White Eagles The Aircraft, Men and Operations of the Polish Air Force 1918-1939

Strictly speaking there was no Polish Air Force in the period covered by this book - the Polish airmen formed the aviation component of the Polish army - and navy. In this context the Polish fliers had had to successively fight for their existence from the chaotic beginnings in the aftermath of World War I, against political parsimony and flawed planning during the 1930s, and then literally for their lives against the Nazi and Soviet juggernauts in September of 1939. The authors describe, squadron by squadron in enormous detail, exactly how the well-trained but isolated Poles fought bitterly against the invaders. They were overwhelmed, not through want of courage or determination, but by outdated tactics and equipment and enemies greatly superior in number both in the air and on the ground. Poland's loss was, ultimately, the RAF's gain when Polish pilots proved to be some of the most successful of all in summer 1940.

About 80,000 words of text describing the history of every unit between 1918 and 1939, both army and navy; over 400 photos, many previously unpublished; 16 pages of specially commissioned colour paintings illustrating markings and camouflage schemes of scores of different types of aircraft. Supported by charts, maps and tables detailing commands, organisation, orders of battle, aircraft, equipment, weapons, the locations of bases, personnel losses and victory claims and the history of every squadron involved in the September 1939 campaign.

Robert Peczkowski & Bartlomiej Belcarz
Hardcover 304pp including 32 pages of colour Over 450 black & white photos, charts, maps etc