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POLAND AND SCOTLAND IN WW2
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POLAND AND SCOTLAND IN WW2

Historic Photographs
Amelia Morawiak
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POLAND AND SCOTLAND IN WW2
Historic Photographs
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POLAND AND SCOTLAND IN WW2
During WW2 Scotland and Poland fought together as allies. The Poles were particularly involved in the war's many aerial battles.

After WW2, approximately 38,000 Polish soldiers remained in Scotland due to the Soviet Union's occupation of their home country. Polish fighter pilots had the most outstanding record of any RAF squadron whilst fighting alongside the British. The Polish squadron were only 5% of the allied crew but they managed to shoot down 12% of German aircraft. The Polish fighter pilots were said to be fierce and courageous; many of them willing to be martyrs to protect the allied forces.

"Some crews of Nazi bombers jumped out of the planes with parachutes before Poles opened fire" - Stanley Vincent (commander of Northolt RAF station)

"By summer 1941, 8 fighter and 4 bomber squadrons were created. Polish pilots protected Britain by not only shooting down Nazis but also destroying V1 missiles, participating in many operations over the continent, escorting the bombers, bombing different targets in Germany as well as providing air support to the landing troops during invasion in June 1944."

During 1940-1945 the Polish pilots fighting in British units had managed to accumulate 621 confirmed kills.

The photograph on the left shows bombing damage on Market Street in Aberdeen after an air raid on 7th August 1942.
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