No. 133 Wing RAF

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Use British English|date=July 2017}} {{infobox military unit |unit_name=No. 133 Wing RAF No. 133 (Polish) (Fighter) Wing RAF No. 1 Polish Wing RAF No. 133 Airfield Headquarters (Polish) RAF [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|90px]] |image= |caption= |dates= 1943-44 1944-45 |country= {{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]] |allegiance= |branch= [[File:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg|23px]] [[Royal Air Force]] |type= |role= |size= [[Wing (military unit)|Wing]] |command_structure= |garrison= [[RAF Andrews Field]] |garrison_label= Last base |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= |battle_honours_label= |disbanded= |flying_hours= |website=  |commander1= |commander1_label= |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |notable_commanders=  |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label=  |aircraft_attack= |aircraft_bomber= }} '''No. 133 (Polish) (Fighter) Wing RAF''' is a former [[Royal Air Force]] [[Wing (military unit)|wing]] that was operational during the [[World War II|Second World War]], mainly staffed by Polish personnel as part of the [[Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain]].

The unit was previously '''No. 1 Polish Wing RAF''' which became '''No. 133 Airfield Headquarters (Polish) RAF''' during 1943.

==History==

It was formed in August 1941, as the 2nd Polish Fighter Wing, from three Polish squadrons, the [[No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron]] and [[No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron]], and the [[No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron]]. Its composition was not stable, as Polish Squadrons were frequently exchanged between the three Polish wings (the [[No. 131 Wing RAF]] (1st Polish) wing, the No. 133 Wing (2nd Polish) wing, and the [[3rd Polish Fighter Wing]]). At various times, this wing included other Polish squadrons, such as the [[No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron]], [[No. 309 Polish Fighter-Reconnaissance Squadron]] and the [[No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron]]. The number of Polish wings was also not constant, varying from at least two to four.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

On 1 November 1943 '''No. 1 Polish Wing RAF''' was renamed to '''No. 133 Airfield Headquarters (Polish) RAF''' while the unit was at [[Heston Aerodrome#Military operations 1939–1945|RAF Heston]] under [[No. 18 Wing RAF]] and controlling [[No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron]] and [[No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron]] both operating Spitfires. The wing moved to [[RAF Coolham]] on 1 April 1944 and was renamed to '''No. 133 Wing RAF''' on 12 May 1944.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=54}}

'''No. 133 Wing RAF''' was formed on 12 May 1944 at [[RAF Coolham]].{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|Halley|1997|p=323}}

==See also== * [[List of Wings of the Royal Air Force]] ==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== *{{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=R.|last2=Hamlin|first2=J.|last3=Halley|first3=J.|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units |year=1997 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location= UK|isbn=0-85130-252-1}}

[[Category:Wings of the Royal Air Force in the Second World War|Polish 02]] [[Category:Royal Air Force wings]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]] [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946]]