Poznań 2023-02-28
3rd Aviation Regiment in Ławica. 1921-1939.
Lawica Airport. Geographic coordinates: 52.422N 16.823E.
The 3rd Aviation Regiment in Ławica was created as a result of the reorganization of the Polish Army Aviation in 1921. The 3rd PLot was formed on July 20, 1921. The regiment ceased to exist as a result of the German invasion of Poland in September 1939.
The symbol of the 3rd Air Regiment was a bird – the Black Raven. The story goes that when the formation of the 131st fighter squadron began, such a story happened to its commander already on the first flight. The pilot took off and circled the entire city of Poznań, then flew to Lake Kiekrz. There, over the forest, a large black raven attacked the plane. The pilot wanted to avoid the collision, but the raven fell between the struts and wires anyway. The raven died, but his paws got stuck between the wing and the aileron, which made piloting very difficult. The pilot returned to the airport with great difficulty and, being above the letter "T", closed the gas and turned off the engine. He covered his face with his hands and waited for the inevitable crash. Meanwhile, the plane landed on the take-off field, jumped a few times and came to a stop, undamaged.
In the fall of 1920, an armistice was signed with Bolshevik Russia. The end of hostilities resulted in the transition of the Polish military aviation to operate in peacetime. By order of January 18, 1921, the High Command ordered to reduce the number of air squadrons from 19 to 13. Air Regiments were to form new squadrons and air squadrons. Their tasks included: maintaining and increasing the combat readiness of subunits, maintenance and operation of aviation equipment, material and technical security.
In mid-1921, Aviation Regiments were formed in Warsaw, Kraków and Poznań. Subsequent Aviation Regiments were formed in Lviv, Vilnius and Lida.
The 3rd Aviation Regiment was formed on the basis of the order of the Minister of Military Affairs of July 20, 1921, in Ławica near Poznań. At that time, there was an Aviation Station at the airport, which was established in 1919, after the victorious Greater Poland Uprising. On August 29, 1921, Col. pil. Aleksander Serednicki issued the first organizational order. In memory of this event, the regiment celebrated its holiday on August 29 each year.
The 3rd Air Regiment consisted of: the command of the regiment, the 7th intelligence squadron under the command of Capt. drink Franciszek Wieden in the composition of the 1st, 5th, 10th squadron, V fighter squadron under the command of Capt. Władysław Kralewski in the composition of the 13th and 15th squadrons, the 3rd air battalion of reinforcements under the command of Lt. Col. Jana Kieżuna, regiment quartermaster, airport park, airport, training squadron, radio platoon, photo platoon, Aviation School, School of Technical Service.
At the end of 1922, the replacement of aviation equipment and its unification was underway in all Aviation Regiments. In 1924, the expansion of the airport in Ławica began. Among other things, the field of ascents was enlarged. The renovation of the airport was carried out with the considerable help of the people of Poznań and the Air and Anti-Gas Defense League.
After the introduction of new aircraft, mainly of French production, in 1925, the structure of the 3rd Aviation Regiment was reorganized. New squadrons were formed: 31st, 32nd, 34th, 35th, 111th Fighter Squadron, 112th Fighter Squadron. The composition of the 3rd Air Regiment also included: quartermaster, air park, airport, training squadron, radio platoon, photo platoon, Technical Service School.
Staff shortages meant that the planned subsequent Squadrons were not created: 33rd, 36th, 117th Fighter Squadron, 118th Fighter Squadron. The order to disassemble them was issued in 1926. To remedy staffing problems, pilotage and aviation training courses were organized, and in the period 1928 – 1930, a pilot platoon functioned, which was disbanded after solving the problems of aviation training in Poland.
In 1928, air squadrons were renamed to line squadrons, which in today’s nomenclature corresponds to assault squadrons. At that time, the following were formed: the 1st line squadron composed of the 31st and 32nd line squadrons, the 2nd line squadron composed of the 34th and 35th line squadrons.
The fighter squadrons were renamed from the 111th, 112th, to the 131st and 132nd fighter squadrons. The second digit is the regiment number. The number of operated aircraft in squadrons was also increased from 6 to 10-12 aircraft.
In 1934, three more squadrons were also created, which were named companion squadrons: 33rd, 36th, 39th companion squadrons. Due to the narrowness of the airport in Ławica, some squadrons were based on field airfields. Among others, in Śnieciska, near Środa Wielkopolska.
In 1933, the 133rd Fighter Squadron was formed, which was the beginning of the 161st Fighter Squadron in Lviv. The squadron was transferred to Lwów in 1937.
In the 1930s, new facilities were built at the airport. Apartment blocks were built for the staff.
The day before the outbreak of World War II, the planes of the 3rd Air Regiment were redeployed to the Krzesiny, Lublinek and other field airports. Only three PZL-11 fighter aircraft were left to protect the Poznań airport.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman