Country United Kingdom Role Air supremacy Attack Hawker Typhoon | Branch Royal Air Force Size Wing | |
Allegiance Polish Government in exile | ||
1st Polish Fighter Wing (later, No. 131 (Polish) Wing) (Polish: 1 (131) Polskie Skrzydło Myśliwskie) was a mainly Polish formation that flew Supermarine Spitfires of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It was part of the Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain.
It was formed in March–April 1941, as the 1st Polish Fighter Wing, from two Polish squadrons, the No. 302 Squadron RAF 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 Squadron RAF. 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 sported the other Polish squadrons, such as the No. 315 Squadron RAF, No. 316 Squadron RAF and the No. 317 Squadron RAF. 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).