Polish aircraft in the service of the Luftwaffe. Compiler: Alex Halley

Probably no one would doubt that the Luftwaffe , was the most modern and best prepared air force to commencing theater of WW2. However, the German command well known what to do with the captured equipment on newly conquered territories . Polish armed forces in the September '39 did not have a chance against the German giant. Polish aviation fleet was not very modern, not too big compared with the Luftwaffe. Germany, have a good habit to use captured equipment in the resources of its services. In the Polish campaign, the Germans managed to get around 100 planes





PZL P-7A was the Polish fighter aircraft designed in early-1930s in the PZL factory in Warsaw. Adopted by the Polish Air Force in 1933 as its basic fighter; it was one of the first all-metal monoplane fighters to be mass-produced with state-of-the-art construction. However, by the end of the decade, the P.7 was obsolete and was replaced in Polish service by its follow-up design, the PZL P.11c. A small number of P.7s remained in service until 1939 and several dozen aircraft took part in the Polish Defensive War, scoring several kills.

PZL P.7a used by Luftwaffe.
(V. Koos collection

PZL-43A The German captured only two PZL.43A - serial numbers: 1737 and 1740. The plane 1737 was handed over to Bulgaria in first half of 1940, but second plane had German national insignia and was examined in Rechlin. It was handed over to Bulgaria too, but in October 1940.

One of captured and repaired PZL.43A during in-flight tests in Mielec. It's probably an aircraft 1740 piloted by test pilot Otto Winkler. Plane had original painting but had German national insignia painted on wings.
(M. Narowski collection).

PZL-37B ŁOS (Moose) According to some, one of the most modern medium bombers from the initial phase of WW2. Nicknamed: Pride of polish aviation technology. In my opinion this plane just been the best becose was the newest. Anyway however, he presented a very good operating range and lifting capacity.
Sources informed about 15 copies captured by Germans.

PZL P-37B exhibited in Vienna (17th Sep - 30 Oct 1940) as a war trophy.

 
Potez 25 This french fighter-bomber was used in the Air Force many contemporary countries. One of the most obsolete planes in polish service at September 1939. We can be 100% sure,  that the Luftwffe used the 3 copies of Potez 25 captured on the airfield for training purposes.

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PWS-26 Polish construction used just as a training plane. Germans captured around 50 planes,  but finally been successfully fixed just 30 planes. Later Germans sell 28 each for Romania. One plane from this number is still available to admire. PWS-26 with side letters VG AS, it was presented at the aviation museum in Berlin where sur i e to the end of the war. Now you can see it in an aviation museum in Krakow (Poland).

PWS-26 used as training plane by Luftwaffe.
(V. Koss collection)

RWD-8 Germans captured several RWD-8 and at least two of them were repaired in Mielec factory and used by Luftwaffe. Some sources reports, that Germany used about 15 planes but this info is questionable. After seizing Latvia, Germany recaptured about 10 ex-Polish ex-Soviet RWD-8 an  d probably those planes were used in German markings by Estonian pilots in 1943 

RWD-8 repaired in Mielec and used by Luftwaffe.
(A. Szymanski collection)