Plot

The exploits of 303 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain. The squadron consisted of Polish pilots, many of whom were veterans of the air battles involved in Germany's invasion of Poland.

Mission of Honor is the story of Hurricane Squadron 303, a group of brave pilots who fought in the skies over England in WW2, not just to keep Great Britain free from the Nazis, but also to keep alive the very idea of their own country, which had existed in its modern form for barely twenty years before it was crushed between the opposing jaws of Germany and Russia. Equipped with the almost-obsolete Hurricane and (with some initial reluctance) given RAF blue uniforms, while they fought, Poland lived.

1940. Great Britain stands alone in Europe against the growing stain of the rampant Nazi empire, its nervous inhabitants wondering what the future holds. But a handful of people on this beleaguered island know only too well what one possible future might hold. They have seen Warsaw burn, Poland crumble, France capitulate. Men like Jan Zumbach, Witold Urbanowicz, Miroslaw Feric and Tolo Lokuciewski, pilots of the Polish Air Force, who know that if the Luftwaffe isn't stopped, then Poland, Holland and France were just Hitler's hors d'oeuvres. So they are ready to fight, if they are given the planes. The problem is the British don't trust 'the bloody Poles'. And so the pilots, strangers in what seems a very strange land indeed, will over the course of a few months have to fight several wars at once - with the xenophobia of the authorities and the public, with the language, the unfamiliar Hurricane fighters, with the battle-hardened Luftwaffe. But once they are reluctantly made operational by the RAF, the Polish fighters show what they can do, out-gunning the enemy and out-scoring their allies. The once hostile British fete the Polish flyers as heroes - saviours, even. Now, though, the Poles have a fresh enemy - themselves, as nerves and fatigue take a terrible toll on men pushed to the limit by constant aerial warfare, fighting to save their own country above a foreign land. Not all will make it. Not all friendships will survive. And when it's over, Jan Zumbach will contemplate a pyrrhic victory, as Poland is handed over to Stalin's puppets.

The story of the Polish fliers who found themselves fighting for the freedom of their own country in foreign skies. Seen through the eyes of a Polish fighter ace and adventurer, it tells how the Poles-driven across Europe by the German war machine-finally make their last stand. Flying Hurricanes for the RAF over Britain, they became a key component in the legend of 'The Few'. Up against the might of the Luftwaffe they hoped that, by saving Great Britain from Nazi invasion, they were keeping the dream of a free Poland alive.

1940. Great Britain stands alone in Europe against the growing stain of the rampant Nazi empire, its nervous inhabitants wondering what the future holds. But a handful of people on this beleaguered island know only too well what one possible future might hold. They have seen Warsaw burn, Poland crumble, France capitulates. The British RAF fights gallantly against German attacks but is losing planes and pilots quickly.

Men like Jan Zumbach (Iwan Rheon), Witold Urbanowicz (Marcin Dorocinski), Miroslaw Feric and Tolo Lokuciewski, pilots of the Polish Air Force, who know that if the Luftwaffe isn't stopped, then Poland, Holland and France were just Hitler's Hors d'oeuvres. The Polish escapes the advancing German armies and are now stationed in England but are not allowed to fight the Germans attacking British Isles.

So, they are ready to fight, if they are given the planes. The problem is the British don't trust 'the bloody Poles'. And so, the pilots, strangers in what seems a very strange land indeed, will over the course of a few months have to fight several wars at once - with the xenophobia of the authorities and the public, with the language, the unfamiliar Hurricane fighters, with the battle-hardened Luftwaffe. Urbanowicz Is selected for a training program to see how he gets along with the Brits. He conducts himself splendidly and gains acceptance among the superiors at RAF.

But once they are reluctantly made operational by the RAF under John Kent 'Kentowski' (Milo Gibson), the Polish fighters show what they can do, out-gunning the enemy and out-scoring their allies. The once hostile British fete the Polish fliers as heroes - saviors, even. Phyllis Lambert (Stefanie Martini) works at air combat HQ and is in charge of mobilizing squadrons against German attacks. She is one of the few Brits who are thankful to the Poles for their service and helps them make comfortable despite all the hostility from the fellow British pilots.

Now, though, the Poles have a fresh enemy - themselves, as nerves and fatigue take a terrible toll on men pushed to the limit by constant aerial warfare, fighting to save their own country above a foreign land. Not all will make it. Not all friendships will survive. Jan in particular, takes it hard when he learns that his wife has been hanged by the Germans. The Poles learn to live one day at a time, as they don't know when they would be next in line to be shot down.

John tells Jan that one of his pilots is just emptying guns and flying back every day. Jan confronts the pole who doesn't want to kill Germans as he is Catholic. He is soon killed in battle. The Poles are run ragged by continuous sorties for 36 hours. They are barely hanging on.

And when it's over when the RAF defeats the Luftwaffe and Germany surrenders in 1945, Jan Zumbach will contemplate a Pyrrhic victory, as Poland is handed over to Stalin's puppets. Jan is repatriated to Poland under Soviet rule. 143 Poles served in the RAF, 20% of their strength at one time. Many Poles who were repatriated were sentenced to death.