AAR - BrisWingsofGlory WGS Campaign 1, Mission 18 - Polish Air Force 1939-45
Britain 1940 Mission 18 Defensive Patrol Crowhurst 31/08/1940
The morning of 31 August 1940 saw old comrades re-united at RAF Northolt. Flying Officer Tadeusz Kowalewski and his wingman Sergeant Leopold Flanek from No.302 Squadron were detached to bolster No.303 Squadron. Their arrival was much welcomed by Flying Officer Władysław Gnyś and the rest of "B" Flight.
After spending most of the day on standby by late afternoon the Polish pilots had almost given up any chance to see action. Finally at 1750hrs the duty NCO shouted the order to 'Scramble'! All pilots ran to their aircraft, and soon their Merlin engines were fired up. "B" Flight springs into the air and sets course due east, bearing 90 degrees.
After over a dozen minutes flying and passing a flight of Spitfires, F/O Gnyś (RF-J) spots a large formation of German aircraft. To the north east some 60 to 70 machines are flying on the same course. As the Poles open their throttles and close on the enemy F/Sgt Chciuk's (RF-D) keen eyes pick out another three Messerschmitt 109s much closer and about 3000 feet below. The Germans had obviously not seen "B" Flight as the Poles approached with the sun at their tails. Surprise was complete.
Right to left, Paul, Rod and Wayne (forum member whisky sierra) are delighted at their good fortune at catching three Messerschmitt 109s unawares.
The Polish pilots each open fire with their eight .303in Browning machine guns, sending bursts of ball and tracer ammunition at the flight of 109s and one of the German machines immediately begins to smoke!
The first thing that alerts Oberleutnant Otto Bertram (Weiss 1) of 1.JG2 to the presence of the enemy is the streams of tracer passing by his aircraft! His Rottenkameraden Feldwebel Rudolf Täschner (Weiss 8) and Leutnant Adolf-Friedrich von Gotz (Weiss 2) are not as fortunate.
After just two bursts Fw. Täschner's 'Weiss 8' is shot out of the sky by F/O Tadeusz Kowalewski (E). The Luftwaffe pilot bails out unhurt, only to be promptly arrested on landing by the local police constable.
Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 'Weiss 2' is hit again a couple of seconds later by P/O Tadeusz Nowak (RF-H), his tracer igniting the fuel streaming from the German's holed fuel tank. The 109 crashes in flames, killing the pilot Ltn. von Gotz.
Oberleutnant Bertram dives away from the Hurricanes towards the Channel, his pursuers close behind.
It is then that Sgt. Flanek (J) calls out a warning that three more 109's are approaching from the north, coming to the rescue of their harried comrade.
The 109's and Hurricanes close at phenomenal speed, guns blazing. This time it is Pilot Officer Tadeusz Nowak who takes a serious hit as his Hurricane spews smoke.
As the second enemy formation engages "B" Flight .....
..... Oblt. Bertram in 'Weiss 1" manages to escape back across the Channel.
P/O Nowak and F/Sgt Arabski roll over and perform a split S to come in behind the Germans.
F/O Władysław Gnyś executes the same manoeuvre opening fire as 109 'Gelb 14' flashes past his nose. The Polish veteran's burst smashes the 109's control panel, sending the already badly damaged machine down in a spin. The pilot Ltn. Rudolf Rothenfelder of 9.JG2 just manages to extricate himself from the cockpit and hit the silk. Rothenfelder lands without injury only to find himself taken prisoner by an excitable farmer armed with a shotgun!
As the last two 9.JG2 Messerschmitts speed away to the east F/O Nowak banks hard to port to get in behind one of the German aircraft. Opening fire Nowak fires a short burst of twenty rounds per gun, noting with satisfaction multiple bullet strikes. The Messerschmitt executes a bunt, flashes his white belly and the crosses – and goes down. Nowak watches the pilot bail out and sees the parachute open. For a second he considers shooting the Jerry in his harness but there are too many witnesses. The German pilot Ltn. Erich Rudorffer, already wounded in the aerial battle comes down in the water. Unable to extricate himself from his harness due to his injuries Leutnant Rothenfelder drowns.
With the last Messerschmitt 'Gelb 1' piloted by Ltn. Carl-Hans Röders of 9.JG2 rapidly disappearing east towards France "B" Flight reform and head for their airfield. Back at Northolt the Polish pilots are congratulated on their four victories, P/O Tadeusz Nowak being credited with two 109s and F/O's Władysław Gnyś and Tadeusz Kowalewski one each. In return only Nowak's Hurricane had sustained any substantial damage and would be back on the flight line by 3 September.
At the end of the day's fighting the pilots of No.303 Squadron received the following telegram message from the Chief of the Air Staff, which gives them a deep sense of satisfaction -
“Magnificent fighting 303 Squadron. I am delighted. The enemy is shown that Polish pilots definitely on top.”
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What a great day for the Poles!
I really have to give the WW2 side of things a proper go now, but when 
OTT not yet over and the early WW1 campaign due to start. A local club WW1 campaign running for the next few months too! Hard life being retired huh 
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