The Luftwaffe’s new Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters outclassed the RAF’s Mk V Spitfires in 1942 in almost every way. But when the pilots of 303 (Polish) Squadron were ‘bounced’ by German fighters while on a bomber escort run over France on 5 June they turned the tables. F/O Gladych, P/O Szelestowski and Sgt Stasik shot down three of the enemy aircraft without loss. Boleslaw Gladych estimated that one plummeting Fw 190 missed his Spitfire, AD198 (RF-W), by only 20 yards.