A story of sacrifice and heroism. Spectacular successes and painful failures. The legendary leader of Squadron 303 takes us on an exhilarating journey.
"The Beginning of Tomorrow", "Dawn of Victory" and "Fire Over China" - well-liked by readers, written in the pen of an outstanding storyteller, war stories, collected for the first time in one volume! General Witold Urbanowicz paints an epic picture of an individual thrown into the vortex of war, who, despite many dangers, does not lose its serenity. His memoirs show the image of an outstanding leader and great observer, and at the same time always modest and liked by everyone. A great man and patriot.
The diaries were published on the 20th anniversary of the author's death and the 76th anniversary of the first victory of the 303 squadron at the front as a tribute to the author and all the soldiers who shed their blood on the fronts of World War II, in the name of justice and peace.
World War II through the eyes of the legendary 303 Squadron commander:
I was fighting in the air over England with many of my colleagues and friends. There were only 138 of us at the time, 36 died in the battle, we shot down 203 German planes for sure, 35 probably, in many periods of the Battle of Britain we had the best account in the RAF. We were loyal, wasteful and valued allies, and we performed our duty with integrity. In England I met many kind people, comrades-in-arms. However, I also learned a lot of unpleasant truths.
A new edition of Witold Urbanowicz's memoirs has just been released by the Znak Horyzont publishing house.
At that time, we, Polish airmen, fought not only for the road to freedom of our country and not only for our return. We also fought for freedom for England and many other things, not always identical to our particular, Polish interest. As I heard from domestic sources, after the end of the war, our British ally scrupulously ordered to pay himself with gold from the Polish state treasury for each plane on which we flew over England. For every plane in which my friends and colleagues died - after all, not only for my country.
I understood many things when, shortly after the war, Poles ran out of space even in such a marginal and symbolic history as the Allied "victory parade". I watched her from the sidewalk as a civilian. An old story about a "black man who has done his job and is about to leave." Foolishness. However, I would not like my country to ever be such a Negro (p. 17).
Polish pilots awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross. First from the left is Witold Urbanowicz (source:press materials).
Suddenly I noticed four fighters from England. I was glad that there will be more of us. I kicked the plane to the right to give room to the newcomers. I looked the other way and to my horror I saw the Messerschmitt 109 not more than three hundred yards. He was a little lower, going straight at me. Distinct black crosses. And those from England were also Germans. "Messerschmitts are attacking from behind!" I shouted over the radio.
At the same time, the Messerschmitts 109 dived at us from above. There were over twenty of them. The squadron flashed in all directions like a flock of pigeons under the sudden attack of a hawk. This is the best tactic in this situation. The enemy loses orientation and the squadron ceases to exist as a target. The enemy will not attack single fighters in close formation. He also needs to get distracted. The battle breaks up into a series of duels (p. 301).