The Starry Squadron

Directed by Leonard Buczkowski

With Barbara Orwid, Jana Krysta, Jerzy Kobusz, Janusz Halny and Stefan Szwarc

The Starry Squadron is a silent film (later reissued with a score by Tadeusz Górzyński) about the American volunteer pilots who formed the Kościuszko Squadron and fought for Poland’s independence between 1918 and 1920. On the eve of his engagement to the beautiful Lili, Captain Bond is visited by his fellow airmen and persuaded to join the newly organized squadron. Unable to reach the ceremony in time, he writes to her instead. Lili follows him to the southern front, where complicated affections quickly take hold: Captain Woyda, engaged to Lili’s friend Zofia, becomes drawn to Lili, while Bond finds himself increasingly attracted to Zofia. Tension and rivalry grow among the pilots even as the war continues. After an accident leaves Lili in enemy hands, Woyda mounts a rescue-while Bond meets his fate on a reconnaissance flight. The film is considered lost.