Item #7108, in the Blue Series
MSRP: £14.00 from the publisher, or $22.46 from Squadron
Web Site: www.mmpbooks.biz

This recent book from Mushroom Model Publications is a compelling tale of the distrust, disorganization, and defeat experienced by Polish fighter pilots who fought in the Battle of France. It is a tragic yet compelling look at how not to fight an air war and how not to utilize brave and experienced allies, who were wasted in chaos and incompetence.

After the fall of Poland under Hitler's blitzkrieg, many airmen and ground crew of the defeated Polish Air Force escaped their homeland to carry on the fight elsewhere. Most evacuated through Romania and Hungary and found their way to France and England. The RAF wanted bomber crews, and so most fighter pilots went to France with the hope of reforming their Polish units. But the French had other ideas. Not trusting--and not respecting--an ally who would collapse in three short weeks, the French refused to establish all-Polish squadrons. Instead, the Poles were sent to a central base at Lyon. The most experienced pilots, concentrated in II Fighter Squadron, were then sent to Montpellier to be trained to French standards. After completing their training, Polish pilots were then sent to front line units in small, 3-pilot sections. This uncoordinated, piecemeal approach protected the French from their fear of mass Polish defection, but it resulted in many unfortunate effects such as emphasizing language problems, weakening Polish morale, and adding unnecessary logistical confusion. Thus the term "Montpellier Squadron" is something of a misnomer; it is a collective term for all Polish fighter pilots in France and not a unified, operational squadron. In this book, Belcarz focuses on the experiences of the six 3-pilot sections assigned to various French Groupes de Chasse plus various individual replacement pilots. The level of detail and the thoroughness of coverage is astounding.

Mushroom's Montpellier Fighter Squadron is published in their usual softcover small-format (9½" X 6½") and contains 128 pages printed on glossy, high-quality paper. Text is in excellent English, liberally illustrated by 167 B/W and 4 color photos of aircraft, pilots, crash sites, documents, badges, and the like. Theodor Liviu Morosanu provides excellent color illustrations of 15 different aircraft, including two 2-view and two 4-view drawings, are accompanied by 14 detail illustrations of unit emblems and personal markings. Nine tables include listings of unit organization, personnel rosters, victories, fatalities, and awards.

Although the splintered use of Polish pilots contributed to the French defeat, it is a boon to modelers in that the Poles were assigned to every fighter type to see action in the battle: MS.406, D.520, MB.520, H.75, C.714, and even the rare Koolhaven FK.58. This book contains combat descriptions of all of these types as well as color illustrations of the first three. Montpellier Fighter Squadron is a fascinating read at several levels. First, it describes and clarifies the events of the Battle of France, an often overlooked aspect of the air war.

Second, it provides a clear demonstration of the skill and resolve of the Polish fighter pilots. As one example, the French had initially scheduled the Poles to a 4-month training program at Montpellier; to their surprise, in less than two weeks the experienced Polish pilots had completed their training and were ready for the front. And unlike the defeatism and hesitation of their French allies, the Poles were eager to exact revenge on the German invaders. Indeed, toward the end of the battle, when the French were considering surrender, their fear about their Polish allies now was not that the Poles would refuse to fight, but that they would refuse to quit, thus complicating the French armistice.

Finally, and perhaps most intriguing of all, Belcarz describes the disaster of the Battle of France from a uniquely inside view. I gained a newfound appreciation of the value of the British Chain Home radar fighter control system by seeing what happens in its absence: without any prior warning of attacks, the uncoordinated, piecemeal sorties of the French were cut to ribbons by the massed and well organized Luftwaffe. This lack of central control, poor combat tactics, frequent retreats to different (and often poorly equipped) airfields, and low morale combined to spell disaster. In a complete reversal of the contempt they received from their French hosts upon their arrival, by June of 1940 it was the Poles who were disgusted with their comrades in arms. Belcarz quotes por. (Lt.) Wojciech Januszewicz, a replacement pilot assigned to GC II/7. When recalling how French pilots in his unit unanimously refused to evacuate to England, he thought, "My God; they did not want to fight for their own country, forget any other."

This is a fascinating and enlightening book for WWII buffs with an interest in the Polish Air Force, the Luftwaffe, or the Battle of France. Highly recommended! Thanks to Mushroom Model Publications via Dave Morrissette for the review sample.