Polish Army Co-op a/c losses in autumn 1939?
 

Hello

I have one big question on the Polish army co-op planes. The only info I have on their use are the OoB and losses from Shores’ Duel for the Sky. According to it 74 R XIIIs, RWD 14s and LWS 3s were lost (54 to enemy actions and 20 to other causes) plus 7 R XIIIs in liaison duties.



So, I’d like to know how these losses divided between types and reasons; to fighters (to Bf 109s and Bf 110s), to ground fire and to losses on the ground; how many to accidents and to “friendly fire” etc? How many sorties were flown, by type if possible? Their biggest contribution to Polish defence?



I know this is a big order but any info would be greatly appreciated.



TIA

Juha

Re: Polish Army Co-op a/c losses in autumn 1939?
 

I recommend the following:


September War Losses. Polish Aircraft, Volume 1, by Andrzej Glass.
And Volume 2 of the same title by Andrzej Glass and Tomasz J. Kopanski.


Ed

Re: Polish Army Co-op a/c losses in autumn 1939?
 

Vol.2 has been not published yet and it is a photo booklet anyway.
For observer aircraft I have following numbers: airmen - 246 available, 6 replacement, 489 combat sorties, 109 liaison sorties, 21 killed, 39 missing (incl. PoWs), 15 wounded; aircraft - 84 available, 18 replacement, 85 lost, 17 evacuated.
Only Polish fighter arm was a subject of recent research, so there is still plenty to uncover on other kinds of aviation.

Re: Polish Army Co-op a/c losses in autumn 1939?
 

Juha,


please contact me off board (robertszoltyk@interia.pl).
I researched rhe German claims in September 1939 and I think I could help you a bit.

Regards

Robert

Re: Polish Army Co-op a/c losses in autumn 1939?
 

Thanks to all, especially to Franek for the numbers! Robert, I sent a private message to You.

Franek, losses seems to me very high. Not altogether surprising, the army co-op a/c concept of 30s was too vulnerable as most AFs found out when they used them in combat without air supremancy. Fighters seems always got most of the attention.

Thankfully
Juha