France 1940 Mission 10 Defensive Patrol Baccarat 22/05/1940
By 22 May 1940 the war situation was looking grim for France and her Polish airmen. The Boche had reached the Channel coast on 20 May and now had encircled the northern French and Belgian armies along with the British Expeditionary Force in a pocket centred on the port of Dunkirk. For GC II/7 the availability of spare parts and replacement aircraft for their Morane fighters was becoming a major problem. With Tadeusz Kowalewski's aircraft still under repair following the events of 18 May, he was also forced to obtain another machine using unorthodox methods. Attending the nearest aircraft park he simply selected an unattended machine and with the most cursory of pre flight checks started her up and took off. Sentries watched him go with disinterest - which whilst helpful to Kowalewski in this interest was troubling on many levels.
Returning to Luxeuil-les-Bains where the Polish Flight had re-joined the rest of GC II/7, S-Lt. Kowalewski had his mechanic look over his latest 'White 6' which appeared to be perfectly serviceable. Within an hour the 'Patrouille Polonaise' of Sous Lieutenant Władysław Gnyś in 'White 15', Sous Lieutenant Tadeusz Kowalewski in 'White 6' and Adjutant Władysław Chciuk flying 'White 7' were up flying a defensive patrol to the north towards Nancy.
The Polish pilots (right to left Paul, Rod and Wayne) were very keen to get to grips with the enemy on this day, although Rod's face probably accurate reflects the trepidation he felt when he saw what they were up against
As their formation approached the town of Baccarat flying at 5000 metres they saw in the distance two twin-engine aircraft....
....which they soon identified as Messerschmitt Bf 110 'destroyers' of the Luftwaffe.
Also flying at 5000 metres altitude the pilots of the two 'Zerstörer' of I.ZG76 also spotted the French fighters and turned to meet the threat. Leading the Rotte, Oblt. Ernst Heidemann flying 3U+BS was excited at the prospect of battle and adding to his score of one victory claimed over a Polish fighter the previous September. Little did he know he was about to come up against that same Polish pilot Władysław Gnyś in the skies over France!
With vivid memories of his brush with the heavily armed Messerschmitts over Poland, S-Lt. Gnyś ordered Kowalewski and Chciuk to open their formation in order to avoid the nose mounted cannon.
Władysław Gnyś himself lined up the first Messerschmitt which inexplicably turned away from his Morane at the last moment (I made a rookie mistake and selected the wrong card ). Firing his 20mm and twin machine guns, the Polish officer timed his burst perfectly. Cannon shells and bullets struck the Messerschmitt 110's fuselage and empennage, resulting in the catastrophic separation of the Luftwaffe fighter's tail section. Heidemann could scarcely believe it as he ordered his gunner Uffz. Michael Thiele to bail out. Both Germans managed to exit their doomed aircraft and parachuted down where they were taken prisoner by French reservists.
S-Lt. Gnyś was barely able to register his incredible victory when his own aircraft was pummelled by cannon and machine fire from the second Messerschmitt. Flying 3U+DS Unteroffizier Fritz Schupp had watched aghast as his Rottenführers aircraft had gone down so quickly. He had targeted the offending Frenchman, watching with satisfaction as his burst struck the fuselage and cockpit. As he passed through the Morane flight however Schupp's 110 was also badly shot up, although no critical systems appeared damaged. The German NCO lined up on another Morane as his gunner Gefreiter Karl Nechwatel put a burst into the third enemy fighter with his trainable MG15 as it passed the tail of the Messerschmitt.
Adjutant Władysław Chciuk in 'White 7' had just been cheering the rapid demise of the first Messerschmitt when he was suddenly nose to nose with the second Luftwaffe fighter. 'By god these things are fast,' he thought as he stabbed at the trigger firing all his guns. Chciuk did not see any strikes on the 110, but heard a sound like rocks on a tin roof as bullets peppered his own Morane. Meanwhile Władysław Gnyś has his own problems. A shell splinter had struck his googles and caused a head-wound which was bleeding freely. Wiping the blood from his eyes, Gnyś banked to port calling over the wireless "I am hit, breaking off".
Tadeusz Kowalewski turned in behind the Messerschmitt, narrowly missing Chciuk's Morane as it flashed past his nose. 'If I can just get close enough for a shot' he said to himself, followed by the thought 'I wonder how manoeuvrable that bird is, can she Immelmann?'
The Polish pilot's question was answered as the Messerschmitt pulled up the nose and rolled over reversing his course. S-Lt. Kowalewski was now nose to nose with the heavily armed 110.
Kowalewski was fortunate that due to the speed they were flying his Morane was already on the Messerschmitt before the German could get off a burst. As the 110 passed however Kowalewski's aircraft was hit by the rear gunner. Gef. Nechwatel noted with satisfaction the bullet strikes on the Frenchie as it flashed past.
In the pilot's seat Uffz. Schupp was also busy making a tough deflection shot as the other Morane crossed his nose. Schupp shot well this time, his cannon and machine guns punishing the enemy fighter. Schupp watched as parts of the Morane were blown off as the aircraft flew off trailing a stream of white smoke.
Bringing the big machine about again, Schupp watched the smoking Morane intent on finishing his quarry.
Meanwhile having wrapped his scarf around his head to stem the bleeding Sous Lieutenant Władysław Gnyś in 'White 15' exited the battle area. "Good luck comrades" he called as he set course for Luxeuil-les-Bains.
Over Baccarat Kowalewski had scored a hit on Schupp's 3U+DS damaging a control line which prevented him from chasing Chciuk's damaged Morane. Unfortunately for Kowalewski 'White 6' had also been hit hard. Deciding to call it a day he broke away to the south, calling for Chciuk to do the same.
By this time Uffz. Fritz Schupp's 3U+DS had taken some punishment but his controls seemed to be working again and the 110 was not nicknamed 'Ironsides' for nothing. The German was not about to let the Frenchman get away so opened his throttle to give chase.
As he closed on the Morane his gunner Gefreiter Karl Nechwatel called as he say the other Morane coming about on their five o'clock. That fighter has stopped smoking now but Schupp was not concerned "I'll get this one first Karl," he replied, "you keep the other one busy." S-Lt. Kowalewski had not fought the Messerschmitt Bf 110 before and although he knew they were fast the speed at which the big machine was closing was terrifying. Pushing his nose down and opening the throttle, Kowalewski began a steep dive to escape his pursuer.
Schupp smiled as the Morane tried to dive away. "You should have turned Francois," he muttered as he pushed his stick forward closing rapidly. Schupp opened fire at long range from dead astern. The burst from his twin 20mm MGFF cannon struck the Morane in the tail and fuselage. The French fighter came apart in mid air, the lucky pilot just managing to launch himself into space as his aircraft was destroyed.
Adjutant Władysław Chciuk in 'White 7' had watched in helpless horror as the German dispatched Tadeusz Kowalewski's Morane just moments before. Despite the damage he had already taken he slid his own aircraft in above and behind the Messerschmitt. The German rear gunner was firing at him and Chciuk could hear bullet-strikes on his Morane. He focused on his gunsight and squeezed off a burst, which struck the 110 along the fuselage. Suddenly the enemy machine was falling away and within a few seconds the Polish warrant officer saw two parachutes as the pilot and his gunner bailed out of their doomed machine. Victors who had become the vanquished, Uffz. Schupp and Gef. Nechwatel landed safely but soon joined their comrades in captivity.
Władysław Chciuk brought his badly damaged 'White 7' back to Luxeuil, but the aircraft was so badly damaged it was scrapped. By late afternoon Tadeusz Kowalewski was back at the base, no worse for wear at having taken to his parachute. Władysław Gnyś had received treatment for his wounds, which although bloody were not serious. His aircraft 'White 15' was repairable, but would be unserviceable for at least five days. Gnyś and Chciuk each submitted their claims for a 110 destroyed, and these were quickly confirmed. GC II/7 celebrated their victories that evening, with the champagne running freely.
The following morning the 'Patrouille Polonaise' of GC II/7 was called out to parade, many with sore heads. To their surprise the escadrille was being inspected by none other than General Władysław Sikorski, Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces. The General awarded S-Lt. Gnyś the Polish Wound Stripe with one star, the pilot's head still bandaged from the wounds he sustained the previous day. With the commander of GC II/7 Commandant Durieux General Sikorski also presented Sous Lieutenant Władysław Gnyś and Adjutant Władysław Chciuk the French Medaille militaire in recognition of their two confirmed victories. At the end of the parade Cdt. Durieux announced that GC II/7 would be taken off operational duties effective immediately and redeployed to the airfield at Avelanges for re-training on new Dewoitine D.520C-1 fighters. The Poles were not happy about missing opportunities to have at the Germans, but were excited at the prospect of the D.520 which was faster and better armed than their old Moranes.
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