Mascot of the Month: Monkey – 315 Squadron

While dogs were the most common mascots, they were only one of many furry or feathered companions adopted by fighting units during the war. These animal friends were popular with the troops and served an important function in helping to maintain morale, because they reminded soldiers of life beyond the battlefield.

Among the mascots of 315 Squadron was a monkey. Though we don’t know the monkey’s name, or how it came to be adopted by Polish pilot Włodzimierz Miksa and the rest of the Squadron, many pilots remember the little rascal in their memoirs as being quite unruly.

315 Squadron, nickname ‘Dęblin’ (for the town where the Polish Air Force College was, and still is, located), was a day fighter squadron. It was operational from January 1941 to December 1946. In July 1941, six months after formation, 315 Squadron was moved to RAF Northolt and was transferred from British to Polish command.

The Squadron’s emblem was the fighting cockerel, derived from one of the prewar fighter units based in Warsaw.

Check out the products in our Store featuring the 315 Squadron insignia!