A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron: Forgotten Heroes of World War II
By:
Lynne Olson Stanley Cloud
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Description:
A Question of Honor is the gripping, little-known, and brilliantly told story of the scores of Polish fighter pilots who helped save England during the Battle of Britain and of their stunning betrayal by the United States and England at the end of World War II.
Centering on five pilots of the renowned Kosciuszko Squadron, the authors show how the fliers, driven by their passionate desire to liberate their homeland, came to be counted among the most heroic and successful fighter pilots of World War II. Drawing on the Kosciuszko Squadron’s unofficial diary–filled with the fliers’ personal experiences in combat–and on letters, interviews, memoirs, histories, and photographs, the authors bring the men and battles of the squadron vividly to life. We follow the principal characters from their training before the war, through their hair-raising escape from Poland to France and then, after the fall of France, to Britain. We see how, first treated with disdain by the RAF, the Polish pilots played a crucial role during the Battle of Britain, where their daredevil skill in engaging German Messerschmitts in close and deadly combat while protecting the planes in their own groups soon made them legendary. And we learn what happened to them after the war, when their country was abandoned and handed over to the Soviet Union.
A Question of Honor also gives us a revelatory history of Poland during World War II and of the many thousands in the Polish armed forces who fought with the Allies. It tells of the country’s unending struggle against both Hitler and Stalin, its long battle for independence, and the tragic collapse of that dream in the “peace” that followed. Powerful, moving, deeply involving, A Question of Honor is an important addition to the literature of World War II.
Publisher: Knopf
Release Date: 2003-09-23
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
The Best Squadron of WW II ? Yes. - No. 303 ("Kosciuszko") Polish Fighter Squadron by kill ratio, No. 303 was the best performing RAF unit in the Battle of Britain.
In my opinion this was the best Squadron in WWII. What is most interesting about this story is the fact that for various reasons the allies made in most difficult for the Poles to get into the fight.
These men had already seen action long before any of the other allies and they were the best because they were willing to die because Poland had been destroyed and also they worked as a team.
What they went to just to get into the fight was
Witold Urbanowitz one of Commanding officers had an uncanny ability to see the enemy no matter where they were and the Poles were not selfish about individual kills they maximized kills by teamwork. They knew to get in close for the kill.
Later on in the war the bomber crews all wanted the Poles to fly escort with them because they were fearless and the best.
But no one knows about the 303. do they?
No Polish units were invited to march in the London Victory Parade of 1946. None.
No one knows Polish American Lieutenant Colonel Matt Louis Urban according to the Guinness Book of World Records is the most decorated American serviceman of WWII. You have never hear of him. See The Hero - We Nearly Forgot: The Matt Urban Story (Revised Limited 2nd Edition)
This great book has helped people find out some of the lost history of WWII.
Will make you proud and angry if your an American or especially a Pole.
Bravo Zulu.
Also see No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II (General Military)
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
history repeat it's self -
I am Polish I was born in Poland and grew up in communist schools and I learn the official history of Poland in WWII till I was 17 years old then I moved to U.S. but the unofficial history I learn from my parents and grandparents.
I was in U.S Army and yes I had the same questions and I had to fight the same stereotypes as the author was writing about Polish pilots in England.
My grandfather was a soldier in Polish army in 1939 and he was capture by Russians, he escape from a train heading for Siberia and it took him two months to walk home. When I ask him why he continue to fight from Prussian border to get captured by Russians the answer was " I swore to defend Poland and not to let go of my rifle, it was my honor "
My grandmother was on train to Germany to work in factory, after she escape she had to hide for two years from Germans. As I was reading this book about how Polish pilots ware treated when not needed, the propaganda machine turn on them I could noticed how similar it was before U.S. invaded Iraq and thought to times when I grew up in Poland with censorship and the my thought was who needs censorship if all news agency just report what the government wants.
After I read this book as a Polish I am even more proud o my grandfather and my heritage this book is excellent and should be taken as warning to future generations not to take anything for granted that live is too precious.
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Recognition - As for this particular episode of "WWII" credit is finally acknowledged.For readers of history and especially of Poland,I invite all to read by reputable authors the history of the Polish state.
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
The Forgotten Polish Pilots of WWII - I just finished this book and being the son of a WWII veteran of Polish decent, I found this book very informative of the heroic performance of the Polish Airman. I learned quite lot about my grandparents native land, and how Churchill and Roosevelt did not follow through on their pledge and policy. I have been to Poland and lived in England and visited many WWII sites in Europe. It is a shame this story has not been more widely told. I am proud of my heritage and even more proud of the Polish Airmen of WWII. Roman can be proud of his Dziadzi's contribution during WWII. A wonderful read and a recommended book.
Customer Review: 5 out of 5
"A Question of Honor" for Poles, "A Question of Guilt" for Western leaders - An excellent book. The 1st half details the history of the Kosciuszko squadron in WW2, including their defense of London in the Battle of Britain. The 2nd half, though not what I expected, shows in frustrating detail how Churchill and Roosevelt were rolled over by Stalin, setting the stage for what was to become the Cold War. This book, quite convincingly, paints Churchill as someone who did not stand up for his publicly spoken convictions. It likewise paints Roosevelt as someone who, aside from political purposes only, truly, and absolutely, did not care. A line in the book attributed to Roosevelt states that he did not really care at all if Eastern Europe was to be replaced by communist governments. The casual dismissal of freedoms for entire populations is unbelievable. This is even more frustrating because it was all so unnecessary, for the want of a little back bone.
This one line from the book sums up the "help" Poland received from the US and Britain in WW2; "Once again, in the face of American indifference, British anger over the Soviet treatment of Poland had ebbed quickly, replaced by a spirit of mild compromise."
An excellent book covering a history that few in the west are exposed to.
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