Page 41 - Demo

41%u2018I felt so well in my English squadron[s]%u2026that I twice refused to be transferred to a Polish unit. I felt so happy among these comrades. I can honestly say that I never had such relationships ever again in my life...%u201925 A total of 145 Poles fought in the Battle of Britain, nearly 100 of whom served with the RAF. Eighty8eight Czechoslovaks flew with them, around half in British units. The first %u2018national%u2019 fighter squadrons, Nos 310 and 312 (Czechoslovak) and Nos 302 and 303 (Polish) Sqns were formed and equipped with Hurricanes. Each was led by an RAF officer and RAF Flight Commanders with Polish or Czechoslovak deputies.26 One such flight commander, Canadian Flight Lieutenant John Kent, described his disappointment at being posted to 303 Squadron: %u2018%u2026so they have posted me to %u2013 the POLISH SQUADRON %u2013Gawd knows why and he won%u2019t tell. I can%u2019t speak a word of Polish and I%u2019m in a bit of a quandary over it all. The other boys are getting a hell of a kick out of it and are laughing a lot right now.%u201927He and many others were to be pleasantly surprised as the Slavs set about the task of defending Britain%u2019s airspace with courage, skill and a will to win. The first Polish victory came on 19 July when Pilot A Hurricane of No 303 (Polish) Sqn. (Jan Koniarek)