerous accounts, most of them first time published in English, and a number of them never seen before.

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Ok, thanks

What do you say to the book "Generał pilot Stanisław Skalski. Portret ze śwaitłocieniem (Portrait with a Shade)" written by Sojda, Śliżewski (Almapress 2015)

Both also have an access to the documents.

regards,
mw

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Hard question, to compare my book with the one written by pals.
Well, apart of obvious difference in language, there are some differences in approach to some issues, I have some more different accounts or reports, and my book provides a full list of combat and operational sorties with serials and codes tied up (only few missing!), for example. I would say, that if you are seriously interested in Skalski, you need both books.
One thing that I am fully certain - my book looks way better on a shelf!

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

BTW,

Have you tried to determine how Skalski actually destroyed the enemy aircraft (destroyed, and only damaged)?

mw

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Mostly by shooting, all are listed, destroyed, probable, damaged, not credited, with relevant combat reports.

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Dear Franek,

I have started reading your book and I find it very interesting.
Unfortunately I am not finding any information about the code/serial number of Skalski's P.11 during the Polish campaign; it appears however that he usually flew with his personal plane (later named "Zosia") but apparently no trace of ID number came to the light from official documents.

So please I would like ask your opinion about it:
1- Was Skalski's personal P.11 coded "66" or "64"?
2- Could the serial number be "8.66"?

Thank you, regards

Flavio

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Hello

I am glad that you like it!

Unfortunately, no records providing serial or code of aircraft flown are known to survive for most Polish units. No aircraft movement records are available, so the information of assignment of aircraft to units is fragmentary. I would wish to be different!

In regard of your questions.

1. Most sources state, that Skalski was assigned code 66, apparently following his memories published in Poland. No photo of the aircraft is known. However, on 5 September 2000, in presence of Many Souffan and myself, Skalski stated that he flew code 64. There are photos of such aircraft, with markings of section leader. I tend to believe Skalski, rather than his book which may have been edited, otherwise I have no explanation for that. Skalski certainly did not care much about such things. Unfortunately, there is no photo of him with his P-11.

2. Serial 8.66 is an assumption by a local researcher. There is no evidence, which would support nor deny the theory.

Addtionally, it was not uncommon to fly the aircraft available, and not the assigned one. Therefore, I cannot say with any certainity, on what missions Skalski flew his assigned aircraft.

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Thank you very much Franek,

for your reply.

As I am not an expert about Polish ID markings, I suppose that the "section leader" markings you are referring are the pale blu band and letter "I" on the port upper wing (at least according to the decal sheet of Mirage's 1/48 PZL P.11c model).

By the way, it could be interesting the article "Rozwiązana zagadka P.11c Stanisława Skalskiego" by Krzysztof Sikora (I came across incidentally on the web, but probably it was originally published on "Mini Replika" nr.59) where he stated that Skalski's "64" had serial number "8.62". According to him a photo published on the magazine "Model Hobby nr 3/2002 (13)" reveals such detail.

What do you think? Do you know this photo?

Flavio

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Hello

Yes, I mean the stripe with the number, but the colour is a wild guess. I must note, that it looks, that few months later, aircraft #64 had different markings applied - photo is unclear but it seems narrow stripe close to the fuselage, and removed wing guns. Of course, assuming it is the same aircraft, and not replacement also coded 64.

I am the author of the Model Hobby article. I do not recall being able to see anything of the serial, which was quite a disappointment for me. I would say the theory is risky, but obviously it cannot be disproven. Please note, that the Eskadra emblem on the plane is correct in the Model Hobby article and Mirage Hobby model kit. Beak and legs were of green colour (blue in other Eskadra), and not yellow, as portrayed.

I hope this helps.

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

Thank you Franek.

Please I sent you a PM about this topic.

Regards

Flavio

Re: Skalski/Franciszek Grabowski
 

A nice review appeared on Amazon.

Customer Review

5.0 out of 5 stars A long overdue recognition of the Allies' first Ace of World War II, July 28, 2017
By Just A Guy
This review is from: Skalski: Against All Odds (Hardcover)
Polish author Frandiszek Grabowski's book has produced a remarkable--perhaps unique--insight into a long-overlooked chapter in the air war over Europe, 1939-1945. The role of the Polish airmen in that theater had an impact far beyond their limited numbers. This reality the author skillfully explains in a story that well describes their courageous aerial combat, no less so the vastly complicated politics of Polish airmen in the Royal Air Force. The serious historian of this subject will also appreciate the author's unrelenting committment to documenting this complex story, avoiding in the process the over-excited prose many other writers are prone to employ.

Polish pilot Stanislaw Skalski finished the war with at least 36 confirmed kills and numerous probables. Perhaps more importantly, he distinguished himself as a thoughtful flight leader, greatly admired and loyally followed by his fellow expatriate airmen. Sadly, it was his very high reputation for leadership that led to his post-war persecution at the hands of Poland's newly-arrived, communist masters.

This long-overdue accounting of Skalski, the pre-war Polish Air Force, and their subsequent contributions to the defeat of Nazi Germany, is both an entertaining and authoritative tale well worth the read.
https://www.amazon.com/review/RWQFYX..._rv_eml_rv0_rv