Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1940-12-01

Swinderby
Fog in the morning, low clouds in afternoon. His Ex. the President inspected the Squadron and
took the salute as the personnel marched past. At 0900 hours divine service was held in the
Hangar the President being present. Afterwards the President inspected the airmens` barrack blocks and the Sergeants` Mess. Lunch was taken in the Officers` Mess and the President
left at 14.00 hours. No flying.

1940-12-02

Clouds and misty. Usual training flights. Total flying hours – 05.10. Firing at towing
target and one cross-country to Isle of Man. Observers and Air Gunners had usual lecture,
practices and cockpit drill. During the afternoon Capt. Kielpinski gave a lecture on “Poland
and the General Political Situation” all personnel attended.

1940-12-03

Fog in morning. Low clouds and drizzle all day. No flying. Air crews had usual lectures,
practices etc. on Wellington aircraft.

1940-12-04

Weather – fair. “B” Flight carried out some training flights – total flying hours 01.15.
Pilots has cockpit drill and Observers carried out Exercises 1 and 2. Link Trainer
practice for pilots in afternoon.

1940-12-05

Weather – cloudy. Cross country flying and training flights. Total flying hours – 1625.
Usual ground training and drill. Link Trainer practice in afternoon. Ground personnel
went through gas chamber.

1940-12-06

Gale – no flying. “B” Flight pilots had Link Trainer practice. Clay-pigeon shooting for
Air Gunners.

1940-12-07

Weather fair but windy. Cross country flying and training flights carried out.
Total flying hours – 14.45. Usual ground training and exercises. Servicing Party checked
aircrafts ready for Operational flight.

1940-12-08

Weather – Good. Cross-country flying and training flights. Usual ground training
and exercises for air crews.

1940-12-09

Low clouds and mist, rain in afternoon. No flying. Link trainer practice for pilots.

1940-12-10

Weather – fair. Cross-country flying and training flights. Night flying carried out – training.
Total flying hours (day) – 16.05 Night – 03.35.

1940-12-11

Weather – Fair. One flight to the Bombing Range. Total flying hours – 00.30.
Link Trainer practice. Usual ground training and practices by crews.

1940-12-12

Weather – Fair. Usual training flights and flights to Bombing Range.. Total flying
hours – 06.50. Anson ferried to Lossiemouth.

1940-12-13

Weather – Good. Bombing practice on Bombing Range. Total flying hours – 05.55.
Usual ground training and preparation work by Servicing Party.

1940-12-14

Low clouds in morning. Rain in afternoon. Bombing and ZZ practices. Total flying
hours – 09.50. Usual training flights and Link Trainer practice.

1940-12-15

Weather 0 Foggy. Church parade in morning. One cross-country flight and W/T practice.
Total flying hours – 02.10.

1940-12-16

Good weather all day. Cross-country flights for exercises2 and3. Night Flying practice.
Total flying hours (day) – 14.55 (night) – 01.00. Link Trainer practice. Usual ground
training and preparation work by Servicing Party.

1940-12-17

Weather – good. Cross – country flying to West Freugh and ZZ practice. Total flying
hours 03.35. Dinghy and parachute drill. Usual ground training.

1940-12-18

Weather fair but misty. Instrument flight and training flights. Lecture given in the
afternoon on “possibility of escape from a German prison Camp”. Crews briefed for
operational flight

1940-12-19

Weather – fine. ZZ practices and instrument flying. Cross-country flying,
Total flying hours – 07.30. Preparation for operational flight. Operations cancelled.

1940-12-20

Weather fair but cloudy. ZZ practice and cross-country flying interrupted by weather conditions.
Total flying hours – 01.50. Link Trainer practice. Preparation for operational flight.

1940-12-21

Weather – Fine. ZZ practice and a test flight. Total flying hours – 03.35.
Crews briefed in afternoon for operational flight.

1940-12-22

Weather – mainly fine. Church Parade held in morning. One cross-country flight to
Stoke – on – Trent. Operational flight to Antwerp to destroy oil targets. All
aircraft returned. Total flying hours – (day) 01.35 (night) 13.00.

1940-12-23

Very low clouds and misty. Three flights for testing W/T before operational flights.
Operations cancelled just before take-off. Total flying hours – 02.05.

1940-12-24

Weather – poor. Link Trainer practices in morning. No flying.
Mass held at 18.00 hours. Christmas Feast held in Airmens` Dining Hall.

1940-12-25

Weather – Mainly fair. Church service at 0900 hours. No flying.

1940-12-26

Weather fine but misty. Link Trainer practices for pilots. Usual ground training.
of personnel. Total flying hours – 02.00.

1940-12-27

Weather fairly good. Link Trainer practices. Inspection of aircraft before operational
flights. Air Crews briefed in afternoon. Instrument flying and test flights.
Operations cancelled owing to bad weather conditions. Total flying hours – 05.20.

1940-12-28

Weather – fair. Preparation for operational flight. Crews briefed. 6 aircraft attacked
Targets at Antwerp. All aircraft returned, but one (R.1035) crashed about half a mile from
aerodrome on coming in to land. Flight Lieutenant Krynski was killed and Sgt. Wegrzyn died
later in S.S.Q. The four others in the crew were injured and admitted S.S.Q.
Total flying hours – 29.10 (operational)

1940-12-29

Weather – fair. A few training flights and normal work carried out. Total flying hours – 02.45.

1940-12-30

Weather fair with rain in afternoon. Link Trainer practices for pilots and ground training
for other personnel. No flying.