The unit has been disbanded after the conclusion of the North African campaign.ĭuring its two months on operations, the Polish pilots had claimed a total of 26 German and Italian aircraft shot down. On the "Skalski Circus" fought its last combat. The PFT took part in actions in Tripolitania and in Sicily. The Poles arrived at Bu Grara airfield, west of Tripoli in March 1943 and attached to 145 Squadron. In October 1942 he was given command of the Polish Fighting Team (PFT), or so called "Cyrk Skalskiego" (Skalski's Circus) - a Special Flight consisting of fifteen experienced Polish fighter pilot volunteers. On 29 April 1942 Flight Lieutenant Skalski was made Commanding Officer of the 317 (Polish) Squadron for five months.įrom November 1942 he was an instructor with No. On 1 March 1942, he became a flight commander in 316 (Polish) Squadron. In March 1941 he was assigned to the Polish 306 (Polish) Squadron, flying in Circus sorties over France. During the Battle of Britain, he was credited with four planes shot down and one shared. He returned to his unit in late October 1940. Skalski bailed out with severe burns that hospitalized him for six weeks.
On 5 September Skalski himself was shot down. In August 1940 Pilot Officer Skalski joined 501 Squadron.įrom 30 August to 2 September 1940 he shot down a He 111 bomber and three Messerschmitt Bf 109s. Soon after he fled the country with other Polish pilots to Romania, and from there via Beirut to France and after went on to fight with the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain. (official list credits him with four aircraft: Skalski then landed next to it, helped to bandage wounded crew members and arranged for them to be taken to a military hospital.īy 16 September Skalski reached "ace" status, claiming a total of six German aircraft and making him the first Allied air ace of World War II. On 1 September 1939 he attacked a German Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance aircraft, which was eventually shot down by Marian Pisarek.
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