Polish Air Force order of battle in 1939

The Polish war-time command structure was based on inter-war structure of the air forces. Apart from two air brigades held in reserve by the Commander in Chief (one of them being the Bomber Brigade, the other - Pursuit Brigade), Polish forces were divided onto the following units:

• Air regiment (Polish: pułk lotniczy) (Wing or Group) usually 4 squadrons or 8 escadrilles / Flights.
• Air squadron (Polish: dywizjon lotniczy) (Squadron) usually 2 escadrilles / Flights.
• Air escadrille (Polish: eskadra lotnicza) (Flight) usually 8 to 12 planes.

Each escadrille was given a respective number and a proper name, depending on its main tasks. Hence the escadrilles were divided onto:

• Bombing escadrille (Polish: eskadra bombowa)
• Fighter escadrille (Polish: eskadra myśliwska)
• Observation escadrille (Polish: eskadra obserwacyjna)
• Reconnaissance escadrille (Polish: eskadra rozpoznawcza)
• Staff escadrille (Polish: eskadra sztabowa)

The second number in the name of each of the fighter squadrons shows part of which air regiment the unit was part of, prior to mobilisation. For example, the III/1 dywizjon myśliwski (composed of 111 eskadra myśliwska and 112 eskadra myśliwska) was part of the 1st Air Regiment located in Warsaw.

The strategic reserve of the commander in chief of the Polish Army consisted of two air brigades stationed around Warsaw and additional communications squadrons used for easier handling of orders from the headquarters to respective armies. Altogether, on 1 September 1939 Edward Rydz-Śmigły had 146 combat aeroplanes and 60 non-combat planes at his disposal.

In addition to the above-mentioned units, the gros of the Polish aviation was attached to land units of corps- and army-size. They were to provide necessary support in all roles. In all, various units of the Polish Army had 288 planes at their disposal, including 246 combat planes and 42 support planes.

• Naval Air Squadron (Morski Dywizjon Lotniczy)
  • Long Range Reconnaissance Escadrille (I Eskadra Dalekiego Rozpoznania)
  • Short Range Reconnaissance Escadrille (II Eskadra Bliskiego Rozpoznania)
• Communications platoon of the Command of Coastal Defense (Pluton łącznikowy Dowództwa Lądowej Obrony Wybrzeża)

• Polish volunteer wings in Allied Air forces,1940-45

• "Combat Aircraft of World War Two", by John and Elke Weal, Richard F.Barker and J.M. Bruce, "Polish Aircraft" chapter, P.223-226, Polish aircraft coloured drawings, P.60-61 along drawings explains P.15-16, Ed.Arms & Armour Press, 2-6 Hampstead High Street, London NW3. England, 1977.