PZL.23 Karas

Poland's light attack bomber at the time of the German invasion of 1939, the P.23 Karas ("crucian carp") was flung into action against the German ground forces and the Luftwaffe. Despite enormous bravery, the overwhelming odds resulted in catastrophic losses. The plane's origins lay in Poland's conflict with the Soviet Union in 1919/20, during which the Polish Air Force learned the importance of having tactical air units work in close co-operation with ground forces. The result was a brief for this robust monoplane.