Kościuszko, we are here! : American pilots of the Kościuszko Squadron in defense of Poland, 1919-1921 / Janusz Cisek.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cisek, Janusz.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Russo-Polish War, 1919-1920--Regimental histories--Poland.

Russo-Polish War, 1919-1920.

Poland. Armia. Eskadra Myśliwska imienia Kościuszki, 7.

Poland.

Russo-Polish War, 1919-1920--Participation, American.

Russo-Polish War, 1919-1920--Aerial operations, Polish.

Physical Description:

vii, 248 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, [2002]

Summary:

This work presents the story of the Kosciuszko Squadron, a small group of American flyers that formed without the support of the State Department and the American Expeditionary Force in Europe. The goal was to defend Poland from the Bolshevik armies from Russia and to prevent the communist revolution in Russia from uniting with the German "Spartakus" movement in the Polish-Bolshevik War of 1919-1920.

The book covers the events leading to the formation of the squadron and first efforts to enlist American military help for Poland in 1918. It explores why that small group of Americans felt compelled to fight for Poland and what they knew about who and what they were fighting for. The people, events, and issues that figured prominently in the war are discussed. The Squadron was named in honor of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who came from Poland in 1776 to join the Colonial forces fighting the War of Independence from Britain.

Contents:

Legion or squadron

Spiritus movens

Motives

Paris-Warsaw-Lwów

Objectives of Piłsudski

In the Kiev offensive

An American legion again?

In defense of the City of the Lion

Captain Cooper's odyssey

Wartime Air Force experiences

The squadron's odyssey

The defenders of Lwów Cemetery

Service histories and commendations of U.S. airmen in the Polish military.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 209-236) and indexes.

ISBN:

0786412402

OCLC:

49871871