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    WWII 1939 Polish Bomber PZL 37 “LOS”
    WWII 1939 Polish Bomber PZL 37 “LOS”
    WWII 1939 Polish Bomber PZL 37 “LOS”
    Ebook153 pages56 minutes

    WWII 1939 Polish Bomber PZL 37 “LOS”

    By Jaroslaw Skora

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    About this ebook

    PZL 37 “LOS” (Moose) was the most modern aircraft as part of the Polish Air Force during the German invasion in September 1939. The aircraft was designed in 1934 by Jerzy Dabrowski. The publication includes the origins and development of construction of bombers in Poland. A detailed technical description of all the PZL 37 versions. The author also presents the course of fights with the use of PZL 37 in September 1939. The book contains numerous photographs, drawings of aircraft projects, and the colorful boards with camouflage and markings.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJaroslaw Skora
    Release dateApr 20, 2012
    ISBN9781476380643
    WWII 1939 Polish Bomber PZL 37 “LOS”

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      Book preview

      WWII 1939 Polish Bomber PZL 37 “LOS” - Jaroslaw Skora

      WWII 1939

      Polish Bomber PZL 37 LOS (Moose)

      By Jaroslaw Skora

      SMASHWORDS EDITION

      * * * * *

      Copyright 2012 by Jaroslaw Skora

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book witch another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Photo: www.nac.gov.pl

      * * * * *

      Table of Contents

      I. Origin

      II. Versions of the PZL 37

      PZL 37A LOS (Moose)

      PZL 37A bis LOS (Moose)

      PZL 37B LOS (Moose)

      PZL 37C LOS (Moose)

      PZL 37D LOS (Moose)

      PZL 49 Mis (Bear)

      III. Technical characteristics of the PZL 37 LOS (Moose)

      Fuselage

      Tail-plane

      Wing

      Undercarriage

      Drive unit

      Fuel system

      Oil system

      Communications equipment

      Cabin

      Safety equipment

      Electrical system

      The hydraulic system

      Armament

      IV. Painting of PZL 37 LOS

      V. PZL 37 in the air units

      VI. PZL 37 in the defensive war

      Bomb Brigade

      Other units equipped with PZL 37

      VII. Summary

      I. Origin

      After Poland regained independence in 1918 began the creation of the Polish Air Force. Initially, the equipment used by the Polish Air Force came from the old partitioning countries, namely Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary. Among these aircrafts were only a few multi-engine bombers. In 1919, a certain number of aircrafts was purchased in France, including the single-engine light bombers Bergeut XIV B2.

      During the Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921), the Polish Air Force used in combat for a short period in the 21 Destroyer Squadron three twin-engined bombers (two Friedrichshafen GIII and one Gotha GIV.) These aircrafts were used primarily for a long reconnaissance and only sporadically to bombing. Apparently the advantages of bombing aviation were completely ignored by the Polish command.

      After moving to a peaceful post the Polish Air Force possessed a total of 13 intelligence and fighting squadrons. There were no bomber (destroyer) squadrons.

      In 1923 the Polish Air Force commander was the French General Armand Leveque. He developed a plan for the Air Force expansion, providing for the establishment by the end of 1926 of 50 squadrons, including two destroyer (bombing) squadrons, each one with 6 airplanes (a total of 12 bombers). With a loan from the French government, General Leveque bought in France 296 aircrafts and 1500 engines, as well as licenses for the production of the Hanriot and the Potez aircrafts for the home manufacturers. The plan of General Leveque was not implemented.

      In July 1924 Wlodzimierz Zagorski became the Polish Air Force commander. He had the support of the War Minister General Wladyslaw Sikorski. In April 1925, General Zagorski presented his development plan for the Polish Air Force. It was based on the General Leveque’s plan, but was more ambitious. In 1937, the Air Force was to have in total 200 squadrons (2306 aircrafts): 110 line squadrons (1100 aircraft), 74 fighting squadrons (1100 aircrafts) and 16 bombing squadrons (6 aircrafts in each squadron, a total of 96 aircrafts). Moreover, a part of the line squadrons was to be armed with a single-engine light bombers. The aircrafts were to be grouped in single regiments. The plan also provided for 50 assigned squadrons as early as in 1927.

      In 1925 the Polish Air Force had 17 squadrons. Most squadrons lacked trained air staff. In order to meet this development it was necessary to train 2780 pilots, 1066 observers and 670 aircraft gunners. With small training base, the implementation of the plan was in doubt.

      Although the plan has not been formally accepted by the government, General Zagorski started to act with great energy. The current reconnaissance squadrons were converted to the line squadrons and new destroyer (bombing) squadrons were created. Thus, the Polish Air Force now owned three types squadrons: fighting, line and a destroyer. Also, the first specialized fighting regiment was created.

      Using a French loan, General Zagorski ordered 683 aircrafts in France. Additionally he ordered in home manufactures 405 aircrafts produced under license. Along with the order of General Leveque it gives a total of 1384 aircrafts. Much more than needed for current operation and successive expansion of squadrons.

      For destroyer squadrons, General Zagorski bought in France 32 big twin-engined biplane bombers Farman F-68 BN4 Goliath. It was provided for the creation of four squadrons, each consisting of 6 aircrafts (a total of 24 aircrafts), and 8 other aircrafts were to serve as the replacement equipment.

      Farman F-68 BN4 Goliath technical characteristics: heavy bomber with mixed construction; fixed undercarriage; drive unit: two Gnome Rhone Jupiter engines, maximum power 450 HPS each. Crew 4 people. Dimensions: wingspan 26.5 m; length 14.77; wing area 153 m2; empty weight 2850 kg; loaded weight 5400 kg; maximum speed 154 km/h; maximum range 1200 km. Armament: 4 machine guns, 1000 kg bombs.

      In anticipation of the delivery of ordered aircrafts began the creation of first two destroyer squadrons (13th and 14th destroyer squadron), which formed II/1 Destroyer Wing at the 1st Air Regiment in Warsaw. Ultimately, the destroyer squadrons were to form four single bomber regiments with 4 squadrons in each of them. Initially, the 13th and 14th destroyer squadron were armed with single-engine light bombers Potez XVB2.

      Moreover, General Zagorski commissioned the construction of new airports in Warsaw and Lvov as well as expansion and modernization of existing airports (Rakowice, Torun, Lawica).

      He also approved the construction of the first in Poland, underground storage tanks of aviation fuel in Deblin.

      The General Zagorski’s policy had many opponents. He was accused of: purchasing excessive amounts of unnecessary aircrafts from the French loan, which needed to be repaid; chaotic creation new air units with deficiencies in personnel, which reduced the current potential of the Polish Air Force; delaying the modernization of air units because of the need to use equipment purchased with the loan, delaying development of own aircraft structures by favoring exports and purchase of a license.

      On the other hand, General Zagorski had many supporters. Particularly interesting was his innovative concept of seeing the Air Force as an independent armed force with own doctrine of use. The formation of large air units into regiments, and later into brigades. While a quantitative expansion to 200 squadrons seems to be totally unrealistic plan given the potential, which Poland had at this time.

      Due to numerous accusations, on 18 March 1926, General Zagorski was dismissed from office. Colonel Ludomil Rayski succeeded him.

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