Did a Few Reckless Pilots Save the World? | "303" The Documentary

Comments · 3.8K

• TJ

  @TJ3 · 3 years ago (edited) · pinned

  I cannot continue to make these videos without your support. Please consider joining my Patreon here if you would like these to keep coming: <a href="https://patreon.com/TJ3History">https://Patreon.com/TJ3History</a> - Thank you!

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• DI

  @DickusCopernicus · 3 years ago

  The Polish pilots 303 squadron were not reckless, they were just very good pilots using excellent flying skills.

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• LA

  @larrymwilson · 3 years ago (edited)

  My father-in-law was in the 303rd. He was a hell of a pilot. Shot down taken prisoner. Shipped to a German POW camp and escaped a month later and got back to England to fight again.

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• LO

  @LonoTheOno · 2 years ago

  Josef Frantisek was Czech, not Chechen (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgTLwN-SysI&amp;t=2083">34:43</a>).

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• VE

  @vegarhl · 3 years ago

  The Polish pilots were not out to shoot down German planes, they were out to kill the German air crew, the plane was just a &quot;bonus&quot;

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• SA

  @samrodian919 · 3 years ago (edited)

  I have nothing but the highest regard for these brave, gallant Polish airmen. They prosecuted their hatred of the Nazis to almost complete recklessness. My father was in the RAF and he told me about how brave they were and how much admiration he felt towards them. Stubborn, brave, men they were, and we were bloody lucky to have them!

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• WI

  @willhovell9019 · 3 years ago (edited)

  The lowest rank of flyers in the RAF was Sergeant Pilot. Many working class RAF pilots were Sergeants, as was Sgt Pilot Josef Frantisek of 303 squadron, a Czeckoslovak, one of the leading aces &nbsp;of the Battle of Britain. Hats off to the Poles and the oft unmentioned Sergeant pilots

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• ST

  @stephenpotts832 · 3 years ago

  The history of 303 Sqd sums up Polish gallantry in WW2. My father is buried in Grimsby, Lincolnshire. I noticed a few graves away was the grave of Bartlomiej Kuzma, a Major in the Carpathian Lancers. I wondered how this man came to buried in Grimsby and did some research to try and discover his story.<br>Like the Polish airforce pilots, when their country fell to the Germans and Russians many of the soldiers made for France to continue the fight. The French shipped some of them to Syria to free up French soldiers. As France fell to the Germans, these soldiers crossed from French Syria to British Palestine to fight for the British. They were formed in to Polish units and fought with the British in the Middle East and then Europe.<br>With Poland being left under Russian occupation many decided not to go back. A Polish &nbsp;Brigade ended up being in a camp on the outskirts of Grimsby until the unit was disbanded.<br> Bartlomiej obviously decide to stay in Grimsby. He was awarded the Virtuti Militari, the Polish equivalent of the British Victoria Cross. A brave man from a brave nation.

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• FR

  @francisvantuyle · 3 years ago (edited)

  These Polish pilots were not reckless. &nbsp;They were true heros. &nbsp;That placed their country and cause above their own lives. &nbsp;God bless them.

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• MI

  @MirekKornaszewski · 2 years ago

  the circumstances of Josef František&apos;s death were described in Arkady Fiedler&apos;s book &quot;Dywizjon 303&quot;. Arkady Fiedler, a Polish officer and reporter, was stationed with the 303 Squadron during the Battle of England and was to describe their exploits to raise the morale of the fighting Poles. A great read, written literally in the heat of battle.

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• MA

  @marcoceccarelli6415 · 3 years ago

  My polish grandfather was working in the coal &nbsp;mines in scranton pennsylvania america . &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;when Germany invaded Poland september 1 1939. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Then russian invaded poland september 17 1939 . &nbsp; <br> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;My grandfather tried to go back to poland to fight alongside his brothers. He could not make it back so he joined the american military. &nbsp; <br> &nbsp; &nbsp;Served six years on the battleship north carolina as a Navy corpsman.<br> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;My grandfather on his death bed saying his prayers and Polish made all his grandsons promise him. If any country invades poland we will fight to protect the Polish way of life. &nbsp;<br> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Rest in peace grandpa you&apos;ll always be my hero paul peter zaleski🇵🇱🇵🇱🇵🇱 &nbsp; . &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br> &nbsp; &nbsp;The polish people are the forgotten people betrayed and &nbsp;backstabbed And forgot about. &nbsp; &nbsp; And still overcame because poland only kneels to god...

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• HE

  @henriyoung3895 · 3 years ago

  You missed the most important reason why they shot down so many Germans. Yes, the hate was part of it. The British pilots were trained to open fire from 300 to 400 meters behind the Germans, &nbsp;the Poles open fire 100 meters behind them. More destruction less bullets.

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