RAF No 303 (Torun) Squadron

RAF No 303 (Torun) Squadron Spitfire photographs

Aircrew RAF 303Sqn pilots at RAF Leconfield 24th Oct 1940 IWM CH1535

A group of pilots of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron walking towards the camera from a Hawker Hurricane (probably Hurricane Mk.I, RF-F, V6684) after returning from a fighter sortie at RAF Leconfield, 24th October 1940. Left to right, in the front row are - Pilot Officer Mirosław "Ox" Ferić; Flight Lieutenant John A. Kent "Kentowski" (the CO of 'A' Flight); Flying Officer Bogdan Grzeszczak; Pilot Officer Jerzy Radomski; Pilot Officer Witold "Tolo" Łokuciewski; Pilot Officer Bogusław Mierzwa (obscured by Łokuciewski); Flying Officer Zdzisław Henneberg; Sergeant Jan Rogowski; Sergeant Eugeniusz Szaposznikow. In the centre, to the rear of this group, wearing helmet and goggles is Pilot Officer Jan "Donald Duck" Zumbach.

Imperial War Museum IWM CH 1535 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205212606

Armourers of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron replenishing the 20 mm cannon of a Supermarine Spitfire Mark VB with ammunition, during a gun test in front of the firing butts at RAF Northolt.

Imperial War Museum IWM CH 5506 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205210181

AB790 Vb CBAF M45 8MU 31-7-41 452S 5-8-41 308S 1-4-42 engine failed wheels up landing Everidge Kent CE 16-4-42 ASTH SOC 38MU 13-4-43 VASM 21-4-43 fuel syst mods wing stiff 504S 29-6-43 165S 1-7-43 308S 10-10-43 FACB 6-3-44 Basta mods 130S 22-6-44 53OTU 15-8-44 FAAC 8-2-45 ros Braked hard after landing and tipped up Hibaldstow 6-5-45 recat E SOC 25-5-45

Spitfire MkIa X4828, F/Lt Wojciech Kolaczkowski, No. 303 Squadron, RAF Speke, United Kingdom, September 1941

Spitfire Mk.Ia, carrying the serial X4828 and RF-K code, belonged to No. 303 (Polish) Squadron and is representative of the new Day Fighter Scheme, introduced on 19th August 1941. From that date, RAF day fighters were painted in Dark Green and Ocean Grey on the upper surfaces and Medium Sea Grey on the lower surfaces. The aircraft letters were by then changed to Sky, and the fuselage band and spinner remained in the same colour. Note the thin dark border around the letters and the stencil data inscriptions painted on the Ocean Grey surfaces, which are believed to be remnants of the original Dark Earth layer. No. 303 Squadron was moved to RAF Speke from RAF Norholt on 17th July 1941, leaving their Spitfire Mk.llb aircraft behind to receive old war weary Mk.Is for training purposes. RF-K was flown by A Flight leader F/Lt Kolaczkowski, who was later No. 303 Squadron Leader from 21st November 1941 to 7th May 1942. The name Vojtek' is Kolaczkowski's nickname and the name 'Krysia' was the nickname of his girlfriend Kristina. It is not known with certainty if these inscriptions were painted on the right side as well. No. 303 Squadron returned to Norholt on 7th October 1941 to be re-armed with the new Spitfire Mk.Vb and engaged the new German Fw 190As in intense combat on the other side of the Channel.

Eduard https://info.eduard.com/en/11-2025-1/markings-for-spitfire-mkia-1-48