Polish Fighting Team

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Polish Fighting Team


caption=Badge of the Polish Fighting Team
dates= February 13 1943 to July 22 1943
country= Poland
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command_structure=Desert Air Force
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nickname="Skalski Circus"
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battle_honours=North African Campaign
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identification_symbol=ZX + individual number (0-10)
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aircraft_fighter=Supermarine Spitfire
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The Polish Fighting Team (PFT) ( _pl. Polski Zespół Myśliwski), also known as "Skalski's Circus" ( _pl. Cyrk Skalskiego), was a Polish unit which fought with the British Commonwealth Desert Air Force in the North African Campaign of World War II, during 1943. Its nickname was derived from its commander, Stanisław Skalski.

History

The unit was sent to North Africa at the insistence of the Free Polish HQ, which wanted to train a cadre of experienced pilots in harsh conditions. The team was attached to No. 145 Squadron RAF, flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mark IX.

A total of 15 Polish pilots were chosen, under a plan for personnel rotation every three months. After initial preparations at RAF West Kirby in the UK, they embarked on an Atlantic convoy, arriving in North Africa in March 1943.

The unit gained a reputation for effectiveness and style. Flying Officer Mieczysław Wyszkowski was the only casualty in the PFT, shot down and taken prisoner-of-war on April 18. The German Army in Africa surrendered on May 13 and the PFT was disbanded.

Locations

* March 13 1943 - Bu Grara
* April 11 1943 - La Fauconnerie
* April 15 1943 - Goubrine
* May 6 1943 - Hergla
* May 20 1943 - Ben Gardane

quadron equipment

* March 15 1943 - Supermarine Spitfire F VB Tropicalised and VC (inter alia: AB168, ER539 -7)
* March 23 - May 26 1943 - Supermarine Spitfire F IXC (inter alia: EN261 -10, EN267 -5, EN268 -7, EN286 -8, EN300 -9, EN315 -6, EN361 -3, EN459 -1)

cores

ee also

* Polish Air Force
* Polish contribution to World War II

Notes

References

* Bohdan Arct: "Cyrk Skalskiego" Warsaw, 1970, MON