Quote:
Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik
Leendert
I don't believe the Polish units fighting within the Soviet Air Force were allowed to carry any
national fuselage side/underwing markings.
What they were allowed to have was the Polish marking underneath the cockpit.
Not until the Polish AF was formed postwar was their national markings resurrected
With regard to aircraft identification from the ground, I doubt they could tell the difference between
any aircraft as such.
When not even the opposing pilots could do it, there is no way anyone on the ground would be any
better..... 
B Rgds
Stig |
I think it was slightly different. While I don't consider the forming of 1 "Warszawa" plm as the beginning date of existence of strictly the Polish Air Force on the Eastern Front, in June of 1944 IIRC at the Headquarters of the Polish 1st Army, an Air Force section was created. Later, the same year, the Command of the Air Force of the Polish Army was created as well, so I think saying the Polish Air Force was created after the war is incorrect, to some extent. Before great reforms in the Air Force and name change (to Polish Air Force in 1947), already in July 1945 an official order to use the Polish checkerboard instead the Red Star was issued, although it is still uncertain, whether some planes didn't have red stars overpainted with checkerboard earlier.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leendert
Thanks for additional info on the use of Polish national insignia on the Eastern Front. I read somewhere that operations stopped next day for the Polish regiment involved and if so, then this incident has been quite unfortunate...Regards, Leendert
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Here is a link to a post with short info on most big Polish units on the Eastern Front. It is true that for 11 plm combat operations ended on 3rd May 1945.
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=54219
I would love to have a look into USA archival documents or at least the mentioned book, to be able to write a small article on this unfortunate event. It is, after all, the last "official confirmed claim made by a Polish unit during WWII", although this statement is quite controversial in Poland nowadays.
Best regards,
Bartłomiej