Nine victories of Witold Urbanowicz

General Witold Urbanowicz is the legend of Polish Air Force. He was the second on the list of best Polish fighter pilots with 17 confirmed kills and the sole Polish Air Force fighter pilot who shot down aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. Officially he was credited with two kills (two Nakajima Ki-43) but he claimed that he actually shot five more, but those were not approved as he did not have any witnesses. Most of his victories he scored during the Battle of Britain flying with No. 303 Polish “Kościuszko” Squadron – 13 in total. Nine of them while flying Hawker Hurricane Mk.I RF-E/P3901.

Hurricane RF-E/P3901,Witlold Urbanowicz’s most famous aeroplane with nine Luftwaffe aircraft shot down during Battle of Britain.  Artwork by Marcin Górecki.

Before he became a member of this famous squadron, Witold Urbanowicz, similar to other Polish fighter pilots, joined a British unit. Having finished a training at the No.6 Operational Training Unit in Sutton Bridge he was posted to No. 145 Squadron in RAF Tangmere where he came on the 2^nd August 1940. His stay at this unit was rather short as on the 14^th it was moved to Scotland after sustaining heavy losses in combats fought between 10^th and 12^th August 1940. During this short period Urbanowicz shot down two German aircraft – on the 11^th one Messerschmitt 109 and on the 12^th one Junkers 88, and gained important experience of RAF combat tactics. His rest in Scotland lasted only 7 days. On the 21^st he was posted to No. 303 in RAF Northolt near London where he took up a post of the “A” Flight commander.  Photo of Witold Urbanowicz, wikipedia.

.

When Urbanowicz arrived, the unit still had training unit status which was very frustrating for experienced Polish pilots. Fortunately Lt. Ludwik Paszkiewicz’s famous insubordination on the 30^th August convinced British authorities that there is no sense to keep them training. On the 31^st August No. 303 Squadron became operational. Urbanowicz first combat missions finished without success. On the 6^th September pilots fought one of the hardest combats during the Battle and claimed seven enemy aircraft shot down. But it was a very costly victory as three Hurricanes were lost and three were damaged. Unit also lost three pilots injured, including its CO, S/L Zdzisław Krasnodębski. His aircraft was set in flames and the pilot suffered severe burns. In this combat Witold Urbanowicz shot down one enemy aircraft. After that mission Urbanowicz, as the highest rank, became Squadron’s acting CO. It was approved by the British command, including AVM Keith Park. However, Polish authorities did not approve it and sent Maj. Jerzy Orzechowski but he was the CO only formally and only a few days. Apparently Polish pilots did not like their new commander and Urbanowicz was posted back. The following days till the 15^th August he flew several missions claiming three Dorniers 215.

His Majesty The King George VI visiting 303 Squadron, 26th September 1940. Behind the King on left is W. Urbanowicz. Photo – ©Polish Embassy – London.

 

Lucky Hurricane RF-E

On the 26^th Witold Urbanowicz flew Hurricane RF-E/P3901 for the first time. That day was very special for the Squadron because it was visited by His Majesty The King George VI. Pilots were at readiness, what can be seen in the photos taken during that visit, and were completely surprised. Soon after king’s leave the Squadron scrambled and was directed against enemy raid heading Porthsmouth. One Flight attacked German fighters and the other, led by Urbanowicz, attacked bombers. Urbanowicz chose one He 111 and fired long burst which sent the bomber to the sea.

Four Jerrys in One Day!

One day later Urbanowicz took off two times in the cockpit of Hawker Hurricane RF-E. The first patrol started  at 8.45. At around 9.00 Polish pilots intercepted enemy raid of 30 He 111 and 50 Bf 109s and 110s. Witold Urbanowicz was about to attack one of 110s but his plan was baffled by Messerschmitts 109 that attacked him. He turned towards attacking enemy and then managed to sit on one of enemy plane’s tail and shot a burst from a very short distance. Enemy pilot did not have any chance to survive. Soon after he saw that one of 110s broke the formation and rushed towards France. Polish pilot managed to catch it up and after short combat shot down. One of enemy airmen killed in the wreck. After the combat Uranowicz flew back to Northolt but when he wanted to lower the flaps it turned out that enemy bullets damaged his plane and he could not lower them and had to land with greater speed.

Hurricane RF-E/P3901, Photo taken by author of the famous book “Dywizjon 303”, Arkady Fiedler, courtesy of Mr Marek Fiedler , www.fiedler.pl

In the afternoon the Squadron scrambled again but this time only 6 Hurricanes could be sent. The Ops directed pilots against enemy raid that was attacking London. However, they intercepted enemy while it was heading back to France. W. Urbanowicz attacked Ju 88 and shot a few bursts. German bomber hit the Channel near Brighton. A few moments later Polish pilot made a head attack on another bomber and also hit the sea. According to his report enemy aircraft did not emit smoke, so he assumed that his bullets killed or severely wounded German pilot. On the 29^th Urbanowicz flew Hurricane RF-E again but without a contact with the enemy.

Four Kills a Day Again

The 30^th September was a very busy and successful day for Witold Urbanowicz. He took part in five patrols (first two without contact with the enemy) and shot down four enemy planes. At around 1.00 p.m. the Squadron was ordered to scramble and fifteen minutes later Polish pilots attacked Dorniers 215. Urbanowicz picked up one of them attacked but without success. Enemy bomber continued his flight towards France. Over the Channel two fighters approached the bomber. At first Urbanowicz thought that they were British but when he saw his mistake he shot down both of them from a short distance and then finished the bomber.

Hurricane RF-E/P3901 (or V6757) with “Donald Duck”, the personal insygnia of  P/O Jana Zumbacha in winter 1940. Note anti flame shields for night flights on fuselage after exhaust. Photo from Jacek Mainka collection.

After the combat he returned to Northolt but did not have much time to catch a breath as at around 4.00 p.m. the Squadron was ordered to air and patrol the base area. But soon the unit was directed towards enemy raid heading London. In the Brooklands area the A Flight was bounced by Me 109s. During the combat Urbanowicz attacked and shot down one of enemy fighters.  It was his last victory during the Battle of Britain.

On the 20^th October Witold Urbanowicz was posted to 11 Group in Uxbridge as a liaison officer. Later he was the CO of Polish 1^st Firghter Wing in Northolt, air attaché in Polish Embassy in Washington and later joined 23^rd Fighter Group USAAF in China. 

Cooperation: Grzegorz Mazurowski, Wojciech Bułhak

References

• Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak. Poles in Defence of Great Britain : July 1940-June 1941. Grub Street 2016
• Wojciech Krajewski. Witold Urbanowicz – legenda polskich skrzydeł. ZP Grupa, Warszawa 2008
• Jacek Kutzner. 303. Dywizjon myśliwski w bitwie o Wielką Brytanię. Rytm, Warszawa 2010
• Witold Urbanowicz. Wspomnienia legendarnego dowódcy Dywizjonu 303. (zawiera wydawane wcześniej osobno tomy Początek jutra, Świt zwycięstwa i Ogień nad Chinami). Znak, Kraków 2016

---

Advertisement

Markings of  the Hurricane Mk I flown by Witold Urbanowicz and Jan Zumbach are included in Hurricane Mk I Model Kit you can buy in the Arma Hobby Internet shop.

•  

---

 

Sergeant František – the best of the Few

Hurricane Mk I from 303 Squadron – gallery – Zbyszek Malicki

This post is also available in: polski