World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe PZL.24 fighters were the next generation of aircraft from Zygmunt Pulawski and generated great international interest. The air force of Poland did not purchase any of this design, however, due to their intention to wait for the PZL.50, which was never developed in time for the war. Abyssinia purchased the third prototype, Turkey purchased 44 units plus a license to build another 20, Greece purchased 30 units, Romania purchased 6 plus a license to build 44 more, and Bulgaria purchased 40 (only 22 were delivered) units. The 30 Greek fighters were used against Italian bombers during the Italian invasion in 1940.

SPECIFICATIONS

P.24A

Machinery	One Gnome-Rhone 14Kfs radial engine rated at 900hp
Armament	2x Oberlikon FF cannons, 2x machine guns, 4x12.4kg bombs
Crew	1
Span	10.71 m
Length	7.50 m
Height	2.70 m
Wing Area	17.90 m²
Weight, Empty	1,330 kg
Weight, Loaded	1,915 kg
Weight, Maximum	2,000 kg
Speed, Maximum	430 km/h
Rate of Climb	11.00 m/s
Service Ceiling	10,500 m
Range, Normal	550 km

P.24G

Machinery	One Gnome-Rhone 14N07 rated at 970hp
Armament	4x machine guns, 2x50kg bombs
Crew	1
Span	10.71 m
Length	7.50 m
Height	2.70 m
Wing Area	17.90 m²
Weight, Empty	1,330 kg
Weight, Loaded	1,915 kg
Weight, Maximum	2,000 kg
Speed, Maximum	430 km/h
Rate of Climb	11.00 m/s
Service Ceiling	10,500 m
Range, Normal	550 km

Photographs

Visitor Submitted Comments

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2.  Alan Chanter says:
29 Sep 2019 03:26:27 AM

On 8 January 1941 Greek PZL P.24s of 22 Mira clashed with Italian CANT Z.1007 bombers. Despite mutual claims to the contrary, there were no actual losses to either side. Poor weather limited aerial activity throughout January and there were no further engagements until 20 January when RAF Blenheims raided Valona in the morning, and five Gladiators and two Blenheim IFs beat off Italian CANTs attacking Athens shortly after midday. Thereafter the Greek pilots of their three fighter Mira remained active in defence of the Salonika region. On 9 February Greek Gladiators and P.24S were despatched to intercept a force of SM 79 bombers trying to attack Vanina airfield. The Greek pilots, however, became involved in a series of dogfights with the Italian escort fighters. Three EVA (Greek Air Force) aircraft were damaged, two of them beyond repair with two pilots wounded. They had failed to contact the Italian bombers and there were no Italian losses.