Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-03-01

Swinderby

Sunshine in the morning, strong wind. Low clouds in the afternoon and rain in the evening. A few local flights. Total flying time 1.30 hours. Operations arranged for 20.20 hours were cancelled because of the weather. Link trainer and Ground training.

1941-03-02

Swinderby

Clouds 4/10. Strong wind. Visibility good. Later in the day clouds 8/10. local training flying 3.15 hours. Operational flight of five crews to Brest Harbour from Newton Aerodrome. Total Operational flying hours 32.10.

1941-03-03

Swinderby

Clouds 4/10. Rain in the morning. Local flights 5.00 hours. Inspection of aircraft. Link Trainer and other ground duties.

1941-03-04

Swinderby

Clouds and poor visibility. No flying. Link trainer and ground training.

1941-03-05

Swinderby

Clouds and poor visibility. Local flying 2.15 hours. Inspection and preparation of aircraft for operations. Briefing of six crews detailed for operations. Operations cancelled.

1941-03-06

Swinderby

Clouds and poor visibility. Local training an instruments flying 3.55 hours. Link trainer. Ground training. Operations prepared but cancelled later in the afternoon.

1941-03-07

Swinderby

Clouds and rain allday. No flying. Inspection of the Squadron by the Squadron Commander. Lecture by the Squadron doctor on Vitamins “A”.

1941-03-08

Swinderby

Rain in the morning. Clouds in afternoon. No flying. Lecture on astro-navigation. Lecture on Aerial Photography in the last War, illustrated with slides.

1941-03-09

Swinderby

Low clouds and rain all day. No flying. Ground training. Daily inspections of aircraft.

1941-03-10

Swinderby

Snow in the morning, clearing in the afternoon. Instruments flying 1.20 hours. Usual ground training.
Use of sextants.

1941-03-11

Swinderby

Low clouds all day, ceiling 900 ft. Local flying 2.15 hours. Ground training and lessons in English. Four crews detailed for operations were prepared but the operations were canceled.

1941-03-12

Swinderby

Low clouds in the morning, then slight mist, followed by a bright evening and clear night. Local flying 4.40 hours. Three crews were detailed for operational flight over Hamburg from Mildenhall. Take-off after midnight. Usual ground training during the day.

1941-03-13

Swinderby

No clouds. Sun during the day, moon during the night. Operational flight of the three crews who took off at 00.30 hours. Total time 19.25 hours. Local flights of a total of 7.00 hours and usual ground training and work. Preparation of four crews for operations from Newton. Two crews were detailed for Hamburg, two for Rotterdam. Total time of operational flights 24.25 hours. Total time for the day:- Training day flying 7.00 hours; Operational night flying 43.50 hours.

1941-03-14

Swinderby

No clouds. Sun and moon. Transfer of operating machines from Newton, and local training flying 8.10 hours. Usual training and work. Three crews were detailed for operations which were cancelled later.

1941-03-15

Swinderby

Mist during the day, visibility 200,yards. Fog at night. A few local flights 1.35 hours. Usual ground training and work. In the morning, inspection of the Squadron by the Squadron Commander. Operations cancelled after the briefing and all the preparations.

1941-03-16

Swinderby

Mist in the morning; O.K. in the afternoon. No flying. Discussion of operations on 13.3.41. Daily Inspections of aircraft. Usual ground training. Link trainer.

1941-03-17

Swinderby

Low clouds; visibility fairly good. Local training flights and “ZZ” practice; 7.15 hours. Ground training – Link trainer practice and training with Astrograph.

1941-03-18

Swinderby

Windy with low clouds, clearing later. Local training flying by day 6.15 hours and night 1.00 hours. Five crews, detailed for operations, were prepared and briefed but operations cancelled. Usual ground training.

1941-03-19

Swinderby

Misty and cloudy; clear in the afternoon. Local flying 7.10 hours. Four crews detailed for operations which were cancelled later on. Usual ground training and work.

1941-03-20

Swinderby

Fog in the morning , with visibility 50 yards. Clear sky with 3/10 of cloud at night. Local flying c.10 hours. Operations intended and then cancelled. Ground training and Link Trainer.

1941-03-21

Swinderby

Clouds 8/10 diminishing in the afternoon. Local flying by day 6.40 hours, by night 1.45 hours.
Usual ground training.

1941-03-22

Swinderby

Fog with drizzle. Rain in the afternoon. Local flying 1.15 hours. Usual ground training.

1941-03-23

Swinderby

Low clouds in the morning., clear in afternoon. Inspection of both Squadrons by the Senior Polish Officer and distribution of ribbons of Polish Bravery Cross. Local flying and flights to the operational aerodrome 11.00 hours. Seven crews detailed for operations over Berlin from Langham Aerodrome, Bircham Newton. Take off at 22.00 hours. Owing to difficulties on the aerodrome, four crews only took off and operated successfully. Three other aircraft were damaged during the take-off; one of them was completely destroyed. No casualties. Take-off stopped as a result of the three accidents. Total time of operational flights 34.35 hours.

1941-03-24

Swinderby

Misty all day. Ceiling 300 ft. Visibility two miles. Transfer of aircraft back home 2.10 hours.

1941-03-25

Swinderby
Clear weather with a few low clouds. Local instruments flying 3.55 hours. Preparations and briefing of 4 crews detailed for operations which were cancelled later. Usual ground training.

1941-03-26

Swinderby

Good visibility, low clouds with sunshine. Local flying and cross-country. 3.40 hours. Operations cancelled during the day. A lecture illustrated by a picture. Usual ground training.

1941-03-27

Swinderby

Low clouds. Local training and cross-country flights. 7.05 hours. Usual ground training and P.T.

1941-03-28

Swinderby

Low clouds with mist, clearing later. Cross-countries, 7.05 hours. Inspection of A/C. Usual ground training. 2 hours of P.T.

1941-03-29

Swinderby

Low clouds, good visibility. No flying. Usual ground training.

1941-03-30

Swinderby

Sunny in the morning, cloudy later. Instrument and training flights. Lorens blind approach Practice, 23.40 hours. Usual ground training.

1941-03-31

Swinderby

Low clouds. Lorens practice at Waddington and usual training flights, 13.10 hours. Usual ground Training and occupations.