History

Numerous experienced Polish pilots served in England, and although they were not technically part of the RAF, they served in special units and distinguished themselves in combat. By the time that the Spitfire XVI was available, the war was nearly over, and although the type was not generally flown in combat (one Polish pilot flew Mk. XVI’s with No. 602 Sqdn.), numerous Polish units operated these aircraft in the immediate postwar years. With the disbanding of the Polish Air Force in Britain in 1946-1947, about 500 Poles joined the RAF and served with various units. The Spitfires were eventually scrapped, and of several that were given to the Polish government after the war for museum displays, none survived. The Communist Government wanted to de-emphasize the role of Poles in the RAF during the war, as there were also Poles flying with the Soviets. These Spitfires were flown extensively after the war, and this book serves to provide a record of those airmen, along with the aircraft they flew.

The Book

This book was written primarily as a historical account, but it is a goldmine of information for anyone who wants to learn more about the subject or build models of the aircraft. Armed with half a dozen Heller 1/72 Mk. XVI’s, the modeler can build any number of variations. Of course, the XVI was basically a Spitfire IX with an American Packard Merlin engine; other changes included the bubble canopy on most versions, plus the clipped wings which appeared on some models. Most Polish-flown Spitfires carried the Polish insignia on the fuselage, and postwar-type RAF roundels were common. A few were flown in bare metal, but most appeared to be camouflaged. In 1950, a display was put on at Farnborough, and some Polish-flown Spitfires were displayed with pseudo-Luftwaffe markings, albeit with RAF squadron codes.

There is a lot of information here, with many color profiles, and most of the photos are from personal collections and have never been published before. For the modeler and historian alike, this book is a winner, and if you have any interest in the Spitfire XVI, this book is a must-have. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Mushroom Model Publications for the review copy and IPMS-USA for the opportunity to review it.