[1] It was designed by Stanisław Rogalski and Jerzy Drzewiecki of the RWD team, in the DWL workshops (Doświadczalne Warsztaty Lotnicze) in Warsaw, for and order of the LOPP paramilitary organization.

In 1937 an air ambulance variant RWD 13S was built (prototype markings SP-BFN), with a starboard hatch for stretchers in the fuselage.

There was also developed a similar universal variant RWD 13TS (or ST, or S/T), that could be converted from a touring plane to an ambulance by removing the right-hand seat.

Three were used by the Ministry of Communication as utility aircraft, two were used by the LOT Polish Airlines, and several were in hands of private owners and companies.

Several (at least five) RWD 13, not counting air ambulances, were mobilized after the start of World War II and used as liaison aircraft during the Polish September Campaign.

They were used until 1953-1955, with registrations: SP-MSZ (owned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MSZ in short), SP-ARG, SP-ARH, SP-ARL.

Four were sold to Spain by SEPEWE and were used as liaison aircraft by Franco's Aviación Nacional during the Spanish Civil War, under the name Polaca (numbers: 30-1 - 30-4).

On 17 December 1947, one of them undertook the first air attack, with hand grenades and handguns, during the Israeli-Arab skirmishes (earlier, on 15 June 1936, an RWD 13 was the first aircraft to land in Tel Aviv).

The two RWD 13s were among the first aircraft of the newly created Israeli Air Force, and were used for liaison and transport during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

After Romania joined the war on the Axis side and took part in the attack on the USSR, RWD 13 were used as liaison aircraft by the Air Force.

Especially famous were air ambulances, used by the "Escadrila Albă" (White Squadron), flown by women.

Two RWD 13, sent to the World's Fair, were sold after the outbreak of war in 1939 and used in the United States (N20651 and N20652), where their structure was modified by Lt. Joseph Malejki.