Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-07-01

INGHAM

Weather conditions 5/10 cloud. After morning parade daily inspection of aircraft was carried
out. Three aircraft were tested in single engine flying, two were practiced in circuits and
landings, and two flights were made by instruments. Lorenz was practiced, and one cross
country was made form base to Blackpool, Prestwick, Harwick, to base. Total day flying 12.50
hours. Night flying – four crews completed circuits and landings, and two cross countries were
made – base to Eatterick, Stradishall, Brise Norton, to base. Total night flying 10.05 hours.

1942-07-02

INGHAM

4/10 cloud. Morning parade and daily inspection of aircraft. One cross country was made,
one test of “George”, one engine flying, and bombing practice were made. One flight was made
for testing W/T. Flying time, 9.25 hours. Fourteen crews were briefed for operations over
BREMEN, 12 of which completed the task, two having to abandon, one owing to engine trouble,
and the other, owing to the front gunner being taken ill owing to oxygen failure. This proved
to be a very successful raid, heavy damage being inflicted. Aircraft B. piloted by P/O KUBACKI
was hit by flak on the return journey, and ran out of petrol. He successfully ditched his
aircraft about 25 miles east of Mablethorpe, which floated for 20 minutes. The crew were picked
up by a Mablethorpe merchant man after 2 hours, the crew being non the worse for their experience.

1942-07-03

INGHAM

5/10 cloud. Normal morning parade, and daily inspection of aircraft. Operational crews were
rested after the previous night work. Other crews completed, circuits and landings, two air-
craft were delivered to Hemswell Mainteneance Section. During the afternoon observers were lec-
tured on navigation. Total day flying hours one.

1942-07-04

INGHAM

Weather conditions remained the same, and after morning parade and inspection of aircraft, the
following was indulged in. – circuits and landings, aircraft tests one cross country from base
to Mildenhall to base. During the afternoon, all aircrew were given one hours physical train-
ing. Two circuits and landings were made at night. Five aircraft took part in a Sea Rescue
reconnaissance, flying time 20 hours 45 minutes.

1942-07-05

INGHAM
Weather became slightly worse, and after church parade at Hemswell, daily inspection of aircraft
was carried out. Four aircraft were given flying tests, after which instrument flying, one
engine flying, take-off with full bomb load, and a cross country, base to Mildenhall to base,
was carried out. Nine crews were briefed for mining operations, eight of which completed the
operation successfully, one, owing to a navigational error had to abandon the task, and brought
its load back to base.

1942-07-06

INGHAM

Weather conditions improved slightly, and after morning parade, and inspection of aircraft,
the crews which had not been on operations the previous night were practiced in Lorenz, circuits
and landings, one engine flying, bombing practice, take-off with full load. Total flying time
3 hours 30 minutes. Night flying – seven flights were made of circuits and landings, total
flying time 3.15 hours.

1942-07-07

INGHAM

Weather 9/10 Cloud. After usual parade and daily inspection of aircraft two crews made
a cross county from Bast – Bramcote – Base. Two crews were practiced in taking off with full
bomb load, and a height test was made. One aircraft was brought back from Maintenance section at
Hemswell. Ten crews were briefed for Mine Laying and all completed the operations successfully
without incident, although all aircraft ran into electrical storm.

1942-07-08

INGHAM

Weather conditions improved again, and after the morning parade and inspection of aircraft three
aircraft were flown to Hemswell to the Maintenance section for repair, one being brought back.
Four flights were made of circuits and landings and take off with full bomb load was practiced.
Total day hours 4.40 mins. During the afternoon 10 crews were briefed for operations on
WILHELMSHAVEN. This raid was not so successful three of our crews failing to complete the mission,
one through enemy interception, one to engine failure and the other to a navigational error,
the the latt however attacked the BREMERHAVEN area but did not observe results. On this raid
usually intense flak was encountered, but the remining seven aircraft pressed home their
attacks and captains all report that very large fires were left buring in the target area.
Unfortunately aircraft J-1489 captained by Sgt. Szychowiak failed to return from this operations.
The captain ditched his aircraft owing to engine having been hit. Unfortunately the front gunner
Sgt. Rawski was thrown forward and down towards the lower escape hatch when the aircraft hit the
sea and as it sunk immediately the crew were unsuccessful in their attempts to help him. The rest of
the crew were picked up by a Sea Rescue Boat and landed at Grimsby. The captain`s head was slightly
injured and all suffered slightly from exposure, but have now completely recovered.

1942-07-09

INGHAM

9/10 Cloud cover and after usual morning parade and inspection of aircraft, two cross country`s
were made. Base – Northcoates – Base, and Base – Bramcote – Base, one aircraft completed a
circuits and landings exercises, and instrument exercises were indulged in. Four aircraft took
part in a Sea Rescue Search, total hour 18,05.

1942-07-10

INGHAM
Weather conditions remained the same and after the morning routine work the following exercises
were taken, height tests, take off with full bomb load, two pilots practiced the “George” and one
cross country was made from base to Northcoates – base.

1942-07-11

INGHAM

6/10 cloud, morning parade and daily inspection of aircraft, four cross countrays` were made
Base – Mildenhall – Base,Base – Newark – Penrhos – Prestwick, Prestwick – York – Base. Two pilots
practiced Lorenz landings, take off with full bomb load, and a George Test was made.
Night flying – circuits and landings.

1942-07-12

INGHAM

Morning parade and daily inspection of aircraft, and the following exercises were made.
aircraft test, “George” test, take off with fullbomb load, height tests, and two crews
practiced air firing. One cross country was made from Base – Mildenhall – Bramcote – Base.
Night flying included three cross countrys, Base – Abingdon – Cambridge – Withering - Base.
Four crews practiced circuits and landing. Total night hours 10.45.

1942-07-13

INGHAM

Weather conditions very poor 10/10 cloud. After normal morning parade and daily inspection of
aircraft, one pilot took off for Lorenz practice. A cross country was made base to Bramcote
base. Take off with full bomb load was practiced, and gunnery practice, air to air. Aircraft
were tested, and wireless likewise. Eight crews were briefed for operations on Duisburg, seven
of which completed the task, one had to abandon the mission owing to very bad icing, and jettisoned
its bomb load. This operation was not very successful owing to very poor weather conditions.

1942-07-14

INGHAM

Weather improved slightly. Normal morning parade and daily inspection of aircraft. Day flying
included one flight base Cosford base, two flights base Marham base, take off with full bomb loads,
and a cross country base Bramcote base, total flying hours 5 hours 35 minutes. Four crews were
briefed for mine laying operations, all completed successfully.

1942-07-15

INGHAM

Weather conditions remained the same, and day flying included four flights for bombing practice,
one cross country, base Holme, Hendon, base, two aircraft tests, take off with full bomb load, single
engine flying, and air gunners were practiced in air to air firing. Operations were ordered but
during the afternoon were cancelled.

1942-07-16

INGHAM

7/10 cloud, and after the usual morning routine three crews took off for instrument flying exer-
cises, one flight was made base Hendon base, and one crew completed circuits and landings,
Lorenz practice, cross country base Bramcote base, physical training and lectures for observers
were included in the afternoon`s routine.

1942-07-17

INGHAM

9/10 cloud. During the morning one flight was made from base to Bramcote to base, all flying
in the afternoon was cancelled owing to inclement weather conditions. All personnel were given
an afternoon off.

1942-07-18

INGHAM

Poor weather conditions prevailed, and after the morning routine, day flying included a cross
country base Manby base, instrument flying was also carried out. During the afternoon lectures
were held on dinghy, fire and parachute drill.

1942-07-19

INGHAM

Day flying included four flights for one engine flying and instrument practice, “George” and
aircraft tests were carried out, one height test, and a cross country base Bramcote base.
Lorenz practices were made, also take off with full bomb load. Total day hours 13. Night
flying included three flights, circuits and landings, one aircraft bombing practice, after this
the programme was cancelled owing to bad weather conditions. Night hours 4 hours 20 minutes.

1942-07-20

INGHAM

Very bad weather conditions, and all flying was cancelled for the day. Lectures for aircrew
were held in the morning, and all personnel were given the afternoon free.

1942-07-21

INGHAM

Weather improved slightly and day flying included a cross country from base to Bramcote to base.
and two flights were made, one a single engine flying, the other instrument flying. Seven aircraft
took off for bombing practice, one for a height test, and three aircraft tests, after which the
take off with full bomb load was practiced. After a full day`s work, total hours of which were
15, operations were again ordered for DUISBURG, and thirteen crews were briefed, unfortunately
two captains had to abandon the task, owing to engine trouble, and brought back to base their bombs
and one attacked the aerodrome south of HAARLEN owing to engine trouble, the remaining ten
completed an excellent job of work, and al reported that very heavy damage was done, and all were
unanimous in the success of the trip.

1942-07-22

INGHAM

Very poor weather conditions and after morning parade, a daily inspection of aircraft, those
crews who had not been on operations the previous night were lectured. Aircraft L piloted by
P/O. WLODRCZYK returned to base from Coltishall where he had landed the previous night, all personnel
were given the afternoon free.

1942-07-23

INGHAM

7/10 cloud, and after the morning routine, six flights were made for instrument practice, three
aircraft were tested, and take off with full bomb load was practiced by one crew, another flight
combined instrument flying and single engine flying. Height tests were to have been carried out
but were cancelled owing to a raid alarm.

1942-07-24

INGHAM

Weather conditions remained the same, three aircraft practiced formation flying, and an aircraft
test was combined with engine flying. One flight was made for Lorenz practice, and another
practiced take off with full bomb load. Total flying 7 hours 20 minutes.

1942-07-25

INGHAM

Weather improved slightly, and day flying included, six aircraft in formation flying, five flights
for Lorenz practice, one take off with full bomb load, one height test, two firing practices, air
to air, circuits and landings, two cross countries, total day hours 17 hours 50 minutes. 13
crews were briefed for operations again on DUISBURG, and all of them completed this operation
in very poor weather conditions. Considerable opposition was encountered, and aircraft E.1244
captained by F/O METLER was engaged in combat with an enemy aircraft, the rear gunner, S. JANEK
was killed and the wireless operator very slightly injured. The captain made an extra ordinary
good landing at base on one wheel, the other having been punctured by flak, this aircraft was
heavily damaged.

1942-07-26

INGHAM

4/10 cloud, and after Church parade, morning routine work was carried out. Day flying included
four aircraft tests, one height test, two cross countries from base to Mildenhall to base.
Operations were ordered for HAMBURG, sixteen crews were briefed and were lead by Group Captain A.M.
Wray MC, DFC, AFC, one aircraft failed to return from this operation, and one owing to being attacked
by an enemy aircraft was forced to abandon the mission, the remaining aircraft pressed home their
attack, and terrific damage must have been done. The captains in their reports all remark on the
very high success of the trip, and one states that it was very nearly a second Cologne.

1942-07-27

INGHAM

Weather conditions continued to improve and crews were all given the morning off after their
efforts of the previous night. During the afternoon, one sortie was made on a sea rescue search
total hours 5 hours 30 minutes.

1942-07-28

INGHAM

3/10 cloud, and after normal morning parade, daily inspections of aircraft was carried out, after
which the followingflights were indulged in. two aircraft tests, two flights on take off with
full bomb load, 2 aircraft tests combined with one engine flying, one aircraft test combined with
one engine flying and “George” test. Two aircraft were brought back from Hemswell maintenance
section. One cross country flight was made from Blyton to base. One flight on circuits and
landings, and one aircraft delivered to Hemswell maintenance section. Total flying hours 9.10.
14 crews were briefed for operations, but in the evening at 22.15 hours, operations were cancelled.

1942-07-29

INGHAM

3/10 cloud. In the evening church parade was held followed by day flying. 1 flight from base
to Bramcote to base, one aircraft form Hemswell maintenance section, and four aircraft took part
in Sea Rescue search, with total flying hours 17.35. Ten crews were briefed for operations over
SAARBRUCKEN. Owing to enemy interception one aircraft had to abandon the mission, but all the
others successfully attacked the primary, and all crews pronounced it a very good trip, many fires
being seen.

1942-07-30

INGHAM

Weather conditions were very good, bright without clouds, and after operations of the previous
night crews were given the morning free. Three aircraft tests were carried out, and in the
afternoon P.T. 13 crews were briefed for operations, but in the evening they were cancelled.

1942-07-31

INGHAM

5/10 cloud, and after morning parade daily inspection of aircraft was carried out. One aircraft
made a cross country trip from base to Mildenhall and back to base, one aircraft was delivered to
Hemswell maintenance section, and two aircrafts were made. Total hours 3.day. Night flying
was also carried out, two flights on circuits and landings, total hours 1.05 night. 14 crews
were briefed for operations over DUSSELDORF, but owing to enemy interception one aircraft had
to abandon the mission, the remainder pressed home their attacks, and a very successful raid
took place, although a number of captains mentioned the fact that a number of fires were seen
in the country outside the town.

MOVEMENTS DURING THE MONTH

IN.

F/O. NOWAK. G.D. F/O. DZIUBINSKI. GD. F/O. POLNIK G.D. F/O. GERSTEL G.D.O F/O ZAKRZEWSKI G.D.O.
F/O/ DANIELEWICZ. G.D.O. F/O. WIERZBICKI. G.D.O. F/O. HAAB. G.D.O. (Ex. N/E Sick). P/O PYZALSKI. A.B.
SGT. KAZIMIERCZAK. PILOT. SGT. KONDERAK. PILOT. F/S TWARDAWA. PILOT. SGT. SKONIECZNY. WO/AG.
SGT. KOWALSKI. WO/AG. SGT. ZAKIELARZ. WO/AG. SGT. TADZIK. WO/AG. SGT. TRZEBIATOWSKI. WOAG. (Ex. N/E Sick) SGT. POWER. WO/AG. (Ex. N/E Sick). SGT. ABLAMOWICZ. WO/AG.A.B. SGT. VANDALLI. WO/AG.A.B.
SGT. BULIK. WO/AG A.B.. SGT. GEBACZKA A.G. SGT. JANEK. A.G. SGT. DROZDZYNSKI. A.CG. SGT. RANISZEWSKI. A.G.

OUT.

P/O BOGUSZEWSKI. A.D.G. F/O. FALINSKI. G.D.O. F/O TOMASZEWSKI. G.D. F/O. JEZEWSKI GOD.O. F/O LECH G.D.O.
F/O. SZYSZKOWSKI. G.D.G. P/O. NEULINGER. G.D.G. F/O. GRYGLEWICZ. G.D.O. F/O KWIATKOWSKI. G.D.O. F/O MISZEWSKI G.D.
F/O TABACZYNSKI. G.D.O. F/O A/F/L GRZEBALSKI. A.&.S.D. F/O KLECHA. G.D. F/O. DREJA G.D.
SGT. BAKALARSKI. PILOT. SGT. KOBIELA WO/AG. SGT. OLSZEWSKI. WO/AG.A.B. SGT. JANEK. A.G.
SGT. RAWSKI. A.G. SGT. WYPORSKI. A.G. F/S. WIZE. WO/AG. SGT. ZABACKI. PILOT. SGT. TULISKA. WO/AG
SGT. EKIERT. PILOT. SGT. CEWINSKI. WO/AG. SGT. ROMAN. A.G. SGT. CZAPSKI. A.G. F/S TOMASZEWSKI. A.G.
SGT. DUBIEL. A.G. SGT. KACZMARYK. PILOT.

PROMOTIONS. ETC.

F/O, SADOWSKI. APPTD. A/F/L.
A/F/L. DEPOWSKI. RELINGUISHES A/RANK

(eligible signature)
Wing Commander, Commanding,
No. 300 (Polish) Squadron