From a review in a modelling magazine of a book in French, the title of which is, ‘Les Aviateurs Polonais en France en 1940’
“Having browsed through the pages, this appears to be a minutely detailed appraisal of the state of the French Air Force in 1940, just prior to the fall of France to the Germans. As well as the copy, there is an amazing collection of photos of the aircraft used at the time, along with a large number of aircrew who flew them. Many on the aircraft illustrated carry dual French and Polish markings and many of the pilots have Polish sounding names. I shall have to explore the significance of the French/polish connection”.
Well, I find it funny, perhaps you will too.
Now what was it captain Mainwaring used to say?
By: J Boyle - 4th September 2015 at 19:09
Beermat…I rather enjoyed your comment.
It does stand to reason that Poles would fly for the French….after all the flew for the RAF.
The only difference is the RAF contingent is more famous.
Of all the combatants in the war, I do feel bad for the Poles perhaps most of all.
First they had to fight the Germans, then survive the war while fighting under another flag, them they returned home and were treated badly by the communists.
By: Beermat - 4th September 2015 at 18:52
Sorry.. that was my attempt at humour. Misfired, as always! In the spirit of gentle ribbing of the person who didn’t seem to understand why there were Poles flying with the French in 1940, the crosses I meant were black.. and German.
By: longshot - 4th September 2015 at 17:39
Well I knew of the major contribution of the Poles to the RAF effort but wasn’t aware of the details of their contribution in France before the fall so the reviewer can possibly be forgiven (on the grounds of youth?). If anybody has seen the actual book, are there any photos/mentions of the sole ex-LOT Lockheed 14 which supported the Poles in France and was destroyed….see post#17 in this previous thread (which contains most useful info from Antoni)
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?133311-Aircraft-ID-Copenhagen-late-forties&highlight=polish+lockheed
BTW the last place you’d find aircraft wearing the Cross of Lorraine between 1940 and 1944 was mainland France, surely?
By: Trolly Aux - 4th September 2015 at 14:03
Cross of Lorraine
[ATTACH=CONFIG]240247[/ATTACH]
The Free French
By: Beermat - 4th September 2015 at 13:43
On a similar subject, I have noticed a lot of black crosses on pictures of aircraft in France between 1940 and 1944. Does anyone know the significance of this?
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th September 2015 at 13:40
Glupek Pike!
By: Rosevidney1 - 3rd September 2015 at 17:58
You stupid boy, Pike!
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September 2, 2015 at 8:49 pm