PZL P.11G "Kobuz"
On end a short history background:
During the
summer of 1937 the construction team of PZL Okecie made the calculations of performance for
PZL P.11 with the
Mercury VIII engine (850HP). Calculations showed that they are not much better than the performance of mass-produced
P.11c. Therefore, the project was abandoned. When the
spring of 1939 production of
PZL 50 "Hawk" was halted due to its low performance the Military Aviation department began to search for a way to quickly launching production of another fighter that could temporarily satisfy essential needs. The idea of bringing
PZL P.24 with
Gnome-Rhone engines was rejected due to the long waiting time for delivery and high unreliability of the French engines. Since
PZL Okecie accessible were about 50 of
Mercury VIII (originally intended for
PZL P.50) decision of their building on the fuselage
P.11c. During the
summer 1939 has made prototype of a new version:
PZL P.11G. To build the
"Kobuz" prototype were used the fuselage of
P.11c. where a numbers of part were changed on similar to the
PZL P.24 (like: wings, engine cover, propeller and cockpit). First flight took place in
August 1939. The production of 90 copies
P.11G factories was commissioned to
PWS factory which were already manufactured wings and tail section to
PZL P.24.
In the first days of
September 1939, the PZL Okęcie factory pilots evacuated prototype to
Lviv and then to
Gródek Jagiellonski. Then
inż.pil. Jerzy Widawski moved plane to
Wielick airfield near
Kovel. Here, the plane was taken over by the Air Force. During this time, in
Wielick stationed two squadrons of
PZL 37 "Los" form
Bomber Brigade. The mechanics have reviewed and armed
Kobuz. Then, the aircraft was handed over to the improvised fighter squadron composed of pilots and instructors
WSP (School of Piloting) flying on several
PZL P.7. The squadron commander
Lt. Henry Szczesny piloting
KOBUZ on
September 14 shot down near Kovel one
He-111. The next day, the same duo (Szczesny on P.11G) repeated his success and shot down about 17:30 one from the five captured
He-111. Unfortunately, a gunners fire seriously damaged the Polish fighter, despite injuries Szczesny returned safely to the airport. The further fate is not known - according to same sources the damaged plane was finally destroyed a few days later at the airport in Wielick, a part say that has been evaluated to Romania.
Capt. Henryk Szczęsny was born 27 March 1910. From 1931 in aviation. He graduated in 1933 the
Aviation Cadet School in Deblin (famious "Eagle School"). After graduation he held the allocation to
5 Aviation Regiment, in 1937 he was transferred to
3 Aviation Regiment. In begginig of 1939 went as an instructor for the
WSP in Deblin. During the
September Campaign he shot down two german planes, one shot down probalny and one demaged. At the end of September 1939 evacuated to Romania. After treating wounds on Greek ship arrived to Malta. In February 1940 he joined the
RAF Eastchurch, next in May moved to
Manston as a commander of Polish cadets platoon. Training he took at
5 OTU at Aston Down in July 1940. August 6 was transferred to
74 RAF squadron stationed at Hornchurch. During the
Battle of Britan as a pilot of
74 RAF Sqn he shot down 4 and 1/3 german planes. Till end of 1940 he get posting to
302 Polish Sqn where he served in squardon Ops Room. In middle of 1941 he get posting as a Sqn commanedr to the
317 Polish Sqn. In March 1942 he was moved to the
10 RAF Figher Group as a Polish Liaison Officer. In May transfered to the
12 Group. In December 1942 he become a Squadron Leader Flying in
1'st Polish Fighter Wing. April 4, 1943 during a flight on the cover of American B-17 over Paris he shot down one Focke Wulf FW190. Unfortunately, collided with the second FW-190 he had to jump with a parachute. He was captured and imprisoned in
Stalag Luft III. After the liberation he returned to England and was employed in command of 12 Group.
In total he shot down 9 and 1/3 of german airplanes, one probably and damage two.
He was awarded the
Cross of Valour (three times), S
ilver Cross of Virtuti Militari and the
British DFC.
Squadron Leader Henryk Szczęsny, the CO of No. 317 "Wilno" Polish Figher Squadron, saluting the Polish President-in-Exile, Władysław Raczkiewicz.
Source: iwm.org.uk
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