Kraków 2018-12-03
1st Intelligence Squadron.
December 21, 1918 – February 28, 1925
Before we recall the history of the 1st Intelligence Squadron, we need to introduce the figure of colonel pilot Tadeusz Władysław Grochowalski.
Tadeusz Władysław Grochowalski was born in 1887. He was a professional officer in the army of the Russian Empire. As a cavalryman, he began aviation training. After the outbreak of the Great World War, he fought on the front as a pilot. From December 1917, he was one of the organizers of the Polish Aviation Department (2nd Polish Aviation Department 1917-1918) at II. Polish Corps in Russia. On May 11, 1918, he took part in the famous Battle of Kaniów, after which he was captured by Germans. He was sent to a prisoner of war camp in Biała Podlaska, and then to the fortress in Brest "Graf Berg". He was released at the beginning of November 1918. He joined the Polish Aviation and on December 21, 1918, was appointed commander of the 1st Intelligence Squadron (Aviation) in Warsaw. After the outbreak of the Greater Poland Uprising, with the consent of his superiors, he went to Poznań and helped in the creation of the Polish Aviation in Ławica. He organized and commanded the 2nd Greater Poland Air Squadron. On March 6, 1919, he formed the 3rd Greater Poland Field Aviation Squadron. He was its commander until April 19, 1919, when he became the head of a larger combat group; I. Greater Poland Aviation Group. On May 23, 1919, at the request of General Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki, he was appointed major of the air force. Tadeusz Grochowalski died unexpectedly on December 31, 1919, while on vacation, at the age of only 33.
1st Intelligence Squadron.
Tadeusz Grochowalski was an excellent pilot and organizer. Determined and decisive in action. He was not discouraged by difficulties. On December 21, 1918, as a captain pilot, he began to form the 1st Intelligence Squadron, the first combat squadron in Warsaw. Earlier, the Squadron was established in Kraków. Due to the lack of operational aircraft and properly prepared flying and ground personnel, the formation of the 1st Intelligence Squadron was delayed until February 1919. The commander of the 1st Intelligence Squadron was already pilot lieutenant Henryk Skoczdopole.
At that time, the squadron was equipped with few post-German aircraft, especially the Albatros.
On March 20, 1919, the 1st Intelligence Squadron was sent to the front as part of the 1st Aviation Group. It operated for the benefit of the Lithuanian-Belarusian Division. Fighting continued in Lithuania and Belarus.
At that time, the Squadron had six aircraft in stock: three Albatros C.IIIs, two Albatros C.Xs and one Hannover Roland CL.II. The Polish infantry captured one Anatra Anasal aircraft, of Russian production, on April 19, 1919, capturing the echelon at the Vilnius railway station. The plane was transferred to the 1st Intelligence Squadron. It was used in combat on the Lithuanian-Belarusian front from May to July 1919.
In March 1919, the 1st Intelligence Squadron was assigned to the Lithuanian-Belarusian Division and moved to the Krywlany (Dojlidy) Airfield near Białystok. Reconnaissance and attack flights were carried out. Barracks in Lida and Baranowicze were bombed. Then, on April 16, 1919, the Squadron and the entire 1st Air Group took part in the "Vilnius" operation. After the occupation of Vilnius, the 1st Squadron was transferred to Porubanek Airfield on May 20, 1919.
In the period June 1919 – November 1919, the 1st Intelligence Squadron cooperated with the 1st Army on the Northeastern Front, operating from the Porubanek Airfield.
582 Salmson Squadron arrived from France to Poland in June 1919. The squadron was equipped with Salmson A2 reconnaissance planes. On September 20, 1919, the 582nd Salmson Squadron became part of the 1st Aviation Group, and at the end of September 1919, it was incorporated into the 1st Intelligence Squadron. At that time, for the first time, the Squadron had aircraft more suitable for the tasks performed.
In November 1919, the Squadron was assigned to operate with the 1st Infantry Division. In the winter of 1919/1920, the Squadron operated from the Nowy-Święciany Airport as a reserve of the Chief of Aviation of the Supreme Command. In February 1920, the Squadron was transferred to the airport near Dźwińsk at the disposal of the Operational Group of General Edward Rydz-Śmigły. In the spring of 1920, the Squadron was based at Zahaccie Airfield and operated for the 4th Volunteer Group of the White Army. In 1920, the personnel and equipment of the 11th Intelligence Squadron were transferred to the 1st Intelligence Squadron.
Reconnaissance and bombing flights against the Bolsheviks continued, especially over Polotsk and Vitebsk. The Bolshevik offensive caused the Squadron to withdraw and change places: Zahaccie, Dokszyce, Mołodeczko, Duniłowice, Vilnius, Lida, Parafianowo. Zahaccie is a town near Mogilev in Belarus, 10 km outside Minsk. The 4th Squadron, 11th Squadron and 18th Squadron were also based nearby.
At that time, the flying equipment was supplemented with French Salmson and Nieuport airplanes. Some staff members were also transferred. Lieutenant Pilot Domes was appointed commander of the 1st Squadron.
As a result of the actions of the Bolsheviks, the 1st Squadron retreated together with the Polish Army. It changed its stationing location many times. The rolling stock couldn’t keep up and that’s why the 1st Squadron suffered heavy losses in flying equipment. As a result, at the beginning of August 1920, the Squadron was already in Warsaw, at the Mokotów Airport.
After replenishing personnel and equipment, the fight resumed. The Squadron was then rearmed with new English Bristol F.2B Fighter aircraft, 10 of them. They were supplemented by Hannover CL II planes. The Squadron entered the Battle of Warsaw using new planes. She performed combat and reconnaissance flights. The squadron operated in support of the 5th Army. Chasing the Bolsheviks (Muscovites), she moved to the airport in Siedlce, and then to Krywlany-Dojlidy near Białystok.
In September 1920, the Squadron was already stationed in Grodno. Fighting took place in the area of the Neman River. From September 5, 1920, the Squadron was at Lida airfield, acting in favor of the Second Army. The truce found the Squadron at Lida Airfield. A few weeks later, the Squadron was transferred to Białystok, Krywlany-Dojlidy Airport.
During the fight for freedom of the Republic of Poland, the 1st Intelligence Squadron performed 203 combat sorties and spent 474 hours over enemy territory. Volunteers served in the ranks of the 1st Intelligence Squadron in France and Belgium. After the fighting ended, the Squadron was used for fast air communication with Riga and Tallinn.
By order of January 18, 1921, the 1st Squadron was merged with the 2nd Squadron to form the 1st Intelligence Squadron. In August 1921, the 1st Squadron was transferred to Ławica and became part of the 3rd Air Regiment in Poznań. From January 1922, the commander of the 1st Squadron was Captain Pilot Czesław Aleksandrowicz, who held this position until April 1924. Then the new commander was Captain Pilot Tadeusz Antonowicz. During another reorganization on February 28, 1925, the 1st Intelligence Squadron was renamed the 35th Aviation Squadron.
Commanders of the 1st Intelligence Squadron:
Captain pilot Tadeusz Grochowalski (from December 21, 1918 to February 1919).Pilot Lieutenant Henryk Skoczdopole (from February 1919 to June 1919).Pilot Lieutenant Wiktor Willman, English (from June 1919 to December 1919).Pilot lieutenant Stanisław Bogusz (from December 1919 to spring 1920).Pilot captain Augustyn Domes (from spring 1920 to December 1921).Pilot captain Czesław Aleksandrowicz (from December 1921 to April 1924).Pilot captain Tadeusz Antonowicz (from April 1924).
Famous pilots of the 1st Intelligence Squadron:
captain Tanqueray (English), Capt. Stehling (English), Lt. Tadeusz Szeliga, Lt. Paweł Janeczko, Lt. Wacław Makowski, Lt. Połaniecki, Lt. Karol Malik, Lt. Mikołaj Bielawin, Lt. pil. Wiktor Wolski (died on April 12, 1919), second lieutenant. Stanisław Pawluć, second lieutenant Czesław Aleksandrowicz, second lieutenant. Gustaw Gwizdalski, second lieutenant Zbigniew Babiński, second lieutenant Henryk Kozanecki, warrant officer Tadeusz Kominkowski, cadet Aleksander Choiński, cadet Eugeniusz Guttmejer, cadet. Bogucki, Sgt. Stanisław Śledziejowski, Sgt. Jan Śliwa, plat. Roman Zaleski. There were 21 pilots in total.
Notable observers of the 1st Intelligence Squadron:
captain Bronisław Wąsowski, Lt. Foré (French), Lt. Stanisław Gogoliński, Lt. Antoni Święcicki (died on June 25, 1920), Lt. Witold Jussewicz, Lt. Woodhouse (English), 2nd Lt. Stefan Berezowski, second lieutenant Lucjan Iwiński, second lieutenant Tadeusz Sztybel, second lieutenant Ignacy Skorobobaty, second lieutenant. Tadeusz Uszyński, second lieutenant. Czesław Józef Niekraszewicz, second lieutenant. Karol Orłości, second lieutenant Stanisław Łopaciński, second lieutenant. Robert Vanderauvera (Belgian), second lieutenant. Artur Horowicz, cadet Adam Rothschild. There were a total of 17 observers.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman