KITS 12/2020

P8342, Sgt. Marcin Machowiak, No. 306 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, Great Britain, August 1941

No. 306 (City of Torun) (Polish) Squadron, one of ten Polish fighter squadrons in the RAF, was formed on August 28th, 1940 at RAF Church

Fenton. The squadron was formed with the personnel and traditions of the pre-war Polish Toruński Dywizjon Myśliwski. The unit received

the Spitfire Mk.IIb in mid July 1941 to replace its Hurricane Mk.IIa aircraft. The nose art and name CERAM on P8342 are probably a remnant

from previous service with No. 145 Squadron. The aircraft was heavily damaged shortly after being repainted in accordance with the Day

Fighter Scheme requirement, when Sgt. Machowiak made a forced landing at RAF Biggin Hill on August 28th , 1941, after combat with

a Bf 109F. Sgt. Machowiak achieved a kill of another Bf 190F during the Circus 88 operation. He later became a member of the Polish

Fighting Team, also known as the Skalski Circus, which was actually C Flight of No. 145 Squadron in North Africa.

P7834, F/O František Fajtl, No. 313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron, RAF Portreath, Great Britain,

September 1941

The pilot of P7834, F/O František Fajtl, was one of the most skilled and famous of Czech flyers. Joining the Armée de l´Air, he fought in the

Battle of France, then took part in the Battle of Britain as a member of No.1 and No. 17 Squadrons flying Hurricanes He was one of the founding members of No. 313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron formed at RAF Catterick on May 10th, 1941. While leading No. 122 Squadron, S/Ldr Fajtl

was shot down near Hazebrouck in Northern France on May 5th, 1942. He evaded capture and after a long journey through occupied Vichy

France and Spain, he returned back to the UK via Gibraltar. He was promoted to Wing Commander, and he later rejoined No. 313 Sqd. as

Squadron Leader. He became CO of the 1st Czechoslovak Air Regiment in the USSR in 1944, flying the La-5FN. After enduring the persecution

that took place in the fifties, he became renowned for his literary work. He died in 2006 at the age of 94 with the rank of Lieutenant General.

He held countless awards bestowed upon him by various countries.

INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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