No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron

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No. 304 (Land of Silesia) Polish Bomber Squadron
304th Polish Bomber Squadron.svg
304 Squadron logo
Active 22 August 1940 – 18 December 1946
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Allegiance Poland Polish government in exile
Branch Air Force Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Air Force
Role Bomber Squadron
Anti-Submarine Squadron
Transport Squadron
Part of RAF Bomber Command
RAF Coastal Command
RAF Transport Command
Nickname(s) "Ziemi Śląskiej im. Ks. Józefa Poniatowskiego"
Insignia
Squadron Codes NZ (Aug 1940 - May 1942)
2 (Aug 1943 - Jul 1944)
QD (Jul 1944 - Dec 1946)
Aircraft flown
Bomber Fairey Battle
Vickers Wellington
Transport Vickers Warwick
Handley Page Halifax

No. 304 (Land of Silesia) Polish Bomber Squadron (Polish: 304 Dywizjon Bombowy "Ziemi Śląskiej im. Ks. Józefa Poniatowskiego") was a Polish World War II bomber unit. It fought alongside the Royal Air Force under their operational Command and operated from airbases in the United Kingdom, serving as a bomber unit in RAF Bomber Command, as an anti-submarine unit in RAF Coastal Command and as a transport unit in RAF Transport Command.

History

304 Squadron was created on 22 August 1940 and was declared ready for operations with Vickers Wellington medium bombers on 25 April 1941. On 7 May 1942 it was transferred to RAF Coastal Command along with the Wellingtons. Its last mission was on 30 May 1945, looking out for possible German submarines that would not surrender.[1] On 14 June 1945 it was transferred to Transport Command, operating scheduled services with Warwick C.3s to Greece and Italy,[1] but after April 1946 the Polish squadrons were restricted to flights within the UK.[2] In May the squadron converted to Halifax Mk C.8 unarmed transports and was disbanded a few months later on 18 December 1946.

No. 304 Squadron plane sunk German submarine U-321.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Moyes 1976, p. 226.
  2. ↑ Rawlings 1982, p. 198.

Bibliography

  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918 -1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jaworzyn, Josef F. No place to Land: A Pilot in Coastal Command. London, William Kimber, 1984. ISBN 0-7183-0510-8.
  • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA, RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 1998 (second edition 2001). ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Konarski, Mariusz. 304 Squadron. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model publications, 2005. ISBN 83-89450-18-6.
  • Moyes, Philip J.R. Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's (Publishers) Ltd., 1964 (new edition 1974). ISBN 0-354-01027-1.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0187-5.
  • Sturtivant, Ray ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1997, ISBN 0-85130-252-1.

External links

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