Polish 42nd Reconnaissance Escadrille
| Polish 42nd Reconnaissance Escadrille | |
|---|---|
| Polish: 42 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza | |
 Unit Insignia of the 42nd Reconnaissance Escadrille | |
| Active | 1924 – September 1939 |
| Disbanded | September 1939 |
| Country | .svg.png){kind=small} Poland |
| Allegiance | Second Polish Republic |
| Branch |  Polish Land Forces |
| Type | Air force |
| Part of | Pomorze Army |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
|
| Aircraft flown | |
| Reconnaissance | PZL.23 Karaś |
| Trainer | RWD 8 |
The 42nd Reconnaissance Escadrille (Polish: 42 Eskadra Rozpoznawcza) was a unit of the Polish Air Force active at the onset of World War II. It was assigned to the Pomorze Army, and played a role in aerial reconnaissance during the Invasion of Poland in 1939.
History
The squadron was initially formed in 1924, and was originally named the 42nd Reconnaissance Squadron. It was initially assigned used and outdated aircraft, such as the Ansaldo A.300 and the Breguet 14. The squadron was renamed into the 42nd Air Reconnaissance Squadron, and received several Potez XV trainer aircraft in the same year, allowing it to partake in regular pilot exercises. In 1928, part of the squadron undertook exercises with the 15th Infantry Division.[2]
The number of aircraft in the squadron increased to 10 aircraft following the reorganization of the Polish air force in 1929. The unit was also renamed to the 42nd Line Squadron. During the summer of 1930, the squadron's crew participated in exercises with the "Toruń" Cavalry Brigade.[2] In 1931, the outdated Potez 27 aircraft were gradually replaced with Breguet 19 aircraft.[3]
In the summer of 1936, the squadron participated in an air parade in Warsaw. During the subsequent inter-divisional exercises in Pomerania, the squadron achieved good results while cooperating with the staff command of major units participating in the exercise.[4]
Due to the planned replacement of the squadron's older planes with PZL.23B Karaś aircraft, the squadron's observers and mechanics completed a course in the operation and maintenance of these aircraft.[5]
The aircraft were replaced by the end of 1937. In March 1938, the crew of the squadron flew on alert to the Lida airbase. After Polish-Lithuanian diplomatic relations were restored later in the same month, the crew returned to Toruń on 23 March 1938.[5]
World War II
In September 1939, the unit was attached to the Pomorze Army.[6][7] At 8:00 a.m. on 1 September, the squadron commander received orders to send three reconnaissance aircraft to Zdun, while the rest were to remain in Toruń. At 9:00 a.m., the aircraft took off to carry out their missions.[8]
Aircraft
Aircraft used in 1939
- 10 PZL.23B Karaś
- 1 RWD-8
Personnel
| Personnel of the squadron command | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Role | Name |
| Captain | Squadron commander | Wacław Alfred Waltera |
| Captain | Tactical officer | Wiktor Szumbarski |
| Technical warrant officer | Technical officer | Antoni Chruszczyński |
| Second lieutenant of the medical corps | Squadron doctor | Alfons Olejnik |
| Senior military foreman | Chief mechanic | Michał Schmidt |
| Platoon-leader | Chief administrator | Stanisław Burczyk |
| Squadron personnel | ||
| Rank | Role | Name |
| Lieutenant | Pilot | Mieczysław Lewandowski |
| Lieutenant | Pilot | Romuald Suliński |
| Sergeant | Pilot | Władysław Żołnowski |
| Corporal | Pilot | Wacław Banaszuk |
| Corporal | Pilot | Edward Hajdukiewicz |
| Corporal | Pilot | Mieczysław Ligęza |
| Corporal | Pilot | Konrad Muchowski |
| Corporal | Pilot | Zbigniew Perkowski |
| Corporal | Pilot | Paweł Przybylak |
| Corporal | Pilot | Aleksander Sowiński |
| Corporal | Pilot | Ludwik Steinke |
| Corporal | Pilot | Stefan Wojciechowski |
| Lieutenant | Air observer | Mieczysław Daab |
| Lieutenant | Air observer | Julian Palka |
| Lieutenant | Air observer | Stanisław Starowicz |
| Second lieutenant | Air observer | Witold Bukowski |
| Second lieutenant | Air observer | Mieczysław Kretowicz |
| Second lieutenant | Air observer | Zygmunt Mazurkiewicz |
| Second lieutenant | Air observer | Henryk Olearczyk |
| Officer cadet | Air observer | Kazimierz Borowski |
| Officer cadet | Air observer | Bohdan Makowski |
| Officer cadet | Air observer | Włodzimierz Pfleger |
| Officer cadet | Air observer | Witold Siuda |
| Officer cadet | Air observer | Włodzimierz Danielewicz |
| Corporal officer cadet | Air observer | Zdzisław Śliwowski |
| Corporal officer cadet | Air observer | Jan Wilczyński |
| Corporal | Air gunner | Tadeusz Aranowski |
| Corporal | Air gunner | Jerzy Fontain[9] |
| Corporal | Air gunner | Kazimierz Frąckiewicz |
| Corporal | Air gunner | Antoni Jasiński |
| Corporal | Air gunner | Mieczysław Kieres |
| Corporal | Air gunner | Marian Manasiak |
| Corporal | Air gunner | Helmut Słotowski |
| Corporal | Air gunner | Bronisław Więckowski |
| Senior private | Air gunner | Stanisław Pęczak |
| Senior private | Air gunner | Wacław Tracz |
See also
References
- ↑ Pawlak, Jerzy (1989). Polskie eskadry w latach 1918-1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Komunikacji i Łączności. ISBN 978-8-320607-604.
- 1 2 Pawlak, Jerzy (1989). Polskie eskadry w latach 1918-1939. Biblioteczka skrzydlatej Polski (in Polish) (1st ed.). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Komunikacji i Łączności. p. 297. ISBN 978-8-320607-604.
- ↑ Pawlak, Jerzy (1989). Polskie eskadry w latach 1918-1939. Biblioteczka skrzydlatej Polski (in Polish) (1st ed.). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Komunikacji i Łączności. p. 298. ISBN 978-8-320607-604.
- ↑ Pawlak, Jerzy (1989). Polskie eskadry w latach 1918-1939. Biblioteczka skrzydlatej Polski (in Polish) (1st ed.). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Komunikacji i Łączności. p. 300. ISBN 978-83-206-0760-4.
- 1 2 Pawlak, Jerzy (1989). Polskie eskadry w latach 1918-1939. Biblioteczka skrzydlatej Polski (in Polish) (1st ed.). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Komunikacji i Łączności. p. 301. ISBN 978-83-206-0760-4.
- ↑ Ciechanowski, Konrad (1982). Armia "Pomorze" 1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej. ISBN 978-8-311067-936.
- ↑ Koliński, Izydor (1978). Regularne jednostki wojska polskiego (lotnictwo). Vol. 9. Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej. p. 94.
- 1 2 Pawlak, Jerzy (1991). Polskie eskadry w wojnie obronnej. Wrzesień 1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Komunikacji i Łączności. ISBN 978-8-320607-956.
- 1 2 Pawlak, Jerzy (1982). Polskie eskadry w wojnie obronnej 1939 (in Polish). Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Komunikacji i Łączności. ISBN 978-8-320602-814.