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The End of The Affair.(A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron, Forgotten Heroes of World War II)(Book Review)
Flying obsolete planes against a massive Luftwaffe assault, Polish pilots didn't have a chance during the German blitzkrieg in 1939. And those who escaped to France and, after it quickly collapsed, to Britain were initially frustrated in their efforts to keep fighting their country's oppressors. Suspecting that the new arrivals wouldn't be able to hold their own in modern aerial combat, Royal Air Force officers were reluctant to allow them to take off. But take off they did-- quickly proving the doubters wrong. Demonstrating dazzling skill and courage, the crack Kosciuszko Squadron downed more German planes in the Battle of Britain than any other unit.
In "A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron, Forgotten Heroes of World War II" (495 pages. Knopf) veteran journalists and authors Lynne Olson and Stanley Cloud use the pilots' story as the centerpiece of an impassioned, riveting account of Poland's betrayal by Britain and the United States. The basic story line: abandonment and tragedy, hope and heroism--followed by abandonment and tragedy again. The book's title refers to Winston Churchill's vow that Poland's allies would honor their commitment to restoring the country's independence; it was a vow that evaporated at war's end.
More than 30,000 Polish military personnel made it to Britain, including 8,000 from the Air Force. Once they were allowed to fly, the Polish pilots may have provided the crucial margin of victory in the Battle of Britain, dissuading Hitler from launching Operation Sea Lion, the plan for ...
- A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron, Forgotten Heroes of World War...
- Magazine article from: Sarmatian Review Gawronski, Raymond January 1, 2005 700+ words
...of fighters of this Kosciuszko Squadron as they make their...unhelpful France, to Britain. Initially treated...contribution to the Battle of Britain. During that Battle...Though subtitled "The Kosciuszko Squadron," A Question of...the air battle for Britain and its heroes ...
- Olson, Lynne & Cloud, Stanley. A question of honor; the Kosciuszko Squadron;...
- Magazine article from: Kliatt Puffer, Raymond January 1, 2005 700+ words
...A question of honor; the Kosciuszko Squadron; forgotten heroes of World...and thrown into the Battle of Britain. This book is about one of...Olson and Cloud tell the Kosciuszko squadron's saga in a gripping style...
- A Question of Honour: the Kosciuszko Squadron, forgotten heroes of World War...
- Magazine article from: Esprit de Corps Shannon, Norm February 1, 2004 700+ words
...A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron, Forgotten Heroes of World...of the war until the last, Britain's fourth-ranking ally...after Hitler invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on...five complete divisions, Britain was unable to do much to assist...
- Cisek, Janusz Kosciuszko, We Are Here: American Pilots of the Kosciuszko...
- History: Review of New Books Daley, John January 1, 2003 700+ words
...two decades later, their new organization, the 7th "Kosciuszko" Squadron, comprised host nationals and foreign volunteers who...reconnaissance, liaison, and ground attack missions, the Kosciuszko squadron's handful of volunteers were the West's lone combatants...
- Review of English Language Historiography of the Polish Air Force. (Review...
- Magazine article from: Air Power History Peszke, Michael Alfred March 22, 2003 700+ words
...call themselves the Kosciuszko Squadron, in their words...continued to be named the Kosciuszko Squadron after the hero of...also known as the Kosciuszko Squadron. (8) The fame...in the Battle of Britain was duly recognized...
- Snap Judgement: Books.(Book Review)(Brief Article)
- Magazine article from: Newsweek September 22, 2003 700+ words
...But those who escaped to Britain to regroup as the Kosciuszko Squadron demonstrated dazzling skill...German planes in the Battle of Britain than any other squadron...of Poland's betrayal by Britain and the United States, which...
- `A Question of Honor' recognizes Poles' WWII effort.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Smyntek, John March 10, 2004 700+ words
...story of the Polish air force members who escaped the September 1939 blitzkrieg and were able to fly in the Kosciuszko Squadron of Britain's Royal Air Force. The authors offer a remarkably engrossing tale of these pilots, other Poles who fought...
- IN MEMORIAM: Witold A. Urbanowicz, World War II Flying Ace
- Newspaper article from: Polish-American Journal December 1, 1996 700+ words
...with the Royal Air Force and ultimately commanded the all-Polish No. 303 "Kosciuszko" Squadron, and the No. 1 Polish Fighter Wing. During the Battle of Britain, his unit led all RAF squadrons with 126 victories; Urbanowicz's personal...
