No. 131 Wing RAF

1st Polish Fighter Wing (later, No. 131 (Polish) Wing) (Polish: 1 (131) Polskie Skrzydło Myśliwskie) was a mainly Polish formation of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, that flew Supermarine Spitfires. It was part of the Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain.

No. 131 Wing (No. 131 Polish Wing)
Country United Kingdom
Allegiance Polish Government in exile
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleAir supremacy
SizeWing
Aircraft flown
AttackHawker Typhoon
FighterSupermarine Spitfire Mk.IX

It was formed in March–April 1941, as the 1st Polish Fighter Wing, from two Polish squadrons, the No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron and No. 303 Squadron RAF, and the British No. 601 Squadron RAF. Soon afterwards, in May, the British 601 Squadron was replaced by another Polish unit, the No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron. The new composition would not be stable, as the Polish Squadrons were frequently exchanged between the three Polish wings (the No. 131 (1st Polish) wing, the No. 133 Wing RAF (2nd Polish) wing, and the 3rd Polish Fighter Wing). At various times, this wing included other Polish squadrons, such as the No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron, No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron, and the No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. The number of wings was also not constant, as it varied from at least three to five.

On 4 October 1943, the unit was renamed to No. 131 Wing(Polish: 131 Skrzydło Myśliwskie). On 12 July 1944 the unit regained the Polish adjective in its name, becoming the No. 131 Polish Wing (Polish: 131 Polskie Skrzydło).

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