Uniform Insignia Forum

Hi does anyone have a link or information on the Polish Special Air Service (SAS) cap badge during WWII ?

Thanks

Robb Mavins wrote:Hi does anyone have a link or information on the Polish Special Air Service (SAS) cap badge during WWII ?

Thanks

Hi Robb
First of all such a unit like Polish Special Air Service (SAS) never existed during WWII, neither in the Polish Armed Forces in the West, nor in the 1st and 2nd Polish Armies in the East, although there was a Polish Independent Commando Company trained in Great Britain, organised and equiped in the british manner by the Combined Operations Command.
By the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland LTGEN Władysław Sikorski, Polish Independent Commando Company has been created on August 28,1942. After completing very hard commando treaining course in Fairbourne, Wales the company has been attached to No 10 Commando I.A. (Inter-Alied) unit, being than transfered into the 2nd Special Service Brigade fighting on the Italian theatre of operations in August 1943. Few months later they were attached to the IInd Polish Corps as a special unit in the disposition of the Corps Commander. Polish Independent Commando Company took part in the Italian Campaign fighting the most fiercest battles - Monte Cassino, San Angelo, Polverigi, Agugliano, Cassero, Castelferreti and Ascona, having 84% casulties. On August 15, 1944 the unit was reorganised in Polish Independent Commando (later 2nd Commando Battalion) consisting of 5 companies and continued to fight until the capture of Bolonia in April 1945. Their bravery, courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty gave greatest credit upon themselfs and the Polish Armed Forces.
Polish Independent Commando Company, Polish Independent Commando and later 2nd Commando Battalion used typical british COMMANDO tabs worn on the upper sleeve under identificational tab POLAND. Polish Armed Forces never used regimental or unit cap badges - we used and still use traditional Polish National Eagle in military version (different for Land Forces, Air Force and Navy) worn on all types of headgear :arrow:
[img]http://www.polska-zbrojna.pl/img/stopnie/oznaki_orly01.gif[/img]
From left to right: Land Forces, Air Force, Navy (Seaman), Navy (officers), Navy (WO's, NCO's, cadets)
If you have any questions in connection with polish armed forces than feel free to contact me. I'll do my best to help :)

Here is the Polish Land Forces National Eagle worn on Peaked Cap :arrow:
[img]http://ww.army.pl/pl/glowna/orzel_wl.gif[/img]

Some useful links:
http://www.polska-zbrojna.pl/stopnie.html?kat=orw
http://www.polska-zbrojna.pl/stopnie.html?kat=ng

Hi Denat,
I have seen the 'Land Forces' cap badge you illustrated, but with a small shield shape in the space on the base below the eagle.........what unit was this?
Regards
Alastair

Alastair Dinsmor wrote:Hi Denat,
I have seen the 'Land Forces' cap badge you illustrated, but with a small shield shape in the space on the base below the eagle.........what unit was this?
Regards
Alastair

Hi Alastair,
there is only one official type of Polish Land Forces National Eagle (for all units) in current use, generally following the 1919 pattern but there were some changes and variations introduced during the years. You have probably seen one of those variations - your description is too general to define which one it was.

Denat – Thank you

Sorry for late reply - traveling. I appreciate your correction about the Polish SAS. The badge I was thinking of was a version of the national insignia you display above. It defiantly had those beautiful upswept Eagle wings so was probably that or a version of it used during WWII. The basis for my question was a photo of a Polish officer identified as “Polish SAS” rather than No. 6 troop, No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. So that was obviously incorrectly labeled.

I will check when I am back.

Robb Mavins wrote:Denat – Thank you

Sorry for late reply - traveling. I appreciate your correction about the Polish SAS. The badge I was thinking of was a version of the national insignia you display above. It defiantly had those beautiful upswept Eagle wings so was probably that or a version of it used during WWII. The basis for my question was a photo of a Polish officer identified as “Polish SAS” rather than No. 6 troop, No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. So that was obviously incorrectly labeled.

I will check when I am back.

I'm glad I could help