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43Stanley Vincent, who severely reprimanded him for his indiscipline and then congratulated him for his success. That evening, Paszkiewicz, deeply religious and a teetotaller, got drunk for the first time in his life. The squadron was declared operational the following day.30 Though 303 Squadron served in 11 Group for only six weeks, it became the most successful Fighter Command unit in the Battle; claiming 126 victories for the loss of eight of its number killed. With 17 confirmed victories, Sergeant Josef Frantisek, also of %u2018303%u2019, became the most successful individual pilot. Sergeant Frantisek was a Czechoslovak national who refused to observe air discipline and was therefore permitted by his Polish comrades to operate as a %u2018guest%u2019 of the Squadron. The Czech fought what was, in effect, a private war against the Germans until his death in a flying accident on 8 October 1940.31 Inevitably, 303 Squadron%u2019s phenomenal run of success Artwork No 303 (Polish) Sqn%u2019s victory tally chalked on a Hurricane at Leconfield in October 1940. (Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum)