RAF Squadrons equipped with Mustangs

2 Sqn Mustang I, Ia, II
4 Sqn Mustang I
16 Sqn Mustang I
19 Sqn Mustang III, IV
26 Sqn Mustang I
63 Sqn Mustang I, Ia
64 Sqn Mustang III, IV
65 Sqn Mustang IV
93 Sqn Mustang III, IV
112 Sqn Mustang III, IV
118 Sqn Mustang III, IV
122 Sqn Mustang III, IV
126 Sqn Mustang III, IV
129 Sqn Mustang III
154 Sqn Mustang Iv
168 Sqn Mustang I, Ia
169 Sqn Mustang I
170 Sqn Mustang I, Ia
171 Sqn Mustang Ia
213 Sqn Mustang III, IV
225 Sqn Mustang I, II
231 Sqn Mustang I
234 Sqn Mustang III, IV
239 Sqn Mustang I
241 Sqn Mustang I
249 Sqn Mustang III, IV
250 Sqn Mustang III, IV
260 Sqn Mustang III, IV
268 Sqn Mustang I, Ia, II
285 Sqn Mustang I
303 (Polish) Sqn Mustang IV
306 (Polish) Sqn Mustang III
309 (Polish) Sqn Mustang III
315 (Polish) Sqn Mustang III
316 (Polish) Sqn Mustang III
516 Sqn Mustang I
541 Sqn Mustang III
611 Sqn Mustang IV
613 Sqn Mustang I

RAAF

3 Sqn Mustang II, IV
450 Sqn Mustang III

RCAF
400 Sqn Mustang I
414 Sqn Mustang I
430 Sqn Mustang I
441 Sqn Mustang III, IV
442 Sqn Mustang IV

SAAF
1 Sqn Mustang II, IV
2 Sqn Mustang IV
5 Sqn Mustang IV

309 Polish Squadron

The Polish army cooperation squadron was organised on the insistence of the C-in-C Polish Armed Forces. Article 2 of the Anglo-Polish Agreement placed it entirely under the operational control of the commander of the appropriate Polish military formation. Progress was slow as the fighter and bomber squadrons had priority. At that time the RAF was not interested in army cooperation and support and new little about it. The Polish Air Force was part of the army and was extensively trained in the art of observing and close cooperation with ground troops. RAF teachers that came to instruct them new little about army cooperation and nothing about the experience and capabilities of their pupils and soon began learning from those they were supposed to instruct.

In 1942 the squadron began the long process of transformation into a fighter-reconnaissance unit. ‘B’ Flight was to convert to the Mustang I. The first six pilots – F/Lt Maciej Piotrowski, F/lt Jerzy Gołko, F/O Jan Bendix, F/O Roman Jarema, F/O Janusz Lewkowicz and F/O Stanisław Sawicki were sent to OTUs at Old Sarum and Hawarden for training. Then to 26 Sqn at Gatwick for combat proficiency practice. Piotrowski made the first operational sortie on a Mustang on the 21st May 1942 attacking targets in the Le Touquet area. F/O Lewkowicz participated in another Rhubarb with 26 Sqn. By the end of July ‘B’ Flight was completely reequipped. As Dunino was not suitable for Mustangs the fighters were based at Crail and then Dalcross (31st July).

On the 6th February 1943 a complete reorganisation was reordered as a 2-flight all Mustang unit. On 23rd February 309 was reclassified as a tactical-reconnaissance unit. On the 14th February W/Cdr (S-Col) Zygmunt Pistl was recalled to staff duties and S/Ldr (Mjr) Witold Jacek Piotrowski was appointed its new C.O. With the formation of 2nd TAF on 1st June 1943 309 Sqn transferred to 12 Group of Fighter Command which was to be assigned to 2nd TAF. Surplus flying and ground personnel were used to provide a nucleus of 318 Sqn for service with 2nd Polish Corps. 309 were then involved mainly in the reconnaissance of the Dutch coastline. Because of intensive involvement in fighter-reconnaissance Piotrowski pointed out the need for better training in fighter tactics and the latter part of September was used for that. They then returned to the reconnaissance of the Dutch coastline. On 14th October S/Ldr (Cpt) Maciej Piotrowski became C.O. By January 1944 the modified Allison engines of the Mustangs were becoming increasingly unreliable and Piotrowski asked for replacement by Mustang IIIs or Spitfire Mk XIVs. On 19th January 309 Sqn was incorporated the ADGB and received Hurricane Mk IVs with ‘low altitude’ universal armament wing but not fitted with cameras. Because the conversion required prolonged training in new techniques there was no chance to use them operationally. They were exchanged at the beginning of April for Hurricane IIc with better range and could be fitted with cameras. Camera conversion kits did not arrive for several weeks further delaying operations. On 2nd April Gołko took over command and the squadron returned to operations on the 23rd. ‘A’ Flight went to Drem and ‘B’ Flight to Aklington where they were involved in shipping protection duties. On te 29th October ‘B’ Flight moved to Peterhead to protect the Royal Family at Balmoral Castle. In September while continuing its established patterns of activities it received a few Mustang Is for training purposes in preparation for receiving Mustang IIIs and a change of role to a fighter squadron. On 21st October ‘B’ Flight joined ‘A’ Flight at Drem and they received Mustang IIIs. Several technical problems with the Mustangs and delays in the provision of bomb shackles and cameras until the end of November delayed the completion of training. Intensive training continued in December. 309 Squadron replaced 129 Squadron in 133 Wing which stopped operations for ten days to integrate the new squadron. The wing then joined 11 Group.(For some reason PAF had wanted the wing to remain with 2nd TAF and had tried to keep it there.)

According to Cynk on 1st November 309 Squadron changed its designation from Fighter-Reconnaissance to Fighter Squadron and received the new WC code. Elsewhere he gives the date the codes where used from as 1st June 1944.

In March 1944 both Polish fighter wings stopped operational activities and their squadrons went through intensive training to adapt to their new role of fighter-bombers. The squadrons were posted in turn to Llanberd for one-week dive and low-level bombing courses and practicing intruder tactics.Then followed Lambourne exercises with the first operational flying with Mustangs taking place on the 26th April. During February and March 1944 316 Squadron were resting at Woodvale equipped with Spitfire Mk Vs. Still with ADGB 316 Squadron became ready to resume operations at the end of April 1944. In the middle of April they began to receive Mustang IIIs and were reequipped by the 19th. On the 28th the squadron moved to Coltishall flying its first operation with Mustangs the following day.

303 Squadron moved to Andrews Field on 4th April 1945 to covert to Mustang IVs. They also received a few Mustang Is for familiarisation. The first three weeks were spent in intensive training with the first operation taking place on the 23rd.The second, which was to be the squadron’s last combat task to place on the 25th.

With the withdrawal of the British recognition of the legal Polish government in London on 6th July 1945 the Polish Armed Forces in Britain were absorbed into the British forces until arrangements for their demobilisation could be completed. On the 20th May 1946 the Polish Resettlement Corps for the Polish forces was formed under the War Office. The RAF conceived a plan to assemble Polish squadrons in designated areas to facilitate disbandment and the to assemble all PAF personnel in a few demobilisation centres. Disbandment of a squadron was a long process involving several stages. By July 1948 the main task of the Corps had been completed. Most PAF personnel chose not to return to Poland and many joined the RAF. Those that went home were met with persecution by the communist government, many being imprisoned and some executed. Their situation did not improve until the death of Stalin.