SBS - Polish Battle of Britain

[Skoshi Tiger]

Just a link to a documentry about the Polish 303 squadron during the Battle of Britain.

http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/2074043475/The-Polish-Battle-Of-Britain-Full-Ep

the link should be good for about 6 more days, not sure about people accessing it from out side Australia

Theres a lot of mixed footage

With everyone else celebrating the end of the war, these guys that made such a contribution didn't have much to celebrate. Quite sad really!

Cheers!

[JG52Krupi]

Thanks for the link dude

Unfortunately it says this content is currently unavailable (UK) when I hit play :(... pity

[Osprey]

..........these guys that made such a contribution didn't have much to celebrate. Quite sad really!

Cheers!

One thing is for sure, the Polish squadrons must've been the biggest line shooters in the BoB. We don't stop hearing about how good they were, yet, as far as I'm aware, they didn't even see any action until September 1940.

Far fewer people have heard of my crew, No.501, who battled in France in much tougher conditions, then after 2 weeks rest were back in the thick of it from June 1940 to the end. 'Ginger' Lacey wasn't a line shooter and I'm pretty sure he didn't fly over the tops of the Germans who he forced to bail out to collapse their parachute and murder them.

Trolling over, there are 2 sides to a coin.

[GF_Mastiff]

content unavailable too bad must of been a nice video.

[Skoshi Tiger]

content unavailable too bad must of been a nice video.

Must be limited to Australia, similar restrictions apply when I try to get video from TV stations in the US and UK - sorry!

Here'a a link to YouTube - not sure if it's the whole show


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpzWM21eACM

One thing is for sure, the Polish squadrons must've been the biggest line shooters in the BoB. We don't stop hearing about how good they were, yet, as far as I'm aware, they didn't even see any action until September 1940.

Far fewer people have heard of my crew, No.501, who battled in France in much tougher conditions, then after 2 weeks rest were back in the thick of it from June 1940 to the end. 'Ginger' Lacey wasn't a line shooter and I'm pretty sure he didn't fly over the tops of the Germans who he forced to bail out to collapse their parachute and murder them.

Trolling over, there are 2 sides to a coin.

I'll leave it with a quote from their group Capitain.

“I cannot say how proud I am to have been privileged to help form and lead No. 303 squadron and later to lead such a magnificent fighting force as the Polish Wing. There formed within me in those days an admiration, respect and genuine affection for these really remarkable men which I have never lost. I formed friendships that are as firm as they were those twenty-five years ago and this I find most gratifying. We who were privileged to fly and fight with them will never forget and Britain must never forget how much she owes to the loyalty, indomitable spirit and sacrifice of those Polish fliers. They were our staunchest Allies in our darkest days; may they always be remembered as such!”
Group Captain John A. Kent DFC, AFC

[GF_Mastiff]

thanks Skoshi thats was very informative and historic. I enjoyed that

[Moggy]

I remember channel 4 showing a documentary about the Poles during the Battle of Britain, is this it?

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-untold-battle-of-britain/4od

Unfortunately I think it may only be available to those in the UK...sorry.

[Osprey]

Line shooting Skoshi, line shooting. That is all.

[justme262]

What is line shooting?

The Luftwaffe bombed my stepmothers cat in London. True story!

[Skoshi Tiger]

Line shooting Skoshi, line shooting. That is all.

Very easy to say 70 years after the event when none of the pilots from the squadron are alive to comment or give their side of events.

I can only go by my experience with WWII veterans (my Dad being one), I've gone to numerous events and listened to a lot of stories.

What I can say is that if anyone actually tried to 'shoot a line' or put through anything that was vaguely untrue it would be the veterans themselves that would be the first to put the guy in his place (Being unfettered by the restraints of political correctness it wouldn't be pleasant!)

The show was based on events recorded in the squadron diary.

[JimmyBlonde]

Well, the Poles did see their entire nation occupied and raped by Nazi soldiers, I guess that upset them a little.

It's not line shooting, it's the result of giving men with an unreasoning hatred for all things German the most lethal weaponry available and free license to wreak havoc amongst the enemy.

Personally I don't blame them for being callous, they had a first hand perspective of what was at stake.

[Old-Banger]

Was'nt 303 Squadron the highest scoring of the Battle of Britain period? Does not seem to be a line shoot to me....................

[Feathered_IV]

No line shoot. British authorities confirmed the kill claims after all. Poles were very well trained before the war, as their airforce was small, pilots were sent on course after course to give the biggest bang for buck.

[camber]

Those post-war historians who noted that 303 was the top scoring Hurricane squadron and the fourth highest in the battle (despite starting so late) are such a bunch of line shooters :)

But unfortunately we are just feeding the troll ;)

[JG52Krupi]

What is a line shooter!!?

[Feathered_IV]

A bullshit artist ;)