AAR - BrisWingsofGlory WGS Campaign 1, Mission 6 - Polish Air Force 1939-45
France 1940 Mission 6 Offensive Patrol Freiburg 06/05/1940
By 6 May 1940 the damage to the Morane MS.406s 'White 6' and 'White 15' had been repaired and both aircraft classified as serviceable. The commander of GC II/7 Commandant Durieux was well pleased with the success achieved by his new 'Patrouille Polonaise' on their first mission, so much so that it was decided the Poles should take the war to the enemy with an offensive patrol across the German frontier!
The previous day the pilots had been briefed to conduct an offensive patrol to the north east following the French-German border then crossing into German airspace near Freiburg. Sous Lieutenant Władysław Gnyś would lead the flight in 'White 15', with Sous Lieutenants Tadeusz Nowak (White 7) and Tadeusz Kowalewski (White 6) flying as his wingmen.
After taking off from Luxeuil-les-Bains the Polish Patrol climbed steadily to 7000 metres before turning north to follow the frontier. Even from that height the pilots could see the powerful forts of the Maginot Line dotting the landscape on the French side or the border. This was the shield the likes of which Poland never had that would keep the Germans at bay.
They had been following the border for about 30 kilometres when the flight crossed over into German airspace west of Freiburg. Soon after Władysław Gnyś spotted four aircraft flying east across their path about 1000 metres below. He soon recognised them to be Messerschmitt Bf 109Es, the Luftwaffe's much vaunted fighter. Despite the numerical odds the Poles had the advantage of height and position, so Gnyś waggled his wings to order the attack.
Hauptmann Wilhelm Balthasar was leading his Schwarm home after an uneventful patrol over France. He was disappointed the Frenchmen did not to want to come up today, and not for the first time wished he was deployed further north where his fellow Jadgflieger seemed to be fighting with the Gentlemen of the Royal Air Force on a daily basis. Suddenly his Rottenkamerad Obergefreiter Hans Lass flying 'Weiss 8' screamed a warning through the radio "Achtung Franzosen! Vier Uhr!" Balthasar immediately called to his men "Rechts brechen!" as he pulled his stick over sending his Emil 'Weiss 1' into a tight turn to starboard.
As the Poles screamed into the attack it was obvious the Germans were alert to their presence as they began to take evasive action. The two closest 109s broke into the attack - 'Smart fellows' thought S-Lt. Nowak as he tracked their progress. The other two however had banked left then reversed course. They had traded speed for a bit of altitude, but not enough to matter. They were now flying slow and straight as Władysław Gnyś quickly closed on the nearest 109.
Nowak banked right and found himself nose to nose with the two 109s after they had reversed course in perfect formation. 'Smart and skilled' thought Nowak ruefully. He opened fire on the closest 109, with a white 8 clearly marked on the cowl. His cannon poured shells at the Luftwaffe fighter and Nowak was elated to see strike on the port wing. His joy was short-lived however as his own aircraft was jolted by return fire.
Władysław Gnyś made a diving attack on his 109, opening fire with cannon and machine guns. His deflection was on the money as the German plane erupted into flame and smoke!
Leutnant Ludwig Franzisket knew he had made a mistake when he saw a French Morane closing on him, all guns blazing. His Emil (Weiss 2) was rocked as cannon shells exploded against the fuselage. In an instant flames were visible indicating the Frenchman had got his fuel tank located right behind the cockpit, and a steady stream of white smoke told him his coolant was also evaporating fast. "Get out Herr Leutnant!" screamed his Rottenkamerad Unteroffizier Emil Clade flying 'Weiss 3'.
Gnyś flashed past the burning 109, bringing his nose up to turn back to the fight. Nowak and Kowalewski were engaged in similar manoeuvres as the two flights passed each other.
As the fire started to consume his Emil, Ltn. Franzisket decided to take his wingman's advice. Releasing his harness he pulled back the hood of his canopy and banked to port, rolling out just as the rush of air saw the cockpit engulfed in flames. The Luftwaffe officer watched for a few moments as his burning machine tracked across the sky before deploying his parachute. Sous Lieutenant Gnyś was just coming out of his reversal when he saw the flaming Messerschmitt falling out of control, signifying his first victory.
With the odds now even S-Lt. Gnyś was lining up his first victim's wingman as S-Lt. Nowak and S-Lt. Kowalewski readied for another pass.
The Polish Patrol traded fire with the Germans but this time the heavier firepower of the 109s' twin 20mm cost them dearly. A Messerschmitt stitched up Gnyś' 'White 15' and although his Morane was still responsive it had taken heavy damage. To make matters worse during the wild manoeuvring Nowak and Kowaleski collided, causing further damage to Kowalewski's 'White 6'. Realising they had lost the advantage Władysław Gnyś called on his wingmen to break off and head for home.
Gnyś dived down to 5000 metres heading west. Still at 7000 metres Kowalewski and Nowak banked left in the direction of France.
When Hptm. Balthasar saw the first Morane break off and dive away he knew the others would soon do the same. As the two French fighters opened their throttles Balthasar made a beam attack on the rearmost machine, firing both cannon and machine guns. As cannon shells burst along the length of the aircraft Balthasar could see pieces flying off the shattered Morane. In the cockpit of 'White 7' S-Lt. Tadeusz Nowak knew his aircraft was done for. Opening the canopy he slipped out of the harness and hit the silk.
"Horrido!" cried Hptm. Balthasar, announcing his victory over the radio. But the Luftwaffe Jagdflieger was not finished yet, sliding in behind the first Morane. His long range burst struck the Frenchman's port wing which suddenly broke away. For the second time in less than five seconds Balthasar again called "Horrido!" as the Morane rolled over and the pilot leapt from his doomed machine. Tadeusz Kowalewski managed to get free of the cockpit of 'White 6' and deploy his parachute, but was slightly wounded in a hard landing.
Władysław Gnyś made it back to Luxeuil-les-Bains, where he inspected the damage to his Morane finding several fist sized holes in the fuselage. Of his wingmen there was no sign, Gnyś having lost radio contact with both shortly after breaking off. The Grouppe CO was about to post them missing in action when the Escadrille received a call that two Polish pilots had just escaped the Germans by swimming the Rhine! By morning Tadeusz Nowak was back at Luxeuil no worse for wear, while Kowalewski was taken to hospital in Épinal where the prognosis was good. His victory over the 109 confirmed, Gnyś was congratulated by Cdt. Durieux, who promised to get replacement aircraft for his flight as soon as possible.
Back at their airfield the men of Jadgeschwader 1 were pleased to learn that Ltn. Franzisket had survived the jump from his burning 109. That evening at the mess the Gruppenkommandeur Major Bernhard Woldenga presented Hauptman Balthasar with the Iron Cross Second Class for his two confirmed victories.
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Originally Posted by Skafloc
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