Poland did not support an independent Air Force. The vast majority of its combat aircraft were under the Army, the Military Aviation department having the same status as that of the artillery or engineers, for example. A few aircraft were controlled by the small Naval air section. The air services were allocated a much larger share of the increased Polish defense budget in the late 1930's.

A number of new aircraft were about to enter production in 1940 and the situation as regards to quantity of aircraft would soon improve. But many of the aircraft the Polish Air Force would receive were still inferior to those operated by the Luftwaffe. As it was, lack of intelligent planning at higher levels sent the Poles to war with a small and largely obsolete force, completely inadequate for its mission.

This situation was unnecessary, for Poland then had a small, though advanced aircraft industry which not only supplied virtually all Poland's aircraft, but also exported sizable quantities to other nations, including Rumania, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, and Greece. Yet in the summer of 1939, at the same time Poland was desperately seeking to buy aircraft from any possible source, it was also exporting a portion of its aircraft production, PZL-24 fighters and PZL-43 light bombers to Bulgaria--better aircraft than its own Air Force was operating!

In addition, Poland was planning to sell over 100 PZL- 37s, the best aircraft in its inventory, to Rumania, Yugoslavia, and Turkey. Deliveries on the Bulgarian order continued right up to the time the Germans attacked. The continued export of weapons in the summer of 1939 is indicative of the degree of unreality that permeated the Polish High Command.

In the summer of 1939, the Poles approached the Western Powers about acquiring aircraft. Their shortage was the combined result of the above-mentioned exports and production delays in some new types of aircraft, notably the PZL-48 fighter-bomber and the PZL-50 fighter. The French agreed to sell them 160 Morane MS-406 fighters, while the British promised 106 Fairey Battle light bombers. Seeking aircraft wherever they might be found, Poland even ordered 36 Cant Z-506 bombers from Italy.

The Polish Air Force also ordered production of an improved version of the PZL-24 into production as a stopgap interceptor and 300 of an improved version of the PZL-11 as a fighter. But of all these aircraft, only a single Cant Z-506 reached Poland by September 1, 1939. Major types of combat aircraft in service included:

Type	No. In Service	Comments
PZL-7	115	One of the first monoplane, all-metal fighters.
PZL-11	185	4-gun development of PZL-7.
PZL-23	240	Single engine light bomber.
PZL-37	61	Twin engine bomber, arguably the best of its kind in the world in 1939.
Fokker F-VII	21	Obsolete, Dutch-designed bomber now classified as a transport.
LWS-4	15	Polish bomber with dismal performance, classified as a transport as it was inadequate for its intended role.

It should be emphasized that many of the aircraft listed above were allocated to training and a substantial number were not combat ready. Altogether, including reconnaissance and training types, the Poles had about 1,000 aircraft.

Poland 1939

Introduction
Infantry
Cavalry
Artillery
Armor
Air Force
Navy
Campaign Overview