Between the Covers

Unbound. Two Kodak negative albums measuring 3" x 5". Green cloth over stiff paper boards with gilt titles. Contains 168 negatives measuring 2½" x 2½", housed in glassine sleeves with captions. Near fine with some edgewear on the album corners with fine negatives.

A collection of 168 negatives housed in two Kodak negative albums documenting a Polish RAF (Royal Air Force) Squadrons including the 303 during World War II. The album includes captions in Polish that coincide with the sleeve the negative is placed in. They list names of soldiers, types of aircraft, other squadrons, and towns they were stationed in. The negatives show the men in uniforms including flight masks, posing by their planes, traveling by ship, standing makeshift encampments, and going over maps. One of the men is seen standing next to the Polish Squadron checkerboard symbol painted on the nose of his plane. Many of the images are aerial photographs taken by the Polish cadets including planes in air, many of which are Hawker Hurricanes, the landscape below, and the clouds passing their aircraft. The men are also photographed during leisure time, swimming, drinking, and visiting tourist destinations such as Notre Dame.

The No. 303 Squadron RAF was one of 16 Polish air squadron during World War II. The group flew Hawker Hurricanes and was Integral during the Battle of Britain where they were “highest scoring of the Hurricane squadrons” according to historian, Lynne Olson. The group was deployed in 1940 after the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom came to an agreement. Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, head of RAF Fighter Command said of the group, "Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry I hesitate to say that the outcome of the Battle (of Britain) would have been the same." The 303 continued to aid the RAF through 1946 when they were disbanded after completing numerous missions and taking part in a number of offensives.

A unique collection of photo negatives detailing an important Polish flying squadron in World War II.

Item #434757