303 Squadron: The Legendary Battle of Britain Fighter Squadron

By: Arkady Fiedler

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Now a major motion picture Hurricane, starring Iwan Rheon and Milo Gibson.

Excerpted in Smithsonian's Air & Space Magazine.

The summer of 1940 and the Battle of Britain - the darkest days of World War II. France, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Norway had all been crushed by the powerful Nazi German war machine. Great Britain stood alone, fighting for its life.

Award-winning 303 Squadron is the thrilling story of the celebrated squadron of Polish fighter pilots whose superb skill in the air helped save England during its most desperate hours. They were the highest-scoring Allied fighter squadron in the Battle of Britain, downing three times the average RAF score while incurring only one-third the average casualties. The dashing and gallant 303 Squadron was lionized by the British press, congratulated by the King, and adored by the British public.

With an immediacy that vividly brings to life those harrowing days, Fiedler paints the bravery, the poignancy, the breathtaking gambles with death risked daily by this exceptional group of young men far from home, who fought to preserve freedom for all.

©2010 Aquila Polonica (U.S.) Ltd. (P)2021 Aquila Polonica (U.S.) Ltd.

Critic reviews

"About as exciting as it gets. A must read." (The Washington Times)

A great history

A great and very interesting history of the Polish spitfire pilots of the battle of Britain.
A squadron that should be remembered.
I received a free copy of this audio book at my own request and voluntarily left this honest review.

Great pilots, great story, great reader.

What do you get when you combine some of the best aces ever to fly with one of the best narrators in the game? A first class telling of air combat by some of the most under appreciated pilot to fly and fight in WW2. Whether you know of 303 squadron or are familiar with them, this is a fun listen.

How the Poles Won the Battle of Britain

This is excellent historical account of the 303 air squadron, made up entirely of Polish pilots and staff who escaped when the Germans invaded and came to England (mostly through France) to fight the Germans on a new front. Containing the history of the squadron an the stories of many of it's aces it explains how valuable these brave Polish pilots were during the relatively brief duration of the Battle of Britain.
Well worth a look if you're interested in WWII history.