alternatehistory.com

The PZL-50 interceptor project began late in 1936. There were flying prototypes in early 1939, and variants powered by Gnome-Rhone 14N21 and Bristol Taurus engines were planned. These planned variants could reach 350mph, roughly equivalent to the Bf-109 E fighter of the Luftwaffe. IRL, the Polish PZL 11 interceptors, the aircraft they had in numbers at the time, were no match for the Luftwaffe, being even slower than German bombers, much less Bf 109 fighters.

But what if the Poles had been able to quickly run the PZL 50 program through the design processes and produce a powerful interceptor in time to supply the air force for the defense of Poland? While the Wehrmacht would likely still be able to overcome the smaller Polish army, if the skies were more fiercely contested by more modern machines, the Poles may have been able to put up a much more effective fight, and perhaps delay Hitler's rapid expansion through Europe following their collapse.
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