The First Aerial Battle of WW2,

1 September 1939 over Warsaw.

   Before the beginning of the Second World War, which started on 1 September 1939, the Polish Air Forces had seven fighter squadrons (Dywizjon Mysliwski) equipped with about 20 planes each. These squadrons were grouped in 2 Escadrilles (sections) in each squadron. In operational use at that time were practically only the PZL P.11 fighters in either the 'a' or 'c' versions. Only three (3) Eskadrilles were armed with the older version of the PZL P.7 fighter. With the wartime mobilization order being issued on 26 September 1939, all combat units were ordered to move field airbases.
   Most fighter squadrons were divided to the Army's command structure, to support and defend the Army's ground forces. Only the units of the 1st Warsaw Air Regiment (Sq No: III/1 and IV/1) were bound to the Brygada Poscigowa (Pursuit Brigade) with the assigned task of the defense of the Polish capital. Just before the German attack, the IV/1 Squadron was strengthened with the addition of the 123rd Eskadra Mysliwska (Fighter Eskadrille) of the 2. Krakow Air Regimment. This fighter Eskadrille was equipped with P.7 fighters. Colonel (Col.) Stefan Pawlikowski, the veteran of French skies in the period of WW1 and the Polish-bolshevist war of 1920, took command of the Brigade.
   On 1 September 1939, at 6:30 A.M., from observation points in Mlawa city, there arrived at the Brigade HQ a message about incoming enemy bomber groups attacking Warsaw. Colonel Pawlikowski ordered the launch of the entire Pursuit Brigade. After take-off, the Polish fighters joined formation over Legionowo. At about 7:00, in the Bugo-Narew area, the Brigade attacked a group of about 80 He-111s of the LG 1 and KG 27 "Boelcke". This German bomber formation was given fighter protection by 20 Bf-109s from the I(Z)/LG 1. In this very intense aerial engagement, which lasted over a 40 minute period, combat took place between 154 aircraft from both sides.
   The first Polish pilot to engage the enemy formation was from the section led by Lieutenant (Lt.) Aleksander Gabszewicz, the tactical officer of IV/1 Squadron. After machine-gun fire from both Gabszewicz and Corporal Andrzej Niewiara, one of the damaged He 111s came down in a northerly direction and soon crashed during an emergency landing, hitting one of its wing in a tree.
   In the area of Wyszkow, Second Lieutenant (Sec.Lt.) Jerzy Palusinski attacked a formation of twelve Luftwaffe bombers. After shotting down one of the bombers Palusinski was wounded in the hand, his wrist-watch saved him from more serious injuries. Palusinski was forced to make an emergency landing near the village of Kobylka.
   There were also other Polish fighter pilots that achieved their first kills. Some of those that scored aerial victories were Captains (Cpt.) Adam Kowalczyk, commander of IV/1 Fighter Squadron, and Juliusz Frey, the Escadrille leader. Second Lieutenant Hieronim Dudwal also gained his first victory, which would amount to four in the September campaign.
   In this first aerial combat there were only three P.7 fighters from the 123rd Eskadrille that took part. The reason for so few P.7 fighters to be committed to this first combat was because the commander of IV/1 FS decided to check the ability this old fighter's ability in air combat against the Luftwaffe. Pilots from the Krakow Regiment attacked a group of seven (7) He-111 bombers. Second Lieutenant Jerzy Czerniak, together with Corporal Stanislaw Widlarz, each downed one of the He-111 bombers.
   The Polish side did not avoid losses. Boleslaw Olewinski bailed out from his flamming P.11 fighter, both with injuries and burns. Second Lieutenant Stanislaw Szmejl was forced to make an emergency landing with a damaged fuel tank. A number of the Polish planes received combat damage from machine-gun and cannon fire and needed service and repair. On the German side in these combats, Major (Maj.) Walter Grabmann, one of the famous "Legion Condor" from Spain and the commander of I(Z)/LG 1, was wounded.
   At about 12:00 P.M., another group of German bombers flew in the direction of Warsaw. Two sections of P.11 fighters from the 112th Escadrille took off to intercept the German intruders. The two groups clashed over Wilanow. A formation of nine Do-17 bombers were intercepted by the Polish fighters and a running fight ensued. The German planes attempted to escape in the direction of East Prussia. After the attack of Lt. Stefan Okrzeja, one of bombers exploded in the air. Evidence of Okrzeja's victory was established when small pieces of the exploded bomber were found between the cylinders of his victorious P.11's engine.
   The second big air combat that first day of the war started in the Modlin area about 16:30. This time Polish aviators battled against 30 He-111 and Do-17 bombers and nine Ju-87 Stukas, which were escorted by 20 Bf-109 and Bf-110 fighters. Second Lieutenant Jan Borowski was patroling over the Las Kabacki (Kabacki Forest) area. Borowski intercepted a single Bf-109 piloted by Oberst (Colonel) Henschke, another veteran of the "Legion Condor". Another Bf-109 was shot down by Cadet Jerzy Radomski, who after landing reported that he shot down an "avionette" (a sporting light plane). Not so luckily were Cadet Janusz Macinski, who emergency landed near Sulejowek, and Lt. Gabszewicz, who was forced to bail out. Hanging from his parachute, Gabszewicz was attacked by an agressive Bf-110 fighter. The attacking German fighter left a lot of holes in his parchute. Flying nearby was Sec.Lt. Tadeusz Sawicz, who arrived with help and at the last moments saved Gabszewicz's life. The German pilot was forced to retire from the scene. On the ground and defenseless, Gabszewicz was rescued by another pilot, Wladyslaw Kiedrzynski.