Mascot of the Month: Misia – 303 Squadron Mascot

303 Squadron was the highest-scoring Allied fighter squadron in the Battle of Britain, credited with downing 126 enemy planes in its six weeks of operations, from August 30 (the day before the squadron officially became operational, when Lieutenant Ludwik Paszkiewicz broke away from a training exercise to down a Messerschmitt 110) to October 11, 1940 when it was withdrawn from combat and sent to rest at Leconfield.

Even though 303 Squadron was not operational for the first two months of the Battle of Britain, it outscored the average RAF squadron by three to one with one-third the casualties, and downed more than twice the number of the next highest-scoring squadron, a British one. The squadron’s extraordinary exploits are chronicled in the award-winning 303 Squadron: The Legendary Battle of Britain Fighter Squadron, written “live” during the Battle of Britain.

The Polish pilots of 303 Squadron adopted as its mascot an adorable terrier mix dog, which they named Misia. Although we haven’t been able to find any film footage of Misia, the photogenic pooch was captured in a number of shots with squadron pilots. Misia was not the only dog adopted by 303 Squadron pilots, but she seems to be the most photographed. Unfortunately, we don’t know the name of any others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the products in our Store featuring the 303 Squadron insignia!