war. By the invasion of Poland in 1939, the Polish Air Force had 35 Czaplas in five observation squadrons (out of twelve): No.'s 13, 23, 33, 53 and 63, each with seven aircraft. Squadrons were distributed among the field Armies. The remaining 30 Czaplas were initially in reserve. Several were used to supplement the combat units during the campaign (the mentioned squadrons and several others). In total, 49 Czaplas were used in units. Like the R-XIII, the Czapla was no match for any Luftwaffe fighter, bomber, or even reconnaissance aircraft, being much slower, and armed with only two machine guns. In spite of this, they were actively used for close reconnaissance and liaison tasks. Most – 35 RWD-14b were destroyed during the campaign. At least 14 were withdrawn to Romania (the sources quote numbers from 14 to 17). They were taken over by the Romanian Air Force and used for training and auxiliary duties. Several aircraft were captured in Poland by the Germans or the Soviets, but were not used by them. No RWD-14b has survived. Technical description Mixed construction braced parasol high-wing monoplane, conventional in layout. A fuselage of a metal and wooden frame, covered with canvas. Wooden two-spar wings, canvas- and plywood-covered, fitted with slats. Wings were folding rearwards (width with folded wings: 3.9 m). Stabilizers of wooden construction. Conventional fixed landing gear, with a rear wheel. Crew of two, sitting in tandem in open cockpits, with twin controls and individual windshields. The observer had a 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun, the pilot had a fixed 7.92 mm wz.33 machine gun with an interrupter gear. 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine PZL G-1620B Mors-II with 430 hp (320 kW) nominal power and 470 hp (350 kW) take-off power. Two-blade wooden propeller. A fuel tank with a capacity of 315 litres in the fuselage, dropped in emergency. The aircraft could be fitted with radio N2L/T and camera. Operators Polish Air Force Royal Romanian Air Force Specifications (RWD-14b) See also References Andrzej Glass (1977): "Polskie konstrukcje lotnicze 1893–1939" (Polish aviation constructions 1893–1939), WKiŁ, Warsaw Andrzej Morgała (2003): "Samoloty wojskowe w Polsce 1924–1939" (Military aircraft in Poland 1924–1939), Bellona, Warsaw, Wojciech Mazur (2014): "Samoloty RWD.14 i LWS.3", series Wielki Leksykon Uzbrojenia Wrzesień 1939 no.39, Edipresse, Warsaw, 1930s Polish military utility aircraft 1930s Polish military reconnaissance aircraft World War II Polish aircraft RWD-14 Parasol-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1936 Single-engined tractor aircraft