The Forgotten Few (Paperback)
The Polish Air Force in World War II
Imprint: Pen & Sword Aviation
Pages: 256
Illustrations: 30
ISBN: 9781848841963
Published: 25th January 2010
Last Released: 3rd April 2023
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By the beginning of 1941 there was a fully fledged Polish Air Force operating alongside the RAF. With 14 Squadrons it was larger than any other of the Air Force from Nazi-occupied Europe that had joined the Allies. Over 17,000 men and women passed through the ranks of the Polish Air Force while it was stationed in the UK.
They shot down 745 enemy aircraft, with a further 175 unconfirmed. They dropped thousands of bombs and laid hundreds of mines, flying 102,486 sorties notching up a total of 290,895 operation flying hours. They achieved this at a cost of 1,973 killed and 1,388 wounded. They won 342 British gallantry awards.
As Featured In
Model Aircraft Magazine, January 2022
It is a thought provoking book, especially for those who do not know about the Poles who fought under British command during the Second World War.
GoodReads, Paul Diggett
Read the full review here
This book by Adam Zamoyski tells the story of the Polish Air Force with remarkable detail.
Daly History Blog - James Daly
Adam Zamoyski’s outstanding book, ‘The Forgotten Few’, tells the story of the Polish Air Force in full. Nationalist politicians who wrap themselves in dead men’s glory beneath the photo of a Spitfire, which turns out later to have been piloted by a Pole, would do well to read it.
Henry Coningsby - Waterstones (Watford)
Battle of Britain: Polish 303 squadron become operational
30th August 1940
By the beginning of 1941 there was a fully fledged Polish Air Force operating alongside the RAF. With 14 Squadrons it was larger than any other of the Air Force from Nazi-occupied Europe that had joined the Allies. Over 17,000 men and women passed through the ranks of the Polish Air Force while it was stationed in the UK.