KITS 10/2021
P3120, F/O Z. Henneberg, No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, Northolt, Great Britain, September 1940
Apparently, the best-known Polish fighter squadron, No.303 (Polish) Squadron, was established in July 1940 in Blackpool. After a short training
in August, it was declared operational and flying Hurricanes took part in the Battle of Britain. Its flying personnel was formed by experienced
aviators who had fought in Polish and French skies therefore right after their combat deployment the number of the enemy aircraft shot down
was rising rapidly. Until the end of the Battle of Britain the No. 303 Squadron pilots shot down 126 enemy aircraft in total, 13 were probables and
9 damaged. Hurricane coded RF-A, camouflaged in standard Temperate Land Scheme colors (upper and side surfaces in Dark Earth and Dark
Green, lower surfaces in Sky), carries the unit insignia under the antenna mast. It is possible that closer to the cockpit it also sported small
Polish national insignia, but it cannot be ascertained from the photograph. The red stripe on the rear fuselage was a recognition marking of the
formation leaders.
P3395, S/Ldr A. V. Clowes, No. 1 Squadron, Wittering, West Sussex, Great Britain, autumn 1940
Arthur Victor Clowes was born on August 16, 1912, in New Sawley in the county of Derbyshire. He enlisted in the RAF in January 1929. Initially he
served as a ground personnel member but later he completed the pilot training. At the outbreak of WWII, he flew with No. 1 Squadron equipped
with Hurricanes. He participated in the air battles over France and after that in the Battle of Britain. During these fightings he was credited
with nine kills (plus one in cooperation), three probables and two damaged enemy aircraft for which he was awarded DFC in May 1941. Since
December 1941 he commanded No. 79 Squadron and between August and November No. 601 Squadron in North Africa. After the rest he led No.
94 Squadron between July and September 1943. During one wild party he lost sight in one eye and consequently was invalided from combat.
He remained in RAF service after the war. He passed away on December 7, 1949, from a liver cancer. He flew his Hurricane Mk.I P3395 with
a wasp marking on its nose. The areas where ground personnel stepped frequently show the paint worn down to the bare metal.
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INFO Eduard - October 2021