History /
Kosciuszko Squadron - why don't they bring it back? [45]
Do you think that millions of Polish Americans and Poles in Poland would support a movie about the Kosciuszko Squadron?
Indeed I do, Such story would appeal to American and Polish audience alike as their action represent true virtue and honor that both Americans and Poles cherish so much. Hollywood would have a field day with this one, no need to make **** up, they were a colorful bunch indeed; needless to say, all of them a true American heroes in service of Poland.
For instance:
Merian Coopers’ Great Grandfather John Cooper served under Kościuszko in Revolutionary war. In the battle of Savannah supposedly it was John who carried wounded Kościuszko out from the battlefield and later on was an eyewitness of his death.
Kenneth Murray who volunteered to serve in Polish Air Force came to Poland with his own plane, Sopwith-Camel which he owned and was subsequently purchased by Polish Government. Later on in his life he published a book about the exploits of Kościuszko squadron.
Harmon Rorison a veteran who in one day managed to shot down 3 germen Fokker’s over France during WWI, when he himself was shot down over Poland and was forced to make a hard landing he walked 45 kilometers to deliver the intelligence he gather on his ill-fated reconnaissance flight.
Edmund Corsi started out as an ambulance driver but he wanted to be a pilot so bad that he finally managed to be sand to pilot school in Avon France during WWI then went on to volunteer his services in Poland.
Edmund Grawes a graduate of School of Special Flying also wanted to fly in combat badly. Having missed his chance with British Royal Flying Corps as he was not assigned a combat duty he volunteered in Polish Air Force. Sadly he died during the acrobatic show commemorating the first anniversary of the liberation of Lwów.
John McCallum died on his maiden flight in Poland, in the vicinity of the train station in Lwów.
The only American that was not a pilot himself but served as an observer Arthur Kelly was part of the original eight American volunteers. Sadly he also died together with Skarżyński the pilot of that flight.
Henry Garlich was a volunteer in the British Army where he finished an officer’s school and pilot training and continued his fight for freedom in Poland.
Son of US Brigadier General and a Congressman John Speak was also a volunteer in RAF who decided to continue his flying adventure in Poland.
Eari Evans and Elliot Chess were cousins from Texas, one born in El Peso the other in San Siw Mexico.
Kenneth Shrewsbury was a lawyer with a Harvard degree.
Joseph Stelin went back to US after the end of WWI but made his journey all the way to Poland from there. I wonder what was the motivation for that?
Throw in some little known trivia facts like; The Polish military identity cards that they were issued had a notation in them stating that they do not speak Polish so not to be harassed or confused for foreign spies in Polish uniforms and you truly have a Hollywood production in the making.
