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SZOTA Bronislaw
Pleased to offer some unique items from a friend of mine who is lucky enough to work with many of the veterans on behalf of military artists, book publishers and documentary makers.Glossy book plate / card with biographical details
SZOTA Bronislaw
Squadron Leader Bronislaw Szota No. 300 (Polish )Squadron RAF
No. 300 (Polish) Squadron
No. 300 Squadron was formed at Bramcote, Warwickshire, on 1st July 1940, as a bomber squadron. It was the first Polish-manned bomber squadron to form in the RAF and, oddly enough, most of its original crews had previously served in Polish fighter units. British advisers were attached to the squadron and it also had a British adjutant co-operating with his Polish opposite number; a few British technical specialists and a clerical staff for English correspondence were also attached.
The squadron was originally in No.6 (Training) Group, but in August 1941, transferred to No.1 (Bomber) Group and simultaneously made the first of what proved to be several moves during its career to RAF Swinderby, Lincolnshire. Beginning operations in mid-September 1940, with Battle aircraft, No. 300 later converted to Wellington ICs, IVs, IIIs and Xs in turn, and finally to Lancaster Is and Ills. Over a span of 21/2 years it logged 3,684 operational sorties and dropped nearly 10,000 tons of bombs on enemy objectives. It attacked 133 cities and major targets, invasion landing craft concentrations, ports and harbours, shipyards and U-boat building yards, airfields, industrial objectives, flying-bomb dumps and launching sites, fortifications, concentrations of troops and Panzer divisions; and it also laid more than 1,400 mines in enemy waters. The squadron won 107 decorations, comprising 1 OBE, 1 BEM, 1 DSO, 1 MC, 63 DFCs, 1 DCM, 1 CGM, 1 MM and 37 DFMs.
When it had finished its offensive against the enemy No. 300 took part in Operation Manna - the dropping of food supplies to the Dutch (152 tons); Exodus - repatriation of British ex-POWs to Great Britain; Dodge - the transport of British troops from Italy to Great Britain; and the carrying of Red Cross supplies for liberated Poles in German concentration camps.
Card measures 4” x 5”
Price: $40.00
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