No. 133 (Polish) (Fighter) Wing RAF is a former

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expres ...

that was operational during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, mainly staffed by Polish personnel as part of the

Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain The Polish Air Forces ( pl, Polskie Siły Powietrzne) was the name of the Polish Air Forces formed in France and the United Kingdom during World War II. The core of the Polish air units fighting alongside the Allies were experienced veterans of t ...

. The unit was previously No. 1 Polish Wing RAF which became No. 133 Airfield Headquarters (Polish) RAF during 1943.

History

It was formed in August 1941, as the 2nd Polish Fighter Wing, from three Polish squadrons, the No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron and

No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 316 "City of Warsaw" Polish Fighter Squadron ( pl, 316 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Warszawski") was a Polish fighter squadron formed in Great Britain as part of an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom in 1941. It ...

, and the No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. Its composition was not stable, as Polish Squadrons were frequently exchanged between the three Polish wings (the

No. 131 Wing RAF No. 131 (Polish) (Fighter) Wing RAF is a former Royal Air Force wing that was operational during the Second World War, mainly staffed by Polish personnel as part of the Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain. The unit was previously No. ...

(1st Polish) wing, the No. 133 Wing (2nd Polish) wing, and the 3rd Polish Fighter Wing). At various times, this wing included other Polish squadrons, such as the

No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 306 "Toruń" Polish Fighter Squadron ( pl, 306 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Toruński") was one of several Polish squadrons in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. It was formed as part of an agreement between the Polish Governmen ...

, No. 309 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron and the

No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron No. 315 (City of Dęblin) Polish Fighter Squadron ( pl, 315 Dywizjon Myśliwski "Dębliński") was one of several Polish squadrons in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. It was formed as part of an agreement between the Pol ...

. The number of Polish wings was also not constant, varying from at least two to four. On 1 November 1943 No. 1 Polish Wing RAF was renamed to No. 133 Airfield Headquarters (Polish) RAF while the unit was at

RAF Heston Heston Aerodrome was an airfield located to the west of London, England, operational between 1929 and 1947. It was situated on the border of the Heston and Cranford areas of Hounslow, Middlesex. In September 1938, the British Prime Minister, Ne ...

under No. 18 Wing RAF and controlling

and

both operating Spitfire's. The wing moved to RAF Coolham on 1 April 1944 and was renamed to No. 133 Wing RAF on 12 May 1944. No. 133 Wing RAF was formed on 12 May 1944 at RAF Coolham.

References

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Bibliography

* Polish 02 Royal Air Force wings Military units and formations established in 1941 Military units and formations disestablished in 1946 {{World-War-II-stub

History

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography