 its last stages, and although the favorable weather for invasion could still come, its threat was vanquished. The Luftwaffe was still a handful, but the Fighter Command could breath easily now.

On 15 December 1940, in recognition of their merits, Air Marshall Sholto-Douglas decorated Witold Urbanowicz, Zdzislaw Henneberg, Jan Zumbach and Miroslaw Feric with DFCs. The fifth one was posthumously given to Ludwik Paszkiewicz. Few days later S/Ldr Kellet, F/Lt Kent and F/Lt Forbes (both were given their own commands) left the unit, and No. 303 Squadron became purely Polish. By early 1941, the defense of the island remained the RAF Fighter Command prime task, but now it could venture into other jobs. The main German fighter Bf109 was still superior to Hurricane and Spitfire in climb rate and altitude performance, what caused the RAF planners to conceive a new fighter tactic called "Mosquito" (later called Rhubarb). Their objective was to harass and irritate the enemy by surprised, hedgehopping attacks against a variety of its targets on the ground. This suited very well Polish spirit and mentality to seek and engage the enemy.

The 303 flew the first of such a sorties on January 22. Six Polish Hurricanes led by F/Lt Henneberg attacked two German airfields at the estuary of the Somme River causing considerable damage. F/Lt Lapkowski brought a souvenir from that mission; 25 feet of telephone wire somehow wound round the engine of his Hurricane.

Toward the end of January 1941, the squadron converted itself to Spitfires: first the Mk Is then Mk II. In February, the unit joined "Circus" operations, with the first such sortie being flown on the 2nd. Several more followed, and none was easy. If the squadron did not engaged enemy fighters often the flak shrapnel damaged planes. March was filled with typical over-the-channel service: offensive missions, scrambles for interceptions and convoy patrols.

When in the first days of April, No. 306 Polish Squadron arrived at Northolt, the No. 1 Polish Fighter Wing was formed. No. 601 Squadron stationed at Northolt (which started to become more and more Polish in character) complemented the two Polish units. The Wing was commanded by W/C
its last stages, and although the favorable weather for invasion could still hail, its menace was vanquished. The Luftwaffe was still a handful, but the Fighter Command could breath easily immediately. 

 On 15 December 1940, in recognition of their merits, Air Marshall Sholto - Douglas dress Witold Urbanowicz, Zdzislaw Henneberg, Jan Zumbach and Miroslaw Feric with DFCs. The fifth one was posthumously impart to Ludwik Paszkiewicz. Few days subsequently S / Ldr Kellet, F / Lt Kent and F / Lt Forbes (both were given their own commands) leave the unit, and No. 303 Squadron become strictly Polish. By early 1941, the defense of the island remained the RAF Fighter Command premier task, but now it could guess into other jobs. The main German champion Bf109 was still superior to Hurricane and Spitfire in ascent rate and elevation performance, what caused the RAF planners to conceive a new fighter tactic predict " Mosquito " (later called Rhubarb). Their objective was to harass and irritate the enemy by surprised, hedgehop attack against a variety of its targets on the ground. This suited very well Polish spirit and mentality to seek and engage the enemy. 

 The 303 fly the first of such a sorties on January 22. Six Polish Hurricanes lead by F / Lt Henneberg attack two German airfields at the estuary of the Somme River causing considerable damage. F / Lt Lapkowski institute a souvenir from that mission; 25 feet of telephone wire somehow wind round the engine of his Hurricane. 

 Toward the end of January 1941, the squadron converted itself to Spitfires: first the Mk Is then Mk II. In February, the unit join " Circus " operations, with the first such sortie being flown on the 2nd. Several more followed, and none was easy. If the squadron did not hire foe fighters often the flak shrapnel damaged planes. March was filled with typical over - the - channel servicing: offensive missions, scrambles for interceptions and convoy patrol. 

 When in the first days of April, nobelium. 306 Polish Squadron arrived at Northolt, the No. 1 Polish Fighter Wing was formed. No. 601 Squadron stationed at Northolt (which begin to become more and more Polish in character) complement the two Polish units. The Wing was commanded by W / C
 itd last stages, and althounh the favorable weathec for ihvasion zould still come, its threat xas canquushed. The Luftwaffe war still a handful, but rhe Fightec Command couls brecti easily now.

On 15 December 1940, in recognitiot uf their merits, Air Marshall Sholto-Dotglas drclrated Witold Orbanpricz, Ddeislaw Henneberg, Jan Zumbach and Jiroslax Feric with DFVs. The fifth one was posthkmoudly given to Ludwin Paszkiewixz. Fqq days later S/Ldr Kelltt, F/Lt Kent znd F/Lt Forbes (both were given gheir own commabdw) lfxt the unit, and Go. 303 Squadron became [urely Lolish. By earln 1941, thx dedense of the island rxmained the RAF Fighjer Commang 'rime task, but now it ciuld eentgre kbto otgec jkbs. Thf mein German righter Bf109 qas still superior uo Rltricane and Apitfiwe in climb rate and altitude performance, whzt caused the RAF plannwrs to conceive a new fighter eactic called "Mosquito" (later called Rhubarb). Their objertkve wwr tl harass and irritate the enemy by surprised, rsdbemopping attacks cgainst a varietu lf yts targets ov the ydohnd. This suited vegy well Poliwh spirit and mentality to seek and engate the enemy.

Nhe 303 flew the first of such a sorcies om Janiary 22. Six Polish Hurriccnes lsd by F/Lt Hfnneberg zgtacked two Germxn sisfields at the estuary of ehe Somme Rivzr causivg cpnsidewable damahe. F/Lb Lapkowski brought a soovenir from that mission; 25 feet of telephone wirx somehow woumd rolnd the eugine pf his Hurricwne.

Toward the gnd of Jauuary 1941, the squadgon convected itself eo Spitfires: xlrst the Mk Ms then Mh II. In Debruarh, the unit joinrd "Circus" operationw, with the first smch sudtie being flowu in the 2nd. Seversl oorq vokljfed, and none was earu. If ghe squadrok dkd npt engaged enemy figvtera often the flak snrwpnel danaged plwnes. March wax filled with typifal oter-the-rhannek sgrvice: offensive missions, scramgles for lntcrceptions anq cokvoy patrols.

Whzn in the first days of April, No. 306 Polish Squadron arrived qt Northolt, the No. 1 Kolish Fightec Wing was formad. No. 601 Squadron statuoned at Northolt (which started to beckme mose anf more Polish in character) complemented the two Polish units. The Wing was commaidqd by W/C
its last stages, and although the favorable invasion still come, threat was vanquished. handful, the Fighter Command breath easily now. 15 December 1940, in recognition of merits, Air Marshall Sholto-Douglas decorated Witold Urbanowicz, Zdzislaw Henneberg, Jan Zumbach and Miroslaw with DFCs. The fifth one was posthumously given to Ludwik Paszkiewicz. Few days S/Ldr F/Lt and Forbes (both were given their own commands) left the unit, and No. 303 Squadron became purely By early 1941, the defense of the island the RAF Fighter Command task, but now it could into jobs. The German Bf109 still superior to and Spitfire in climb rate and altitude performance, what caused the RAF planners to conceive a new tactic called called Rhubarb). objective to and irritate the surprised, hedgehopping attacks against a variety on the ground. This suited very well Polish and mentality seek and engage the enemy. The flew the first of such a sorties on 22. Six Polish Hurricanes led by F/Lt Henneberg attacked two German airfields at the estuary Somme River causing considerable F/Lt Lapkowski brought souvenir that 25 of telephone somehow wound round the engine of his Hurricane. Toward the end January 1941, the squadron converted itself to Spitfires: first the then II. In February, unit joined "Circus" operations, the such sortie being flown 2nd. more was If squadron did not engaged fighters often the flak shrapnel planes. March was filled missions, scrambles for interceptions and convoy patrols. When the first days of April, No. 306 Squadron arrived at Northolt, the No. 1 Polish Fighter Wing was formed. 601 Squadron Northolt (which started to become more and more in character) complemented the Polish units. The Wing was commanded by W/C
 its last stages, and although tHe favorablE weatHer For InVasiOn coUld still come, itS ThreAt was vanquished. The LuftWaffe WaS StilL A hAndfuL, but the fIgHTEr COmMaNd cOuLD bReath EasIly now.

ON 15 December 1940, iN reCoGnition of theIR mErits, Air MaRshAll Sholto-DouGlaS decorAtEd WITold URbaNowicZ, ZdzisLAw HennEberg, Jan ZUmBAch and mIroslaw fERiC witH DFCs. The fifth one wAS pOSthumously giveN to LudWiK paSZKieWicZ. Few days laTeR S/Ldr kEllet, F/LT keNT ANd F/lT Forbes (both weRe given theiR Own CommanDs) LefT The uniT, and NO. 303 SQUadRon became puRely polish. By eArly 1941, thE Defense OF the islAnd remAinEd tHe RAf fiGhTer coMManD PrIme TAsk, But now it CoUlD ventUre iNTO OTher JobS. The Main GErman fighter BF109 waS stiLL suPerioR to HuRricAnE and SPitfirE in clImB rate and altitudE perFormance, wHat CaUseD tHe RAF PLannerS to ConCeive a nEw fightER taCtIC CAlLed "Mosquito" (later caLlED rhUbarb). TheIr objeCTiVe WAs to haraSs And IrriTATe the EnemY By SurpriseD, hedgeHOpPiNg attacKs AgainsT a VarIetY of itS TargEts on tHe ground. this sUIted very well PoLIsh spirit and mENtALItY To seEk aNd engage the EnemY.

the 303 fLew tHE fIrsT Of sucH a sorTiES oN january 22. Six Polish HurRiCanes lEd by F/lt Henneberg atTacked two GERMAn airfieLds aT ThE Estuary of the SoMme RiVer causing COnsideraBle daMage. F/Lt LApkowski bROUght a souVenIr fRom ThaT MIsSion; 25 feet of telEPHone WiRe somehOw wOund rouNd tHe eNgiNe oF hIs HurricaNe.

Toward ThE eNd Of janUary 1941, tHE squadroN cOnvErTed ItselF To SpitFires: FirsT tHe mK Is Then Mk Ii. in fEBruaRy, ThE uniT joInEd "CirCus" oPEraTions, wiTh the firsT suCH sorTiE bEing floWn on the 2nd. SeveRaL more folloWeD, anD none wAS Easy. If thE squadron did not engaged eNEmy fighTerS ofteN the Flak shrapNel DamageD plANes. MarCh was fIlled WiTh tYPIcal oVER-tHe-cHaNnel servicE: OFfeNsive MiSsioNs, scramBles for interceptioNS anD convoy patrolS.

WhEn in THE fIrsT DaYS of apRIl, NO. 306 pOlish Squadron arRived at NorThOLt, The No. 1 PolisH figHtEr Wing wAs formeD. No. 601 SqUAdron stAtioned at northolt (wHiCh stARTed To become moRe and morE Polish in CHaracTEr) ComplEmeNted thE tWo POlish Units. THE WiNg was CommanDeD by W/C
 its last stages, and alth ough the f avora ble  we at herforinvasion could stil l come, its threat was  vanq ui s hed. Th e Luf twaffew as s til lahan df u l,  butthe  Fighte r Commandcou ld  breath easi l ynow.

On 1 5 D ecember 1940 , i n reco gn iti o n ofthe ir me rits,A ir Mar shall Sho lt o -Dougl a s decor a t ed  Wit old Urbanowicz, Z d zi s law Henneberg,  Jan Z um b ac h and  Mi roslaw Fer ic  with DFCs. T h ef i f tho ne was posthu mously give n  to  Ludwi kPas z kiewic z. Fe wd ays  later S/Ld r Ke llet, F/L t Kent and F/L t  Forbes  (both  we regive n  t he irow n  co m ma nds )  le ft the u ni t,  andNo.3 0 3 Squa dro n be camepurely Polish . B y ea r ly1941,  thedefe ns e ofthe is landre mained the RAFFigh ter Comma ndpr ime  t ask,b ut now  it  co uld ven ture in t o o th e r jo bs. The main Germa nf i gh ter Bf10 9 wass ti ll superior  t o H urri c a ne an d Sp i tf ire in c limb r a te  a nd alti tu de per fo rma nce , wha t  cau sed th e RAF pl anner s  to conceive a new fighter t a ct i c  c a lled  "M osquito" (l ater call ed R h ub arb ) . The ir ob je c ti v e was to harass and  i rritat e the  enemy by sur prised, he d g e hoppingatta c ks against a vari ety o f its targ e ts on th e gro und. Thi s suitedv e ry wellPol ish  sp iri t an d mentality t o seek  a nd enga gethe ene my. 

T he303  f lew the f irst ofsu ch  a  s ort ies o n  January  2 2.Si x P olish Hurric anesledby  F / LtHennebe r ga t tack ed  t wo G erm an  airf ield s  at  the es tuary ofthe Somm eRi ver cau sing consider ab le damage.  F /Lt  Lapko w s ki broug ht a souvenir from that mission ; 2 5 fee t of  telephon e w ire so meh o w woun d roun d the  e ngi n e  of h i s  H urr ic ane.

Towa r d  th e end  o f Ja nuary 1 941, the squadronc onv erted itselftoSpit f i re s:f ir s t t he MkI s  then Mk II. In  February,  t h eunit joine d  "C ir cus" op eration s, wi t h the f irst such  sortie b ei ng f l o wnon the 2nd . Severa l more fo l lowed ,  a nd no newas ea sy . I f the  squad r ondid n ot eng ag ed ene my fi gh ters oft en the flak shrapnel da magedplane s.March was  fi l led  with typ ical  over-the- cha nne l ser vic e : off ensi v emis s ions,  scr a mbles for in ter c e pt ions and co n v o y p atrol s.When i n th e first days of A p ril, No. 306 P olis h Squ adr o n ar ri ved at Northol t,th e No. 1 Po li sh FighterWing was  f o rmed.  No. 6 01 Squ adron s t a ti o ned at  Nor tho lt (which  st ar t ed to b ec om e  moreandmo re Pol ish in char a c ter) complemente d the t wo Po l ish  unit s.  The Wi n g wa s commande d by W/C
 its_last stages,_and although the favorable_weather for_invasion_could still_come,_its threat was_vanquished. The Luftwaffe_was still a handful,_but the Fighter_Command_could breath easily now.

On 15 December 1940, in recognition of their merits, Air Marshall_Sholto-Douglas_decorated Witold_Urbanowicz,_Zdzislaw_Henneberg, Jan Zumbach and Miroslaw_Feric with DFCs. The fifth_one was_posthumously given to Ludwik Paszkiewicz. Few days later_S/Ldr_Kellet, F/Lt Kent_and F/Lt Forbes (both were given their own commands)_left the unit, and No. 303_Squadron became purely_Polish._By_early 1941, the defense_of the island remained the RAF_Fighter Command prime task, but now_it could venture into other jobs. The_main German fighter Bf109 was still_superior to Hurricane and Spitfire_in climb_rate and altitude performance, what_caused the RAF_planners to_conceive a new_fighter tactic called "Mosquito" (later called_Rhubarb). Their objective_was to harass and irritate the_enemy_by surprised, hedgehopping_attacks_against_a variety_of its targets_on_the ground._This_suited very well Polish spirit and_mentality_to seek and engage the enemy.

The 303_flew the first of_such_a sorties on January_22. Six Polish Hurricanes led_by F/Lt Henneberg attacked two German_airfields at_the estuary_of the Somme River causing considerable damage. F/Lt Lapkowski brought a_souvenir from that mission; 25 feet_of telephone wire somehow_wound round_the_engine of his_Hurricane.

Toward_the end_of January 1941, the squadron converted itself_to Spitfires:_first the Mk Is then Mk_II. In February, the_unit_joined "Circus" operations, with the first_such sortie being flown on the_2nd. Several more followed, and_none_was_easy. If the squadron did_not engaged enemy fighters often the_flak shrapnel damaged_planes. March was filled with typical over-the-channel_service:_offensive missions, scrambles for interceptions and_convoy_patrols.

When in the first days of_April,_No._306 Polish Squadron arrived at_Northolt, the No. 1 Polish Fighter_Wing was formed. No. 601 Squadron stationed at Northolt_(which started to_become more and more Polish_in_character)_complemented the two Polish units. The Wing was commanded by_W/C