Improvising an Air Service: The Rise of Military Aviation in Poland, 1918–1920

Air power came to Poland in the chaos that followed the First World War. The most outstanding feature of the establishment of the Polish Air Service was improvisation. A few dozen airmen constituted it on the basis of equipment and manpower available at war's end. Officials had greater success in crafting cadres and organizations than meeting material needs, as obtaining advanced equipment proved a difficult nut to crack. Nevertheless war surplus and equipment from foreign suppliers sustained the force for 18 months of action during the Polish-Soviet War. Although logistical difficulties often hobbled operations, during major campaigns air units gave Polish commanders an important advantage over opponents.