Polish Wings 17: PZL.23 Karas/PZL.42/PZL.43/PZL.46 Sum

by Tomasz J. Kopanski

Stratus Books

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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The PZL.23 Karas is best known for its use by Polish forces after the German invasion of September 1939.  The Karas crews fought doggedly but their obsolescent aircraft were highly vulnerable to German fighters and anti-aircraft fire.  The Polish Air Force lost more than 80 per cent of its PZL.23s during the fighting, with just over 20 evacuated to Romania when defeat was imminent.

Volume 17 of Stratus/MMP’s ‘Polish Wings’ series revisits these events within the context of the PZL.23’s broader development and use.  The book’s focus is on illustrations, with 46 colour profiles and six overhead views by artist Karolina Holda and more than 200 period photographs.  Author Tomasz J. Kopanski has divided his subject into five chapters:

• PZL.23 Karas.  Taking up 65 of the book’s 88 pages, this chapter begins with a detailed description of the PZL.23’s design, deployment and use, including during the 1939 war.  A series of photographs and profiles then track the type’s fortunes during this period.  Images are included of the three prototypes, trainers used by the Polish Air Force and Air Force Reserve Colleges, and operational machines before and during the war.  Many of the photographs are of Karas that were damaged in action, taken by and featuring German troops.

• 12 pages of the PZL.23 chapter are devoted to the aircraft evacuated to Romania.  These were taken over by the Romanians and used in a variety of roles before, during and after World War 2.  Kopanski’s text suggests that – operated under conditions of air superiority – the Karas was an effective light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.  (For example, Romanian PZL.23s conducted a number of successful attacks during the battle of Stalingrad.)  Between six and ten machines survived the war, with the last struck of charge in 1948.  The profiles and photographs show these Romanian PZL.23s were finished a variety of colourful and subtly different schemes.

• PZL.42.  This very short chapter describes the single PZL.42, which was converted from the first production PZL.23 and used for dive-bombing trials.  During these trials it was fitted with twin vertical tails, which led to improved flight characteristics in some areas.  The aircraft was destroyed during a German bombing raid on 2 September 1939.

• PZL.43 Chayka.  16 pages cover the PZL.43, an export version of the PZL.23 fitted with a Gnome-Rhone rather than Bristol Pegasus engine.  The new powerplant necessitated a number of airframe changes, and these were significant enough to warrant a new name for the aircraft.  50 PZL.43s were acquired by Bulgaria, where the type remained in service until 1946.  Bulgarian PZL.43s carried perhaps the widest range of markings of any of the PZL.23 family, with a number of tempting modelling subjects illustrated.

• PZL.46 Sum.  The final airframe chapter deals with the aircraft designed to replace the Karas.  Two PZL.46 prototypes were developed in late 1938 and 1939, taking into account lessons learned during the development of the PZL.23.  The result was a more streamlined machine – slightly reminiscent of a TBF Avenger in profile – albeit one still fitted with fixed undercarriage.  You’d think an aircraft produced in such limited numbers could make no meaningful contribution to war effort, but this isn’t the case.  Kopanski tells the fascinating story of how, after the Soviet invasion on 17 September, the sole airworthy prototype was flown from Poland to Romania, then back to besieged Warsaw carrying important passengers and information, and finally to neutral Lithuania.  It remained there and was captured by invading Soviets and then Germans, but unfortunately did not survive the war.

• Colours and Markings.  The book concludes with a one-page chapter on colours and markings, which describes the colours applied to PZL.23 and related aircraft by the Poles, Romanians and Bulgarians.  Accompanying the useful text is a table of colour swatches identified by both their original description/name and US Federal Standard code, all of which will be useful to anyone modeling these aircraft.

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The material in all of these chapters is clearly presented.  The text is easy to understand and the photo and profile captions are informative in terms of the date and location of their subjects.

The book is also well produced.  It is printed on high quality, slightly glossy paper and appears to be securely bound.  Photo quality and reproduction is generally good; some are clearer than others, but all are relevant to the story being told.  Karolina Holda’s profiles successfully convey the ungainly but (to my eye at least) appealing character of the subject aircraft.

This volume doubles as a history and walkaround of the PZL.23 family of aircraft.  If you’re interested in modelling the Karas, then you will find much of the information, and inspiration, that you need here. 

I can also recommend the book to anyone who wants to learn more about the PZL.23 series’ role in the defence of Poland and later in the war against the Soviet Union. 

There is an irony in the fact that these aircraft, outclassed in the opening engagement of World War 2, then soldiered on through and beyond this conflict; Kopanski’s book tells this story well.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to MMP Books  for the sample.

All MMP Books are available direct from the publishers, who now accept credit cards (Visa, MC, Amex, Switch)  

North American distributors are MMD, Australian distributors are Platypus Publications. In Europe, the books are available from any good bookshop (via our UK distributors, Orca). Contact MMP direct in case of difficulties. 

Thanks to Roger at MMO Books  for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2014 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 4 June, 2014
Last updated 4 June, 2014

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