Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-01-01

Ingham

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed.
The number of aircraft on squadron charge is twenty three, out of which number twenty one aircraft are serviceable, and two aircraft Cat “AC”. Roman Catholic personnel of the squadron attended a New Year Mass at 09.00 hours. Eight crews were briefed for mining operations, but operations were cancelled before take-off.

1944-01-02

Ingham

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed.
Ten Aircraft are now awaiting transfer to another unit on receipt of instructions. In the morning one crew made a cross country flight form base to Bircotes to baseon landing at base on return the undercarriage of the machine was damaged. Eight crews were briefed for mining operations, five detailed of the Brest area and three for the Lorient area. All completed their respective tasks successfully in very bad weather conditions. On return they were diverted to Exeter. One aircraft landed at base. Aircraft “D” captained by W/O BLACHOWICZ sustained damage from light flak of seven ships, damaging hydraulic system, putting undercarriage and rear turret flaps u/s, and causing bomb door to drop open, and part of rear turret ammo. to explode. The aircraft successfully belly landed at Barford St. John The remainder of the crews landed at Exeter. Aircraft “U”, captained by F/S URAM reported much opposition from searchlights in garden area at Brest. Total flying time amounted to 44 hours 30 minutes.

1944-01-03

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. The aircraft position is as follows. 10 aircraft awaiting transfer, 2 aircraft Cat “A.C”., 1 aircraft Prov. Cat “A.C”., 6 aircraft at Exeter, one of them damaged. Air Bombers and W/Op(air) attended lectures given by their respective Leaders. In the afternoon all flying crews attended a lecture by the Signals Leader. Due to unfavourable weather conditions, no flying could be undertaken.

1944-01-04

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. Flying was carried out as follows. Two crews were engaged on aircraft serviceability test flights. Two crews made flights to Bircote. Six aircraft returned from Exeter, where they had landed on return from operations on the night of 2/3rd January. Total non-operational flying time amounted to 13 hours 25 minutes. Six crews were briefed for mining operations, three detailed St. Nazaire and three Lorient, all completed their allotted tasks in good visibility, with slight mist. Aircraft “U” captained by F/S URAM remarked on the remarkable lack of enemy opposition and both Lorient harbour and Ile de Groix wll lit up. Total operational flying time amounted to 33 hours 30 minutes.

1944-01-05

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. Due to weather conditions no flying was ordered. All wireless operator air gunners attended a technical lecture given by W/O. Swiatek. Air Bombers attended a lecture given by the Bombing Leader. In the afternoon wireless operator air gunners had morse training.

1944-01-06

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. Air Bombers attended a lecture given by Navigation Officer. One crew flew to Bircotes. Total flying time amounted to 1 hour 35 minutes. Six aircraft were briefed for mining operations, all detailed “Artichokes”. All aircraft completed their tasks successfully. Weather conditions were good. Visibility almost too good. Crews reported opposition and barrage balloons in mining area. Aircraft “O” captained by F/O WOYTANOWICZ brought back numerous holes from one L/F gun, in fuselage and tail, including D.R.C cable, control rods, escape hatch and dipole aerial. Total flying time amounted to 34 hours 30 minutes.

1944-01-07

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. One crew Took off for instrument flying and standard approach landings. Total flying time amounted to 40 minutes. Air Bombers attended two lectures, one about navigation, and the second about Meteorology. Wireless Operators had Morse training.

1944-01-08

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. During the day five crews made standard beam approach and single engine flying. Total flying time amounted to 4 hours 20 minutes. In night flying, four crews took part, practicingcircuits and landings, with a total flying time of 2 hours 50 minutes.

1944-01-09

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. There was no flying orders due to bad weather conditions. All air bombers attended a lecture about bombsight Mk. XIV. Air Bombers of “B” flight (Lancasters) attended also a lectures about the cockpit drill on Lancaster bombers. Wireless Operators had Morse training.

1944-01-10

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. During the day five crews made flights for standard beam approach and single engine flying training.
Total flying time amounted to 4 hours 20 minutes. At night, four crews made flights for circuits and landings. Total flying time being 2 hours 50 minutes. All crews attended Medical Officer`s lecture about flying with use of oxygen.

1944-01-11

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. One aircraft with four air bombers took off for 50 minutes bombing practice. During the day Wireless Operators attended a technical lecture about Marconi Receiver which lasted 2 ½ hours.
Air Gunners had aircraft recognition. In the afternoon Flight Engineers and Air Gunners and beacon reading practice, and Air Bombers lectures about bombsight Mk. XIV and navigation.

1944-01-12

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. There was no flying due to bad weather conditions. In the morning all flying crews attended a lecture by an Intelligence Officer. In the afternoon a lecture by the Met. Officer was given. Air Gunners and Flight Engineers had a beacon reading practice. Air Bombers had a lecture by the Navigation Officer.

1944-01-13

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. There was no flying die ti weather conditions. In the morning all Air Gunners went to Hemswell for shooting practice and spotlight training. Air Bombers had a lecture by the Navigation Officer. In the afternoon all aircrews attended a lecture about enemy A.A.

1944-01-14

INGHAM

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. In the morning one aircraft took part in air to air firing. Five aircraft went for aircraft tests and single engine flying. Four aircraft went to Westcott, 3 of them, “N”, “P” and “S” were left there, and all crews came back in aircraft “G”. Total flying time 11 hours 10 minutes. In the afternoon eight crews were briefed for mining operations.
All were detailed “Jellyfish”. Weather conditions in mining area were poor, 8/10 to 10/10 cloud, some sea mist, visibility moderate. All completed their tasks successfully. Aircraft “R” captained by F/L KRZEPISZ, undershot the runway on approach, and crashed on the Lincoln Road. Aircraft provisionally placed Category “E”. The Air Bomber on the plane received slight injuries, and was admitted to the Lincoln Military Hospital, the remainder of the crew escaped with slight bruises, and were excused duty for a period of 48 hours.

1944-01-15

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out There was no flying due to bad weather conditions. Navigators and Air Bombers had lectures about Mk. XIV Bombsight, Wireless Operators were told about counter measures against enemy opposition. Pilots had link trainer practice. From the 12th inst. The unit holds 3 Lancaster aircraft, which are now used for training our crews at R.A.F Blyton.

1944-01-16

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. All flying personnel after morning parade attended a lecture of the Medical Officer. Night flying was ordered, but early cancelled due to weather conditions.

1944-01-17

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Flying crews attended lectures of Flight Commanders. Later on, all crews attended a lecture of the Signals Leader about news and changes in signal procedures and enemy radiolocation. There was no flying due to bad weather conditions.

1944-01-18

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Flying crews attended lectures of their leaders. There was no flying due to bad weather conditions.

1944-01-19

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. There was no flying due to bad weather conditions. Crews attended lectures of Leaders. Air Gunners had a shooting practice.

1944-01-20

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. Eight crews were briefed for mining operations, four detailed Artichokes and four Jellyfish. All crews completed their missions successfully. There was 4/10 cloud and good visibility in Jellyfish area, and 10/10 cloud and bad visibility in area of Artichokes.

1944-01-21

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. Eight crews were briefed for mining operations. All of them detailed Beaches. All aircraft completed their trips successfully. Aircraft “K” captained by W/O BLACHOWICZ reported large yellow fire with much smoke observed 10 miles S.E. of LAMBALIE at 20.32 hours.
In mining area was hazy light, no cloud, visibility moderate. Total flying time 48 hours 2 minutes. Also during the day there was eleven training local flights of different crews. Total flying time was 7 hours 25 minutes.

1944-01-22

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Three crews were briefed for dinghy search, which was completed without results. Total flying time amounted to 13 hours 55 minutes. Three crews made training flights – circuits and landings. Total flying time being 1 hour 30 minutes. Two crews made night flying circuits and landings. Total flying time was 1hour.

1944-01-23

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Four crews made training flights and aircraft tests. Total flying time 4 hours 35 minutes. Seven crews were briefed for operations (mining) and were detailed “Jellyfish”. One crew of aircraft “C” did not take off. One crew returned to base after 50 minutes flying reason being W/T equipment unserviceable, pilot F/L/ KOWALCZYK. The other five crews finished their trips successfully. Total operational flying time 30 hours 10 minutes.

1944-01-24

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Three crews made training flights and aircraft tests. Total flying time amounted to four hours.

1944-01-25

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Five crews made training flights and aircraft tests. Total time for day flying amounted to 6 hours 40 minutes. Night flying was ordered, but early cancelled due to bad weather conditions.

1944-01-26

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Seven crews made training flights and aircraft tests. Total flying time 6 hours 25 minutes. Night flying was ordered, but early cancelled due to weather conditions.

1944-01-27

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Four crews made training flights and aircraft tests. Total flying time amounted to 3 hours 50 minutes. Three crews made training night flights, total time for night flying, 2 hours 30 minutes. Early in the afternoon six crews were briefed for operations, mining, on two targets, two crews over “Limpets” and four crews over “Trefoil”. Total operational flying amounted to 16 hours 55 minutes. Crews reported quiet trips, and mines in primary positions.

1944-01-28

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Five crews made training flights and aircraft tests. Total flying time 6 hours 10 minutes.
Night flying was also carried out as follows. Three crews made training flights, another two detailed did not take off, owing to port engine being unserviceable. Total night flying amounted to 4 hours 45 minutes.

1944-01-29

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Six crews made training flights and aircraft tests. Total flying time amounted to 5 hours 35 mins. For night flying, four crews made cross country flights and bombing. Total night flying time amounted to 13 hours 55 minutes.

1944-01-30

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. One crew made a training flights for aircraft test. In the morning crews had a lecture of meteorological matters and signals procedure. No night flying was carried out due to unfavourable weather conditions.

1944-01-31

Ingham

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. No day or night flying was undertaken. Flying crews attended lectures of technical officer. Air Gunners had shooting practice.