Total of 91 AEG C.IV reconnaissance planes were captured from German stocks in 1918-1919, mainly in Wielkopolska. They equipped eight squadrons and three flight schools. Due to their wear, they were all scrapped by mid 1921. Additionaly two AEG J.I and two AEG N.I - attack and night bomber versions of C.IV - were used until 1921 as operational trainers, and single AEG N.I (of German airline) was interned and temporarily pressed into service in 1923.
5 Albatros B.I trainers were used until 1921 in Polish military aviation on Kraków airfield.
Albatros B.II trainers were among the most numerous aircraft of the early years of Polish military aviation, with 116 in use, mostly in majority of schools, but with some also used as liason planes attached to front-line squadrons. They remained in service exceptionally long, with last one being retired as late as 1927. Some of them later ended up in aero-clubs and in private hands, flying until mid-1930s. Single aircraft of that type is an exhibit of aviation museum in Kraków.
Albatros C.I observation planes, 49 of which were captured, were used in eight squadrons, but usually not as their main equipment (typically 1-2 planes per squadron). More widespread was their use in flight and observer schools (total five of them), where they were used until 1922. One C.I (or rather it's fuselage) can be seen in aviation museum in Kraków.
Albatros C.III was the first plane that took off from the Warsaw's Mokotów airfield after the independence. 15 such planes were used by Polish aviation until 1920, though last one remained in service about year longer.
About 3 Albatros C.V was serving in Polish Forces for short time. Polish military aviation also used 27 Albatros C.VII aircraft ( almost identical to C.V ), both captured and acquired as part of war reparations. Until 1921 they were used by six squadrons and year longer as trainers in three of the schools.
Total of 32 Albatros C.X airplanes were captured, 25 of them in Poznań. They were extensively used, and until spring of 1920 they formed backbone of reconnaissance aviation, being used by as much as thirteen squadrons, as well as three schools. Most of them remained in service until late 1922, except for one, converted to air ambulance, that was kept in use until 1927.
Once called a most ellegant recce aircraft in the German aviation, Albatros C.XII was used also in Poland. 24 such aircraft were captured in 1918-1919 and were used by nine squadrons until late 1920. Additionaly one plane was used as dual-controlled trainer.
Despite the "C" designation, signalling reconnaissance aircrat, Albatros C.XV was actually dual-use attack/recce aircrat (in German aviation classed typically as "CL"). 18 such planes were purchased in 1920 via then-Free City of Gdańsk, and kept in use until 1922 in several squadrons, mainly by 21 Eskadra Niszczycielska (21st Destroyer Squadron) which used them as ground attack aircraft.
In the early months of independence, Albatros (and Oeffag) fighters formed the backbone of Poland's air combat force. Most numerous among them was D.III version, 26 of which were used (not counting Oeffag D.III's of Austro-Hungarian origin), spread thinly among eight of the reconnaisaance squadrons (two of which were later reformed into fighter units) and four schools. Well-known problems with lower wing limited their usefullness and by late 1919 they were all removed from front-line service, though last two aircraft were used as trainers until 1923. Additionaly, a single Albatros D.II was very briefly used as trainer.
Polish military aviation had 18 Albatros D.V fighters (17 of them D.Va), spread among units in the same way as D.III, and additionaly to Baza Lotnictwa Morskiego (Naval Aviation Base) in Puck. They were removed from service together with their predecessors, except for naval planes that were kept in service until 1922.
Total of 10 Albatros J.I attack planes were captured in Wielkopolska, and subsequently they equipped four squadrons, including one allied Ukrainian unit. Later they were transferred to training units and scrapped around 1921-1922.
In early 1919 7 Aviatik C.III were captured in Wielkopolska in stored condition, although only 3 of them were made flyable and used for some time as trainers. Aviation museum in Kraków exhibits one plane of that type, which is the last one remaining in the world.
Polish military aviation used 63 DFW C.V reconnaissance aircraft, obtained from variety of sources - captured on Germans, on the eastern front, as well as bought from German war surplus. They equipped ten squadrons and four schools, remaining in service slightly longer than most German aircraft types - until 1924. Additionaly, 3 similar DFW C.IV aircraft were used - one in one of the reconaissance squadrons, and remaining two in the naval aviation until 1922. Kraków aviation museum has a DFW C.V, which is the only remaining plane of that type in the world.
Extremely successful Fokker D.VII fighters were used also in Poland, although their exact number is uncertain. It is generally accepted that there were about 50 of them - 2 captured, 3 obtained as war reparations, 25 purchased in Germany and 20 in France (from that country's share of war reparations). They equipped four fighter squadrons (two of these as basic equipment), two schools and later (after formation of air regiments) in training squadrons of four of these, remaining in service until 1927, though last ones were kept in flyable condition for about a year longer.
16 Fokker E.V (D.VIII) monoplane fighters were captured in Wielkopolska and used to equip 5 squadrons and 3 schools until late 1920/early 1921, though last one survived as display plane until around 1926.
Polish military aviation had 3 (Friedrichshafen) heavy bombers, one G.III and two G.IIIa. Two of them were impounded in late 1919 after crash landings during secret flights from Germany to Ukraine, third was purchased from "anonymous owner" from East Prussia. One aircraft was heavily - and succesfuly - used by 21 Eskadra Niszczycielska (21st Destroyer Squadron) on the southern front, one (that from "anonymous owner") was used by one of squadrons from Wielkopolska, but details are unknown, and third one was kept in reserve and only occasionaly flown until 1926.
Polish naval aviation had three Friedrichshafen FF.33 (each in different version) and one FF.49 floatplanes. One of FF.33's was used only briefly due to poor technical condition, one FF.33 and only FF.49 crashed in 1921 and remaining plane was kept in flying service until 1923 and for two more years as non-flying trainer (for training of taxiing and water handling).
Polish military aviation used total of 5 Gotha heavy bombers (1 G.III and 4 G.IV) - all either captured or obtained as war reparations. Only one of them (G.IV) was kept in flyable condition, though, and was used until summer 1920 by 21 Eskadra Niszczycielska (21st Destroyer Squadron), while remaining planes were kept in storage until around 1922.
(this was the one that came second in the painting comp)
10 attack/reconnaissance Halberstadt CL.II aircraft equipped two squadrons of Polish military aviation until 1921. Kraków museum is proud owner of one such aircraft, being last one remaining in the world.
Halberstadt CL.IV aircraft was used in Poland in very small numbers - just 3 such planes, but relatively long - until late 1922, equipping two squadrons, and later one of the schools.
Polish military aviation used 12 Halberstadt C.V aircraft in one squadron and two schools, and were all scrapped in late 1920 or early 1921.
Total of 23 (mostly captured) Hannover CL.II and single CL.IIIa aircraft were used by Polish military aviation, equipping several squadrons until late 1920 and two schools for slightly longer period. Additionaly, plans were made to begin production of the carbon-copy of these aircraft in Warsaw's Centralne Warsztaty Lotnicze (Central Aviational Workshops), but only two were made and whole idea was dropped after first of these planes crashed during one of the first flights (due to grave errors made during it's construction from incomplete documentation).
Single Hannover CL.V was used in Poland between 1919 and 1920.
Single Lübeck-Travemünde F-4 floatplane was used between 1920 and 1924 (when it crashed).
Polish military aviation had 14 (captured) LVG C.II aircraft, although they were never used as front-line aircraft, and just several of them, very occasionaly, as trainers, until last one were scrapped in early 1921.
It should be also noted, that Polish aviation had single LVG B.II, but it was not used in any operational capacity, as well as two LVG B.III used briefly as trainers. Also, one (different) plane of the B.II type is exhibited in Kraków aviation museum as the last example of the type in the world.
LVG C.V reconnaissance aircraft were most numerous planes of German origin in Polish military aviation, with as much as 151 being used (75 captured in Poznań, 7 in other parts of Poland, 8 on eastern front and 61 purchased from war surplus and obtained as part of war reparations). They were used in first bombing raid of independent Poland's aviation on 9 January 1919, later equipping twelve Polish squadrons, as well as two allied units (one Ukrainian and one Belorussian), in addition to, already mentioned, aviational unit of 4 Dywizja Strzelców (4th Rifle Division) and five schools. They remained in service until around 1924-1925.
Polish aviation had 15, mostly captured, LVG C.VI planes. They equipped six squadrons and three schools, and were highly valued by their crews, remaining in service until mid-1920s, with exception of one aircraft, that was actually a Lithuanian plane which accidentaly landed in Poland as late 1927 and was pressed into service in Polish aviation, although for how long is unclear, since Lithuanians demanded return of the plane.
Two Pfalz D.XII fighters were purchased from war surplus in 1919 and briefly used as operational trainers.
Rumpler C.I was one of the most numerous German planes in Polish use, with total of 84 equipping mostly schools, but some ending up also in eight Polish and one allied Belorussian squadrons. Thanks to a series of fatal accidents, they were considered dangerous and scrapped in early 1921.
Polish aviation used total of 38 Rumpler C.IV in four squadrons (three Polish, one allied Belorussian) and two schools. Although initially considered good planes, opinion about them quickly changed after a series of crashes in which 13 aircraft and 15 aviators were lost, leading to grounding order for the type and their subsequent scrapping.
Total of 10 Rumpler C.VII aircraft served in Poland - they were both captured planes, as well as purchased from war surplus - and were used in two squadrons and temporarily in one school. Although lacked fatal design faults of C.IV, by association they shared poor opinion about the type, compounded by difficult handling and fragile engines. Most of them remained in service until 1921, with last two serving until 1922.
Despite "C" reconaissance designation, Rumpler C.VIII was in fact operational trainer. 6 such aircraft were used in Poland, in two squadrons and one school. They remained in service until August 1920.
Single Sablatnik SF.5 floatplane was used between 1920 and 1923 by Polish naval aviation.
Puttiing a polish on the Poles in 1920
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Thanks Zoe.
Originally Posted by Nightbomber
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