Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-02-01

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Three crews made training flights for W/T equipment and standard beam approach equipment, one crew went to Bircotes and back to base. Total flying time amounted to 1 hour 30 minutes. In the afternoon flying crews had to complete their flying log books for the month of January, 1944. there was no night flying undertaken during the night.

1944-02-02

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Eight crews made training flights and aircraft tests, for gun test and W/T equipment.
Total day flying time amounted to 4 hours 10 minutes. Night flying was also undertaken, five crews making training flights for circuits and landings. Total night flying time amounted to 4 hours 30 minutes.

1944-02-03

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. One crew made a flight for aircraft test, single engine flying and gun testing. Total flying time amounted to 25 minutes. In the afternoon seven crews were briefed for mining operations, two targets, three crews briefed for “Jellyfish” and four crews for “Artichokes”. All crews released mines on both primary targets. No opposition from the enemy was reported, and trip carried out with full success.

1944-02-04

INGHAM.

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed.
Two crews made training flights and aircraft tests, with a total flying time of 1 hour 5 minutes. In the afternoon, six crews were briefed for mining operations, target being “Artichokes”. All crewslaid their mines on primary position. Crews reported heavy flak from ILE DE CROIX, and heavy flak from four ships near ILE DE CROIX. One aircraft was damaged, and crew landed on an airfield in the south of England, beingshort of petrol, pilot F/L LABIESZEWSKI, navigator, F/L PIETRASIK. Visibility very good, moonlight, clouds 5/10.

1944-02-05

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. Four crews Made training flights and aircraft test of W/T equipment, and single engine flying.
Total flying time amounted to 4 hours 45 minutes. In the afternoon, Wireless Operators attended a lecture on W/T equipment.

1944-02-06

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. No Flying was carried out. Crews attended lectures of W/T equipment and navigation in The afternoon. Air Gunners practiced shooting.

1944-02-07

INGHAM.

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed. Four crews made training flights and aircraft tests, two crews practicing flying with one engine, and the other two testing standard beam approach instruments. Total flying time amounted to 3 hours 5 minutes. Four crews made training night flights, two crews went over bombing range for bombing practice, and the other two practiced circuits and landings, Total night flying time amounted to 5 hours 50 minutes.

1944-02-08

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Six crews made training flights and aircraft tests for W/T equipment and standard beam approach equipment. Two crews went to Bircotes airfield and back to base. Total flying time amounted to 5 hours 40 minutes. Two crews were detailed for night flying. One reported the computor Mk. XIV u/s, read 30 m.p.h. difference. Both crews went over bombing range for bombing practice. Total night flying time amounted to 2 hours 20 minutes.

1944-02-09

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. No
day flying was carried out due to the unfavourable wether conditions. Crews
attended lectures by the medical officer. Air Gunners had a shooting practice.

1944-02-10

INGHAM.

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed. Seven crews were briefed for mining operations over two targets, four crews “Jellyfish” and three crews “Artichokes”. All crews took off, and completed their respective tasks on the primary positions. One crew detailed “Jellyfish” reported inaccurate light flak tracers from three ships, also four heavy machine guns firing from the coast. Good visibility, very clear night. Bad weather on way back to England. Total operational flying time emounted to 40 hours 50 minutes.

1944-02-11

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. One crew made a cross country flight, from base, landed at Bircote airfield, and returned to base. In the afternoon seven crews were briefed for mining operations over two targets, four crews “Jellyfish” and three crews “Beeches”. All aircraft took off, five crews dropped their mines on the primary position, one crew was abortive, owing to starboard engine becoming unserviceable, constant speed prop. One crew brought one mine back to base. Crews reported three ships on “Jellyfish”, believed stationery and accurate machine guns fire from the ships. Weather conditions were good, no clouds, good visibility. Total operational flying time amounted to 34 hours 45 minutes.

1944-02-12

INGHAM.

Daily inspections and morning working parades were carried out. One crew went to Bircotes airfield in the morning but they could not land due to the visibility conditions. On the afternoon two crews made training flights, one went to Bircote, landed, and returned to base, the other one made an aircraft test, W/T test, and single engine flying. Total flying time emoutned to 2 hours 5 minutes. Air Gunners made shooting practices.

1944-02-13

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections were carried out. No flying was undertaken due to the unfavourable weather conditions. Flying personnel attended their Lectures, and Wireless Operators attended Signal Leader`s lecture of W/T equipment.
Bomb-aimers attended lecture of Bomb-sight by Bombing Leader. Rest of flying personnel had lecture of Navigation Officer.

1944-02-14

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Due to the unfavourable weather conditions, no flying was undertaken. Crews carried out their lectures as on the previous day, and air gunners harmonized their guns and inspected turrets.

1944-02-15

INGHAM.

Daily inspections and morning working parades were completed. In the morning two crews made training flights, and aircraft test of standard beam approach instruments and W/T equipment. One crew made single engine flying. Total flying time amounted to 1 hour. In the afternoon six crews were briefed for mining operations, target being “Artichokes”. At 17.27 hours to 17.38 hours all crews took off, after 20 minutes
one crew returned with all electric system u/s. The other five crews completed their tasks successfully, all on primary. Crews reported light artillery fire from 5 or 6 guns near the target. Weather over target 6/10 to 8/10 clouds, visibility moderate.
Total operational flying time amounted to 23 hours 20 minutes.

1944-02-16

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections were carried out. Two crews made training flights for aircraft tests and single engine flying, also for W/T equipment test.
Other crews made parachute drill and dinghy drill. Total flying time amounted to 45 minutes.

1944-02-17

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections were carried out. Due to weather conditions no flying was undertaken. Air gunners had in their turrets, cockpit drill with special night vision goggles on. The remainder of the crews attended lectures by the Navigation Officer.

1944-02-18

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. Due to the unfavourable weather conditions no flying was carried out, the aerodrome surface was also unsatisfactory. Crews attended lectures in the briefing room of the navigation officer. Air Gunners made practice shooting.

1944-02-19

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Two crews made aircraft tests for W/T equipment, Standard Beam Approach equipment, and made training flying on single engine. Other crews attended lectures of Gee Box equipment. Air gunners went to inspect their turrets.

1944-02-20

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Eight crews made training flights, seven crews made aircraft tests for W/T equipment, one crews went to Bircotes and back to base. Total flying time amounted to 4 hours 29 minutes. In the afternoon six crewswere briefed for mining operations over BREST At 18.06 hrs to 18.12 hrs. all crews took off. After one hour twenty minutes, one
crew landed, captain F/L KOWALCZYK, with airspeed indicator u/s, reason of icing. Four crews dropped their mines on primary, one crew did not return to base, names of which were as follows. F/S KABACINSKI. SGT PITKA. SGT. GRZESIAK. SGT. STANKIEWICZ. SGT. PLONCZYNSKI. Crews reported many machine guns firing from chips dispersed near the target. Very good visibility over target, no clouds. Total flying time for operations amounted to 24 hours 10 minutes.

1944-02-21

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were completed. Three crews made training flights, one crew went to Bircotes and back to base, two other crews went for aircraft testing of W/T equipment and for “Gee” exercise. Two crews made a training night flying for circuits and landings. Total day flying amounted to 1 hours 55 minutes. Total night flying amounted to 2 hours. In the afternoon four crews were briefed for mining operations over LORIENT. At 18.06 hrs – 18.23 hrs. all crews took-off. All dropped their mines on primary. All returned safely and reported no heavy flak or machine guns. Trip successful, only crews reported difficult weather over channel. Total flying time for operations amounted to 23 hours 10 minutes.

1944-02-22

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Two crews made training flights for “Gee” exercise. Other crews attended lectures by the Navigation Officer. Air Gunners inspected their turrets. Total flying time for the day amounted to 4 hours 40 minutes.

1944-02-23

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Three crews made training flights, two made cross country flights from base to Market Harborough to base, one crew made an aircraft serviceability test for W/T equipment And standard beam approach equipment. Other crews attended lectures of technical Officer. Total flying time for the day amounted to 3 hours 10 minutes.

1944-02-24

INGHAM.

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed. In the afternoon five crews were briefed for mining operations off LORIENT. All crews took-off and dropped their mines on the primary position. Two crews reported light flak from the coast near the target. Visibility over target was very dark, no clouds. Total operational flying time amounted to 29 hours 5 minutes.

1944-02-25

INGHAM.

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed. In the afternoon five crews were briefed for mining operations over ST. NAZAIRE. All five crews took-off and dropped their mines on the primary position. Crews reported no flak and no searchlights over target. Quiet trip, bad visilibity, dark,2/10 to 4/10 clouds. Total operational flying time amounted to 30 hours.

1944-02-26

INGHAM.

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed. Due to the unfavourable weather conditions no flying was undertaken. Crews attended Lectures by the Officer Commanding their Flight. Air Guners had practice shooting.

1944-02-27

INGHAM.

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed. Due to the unfavourable weather conditions no flying was undertaken. Personnel attended Church Parade in the morning, and afterwards a lecture was given to aircrew personnel by the Bombing Leader.

1944-02-28

INGHAM.

Morning working parades and daily inspections of aircraft were carried out. Owing to a heavy fall of snow during the night, which continued throughout the day, all personnel were engaged on clearing the snow from the roadways and runways from the dispersal points and communal site. Over 24 hours snowing made the airfield unserviceable.

1944-02-29

INGHAM.

Morning working parades were carried out and daily inspections of aircraft completed. In the morning the crews continued clearing snow from the vital parts of the airfield. In the afternoon preparations for the move of the unit on the morrow to R.A.F. STATION, FALDINGWORTH were commenced.

[Illegible]
Wing Commander, Commanding,
No. 300 (Polish) Squadron.