Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-11-01

HEMSWELL

A Remberance Service for Polish personnel killed in action was held at NEWARK CEMETRY. The A.O.C. No. 1 Group and the Station Commander were present. F/O. KOLODZIEJEK, F/O. KOPCEWICZ, F/O. CHWASCINSKI, F/O. TEPER, F/O. KLOCEK, Sgt. GAWORSKI, Sgt. TOKARSKI, Sgt. HUR, Sgt. NOCON, Sgt. ROKUS, Sgt. KOSMALSKI, and Sgt. BURECKI posted from No. 18 O.T.U.
OPERATIONS. Nine aircraft successfully attacked KIEL and returned safely.

1941-11-02

HEMSWELL

Aircraft check, Link Trainer for Pilots. Cup presented by Station Commander to “A” Flight, winners of Station Rifle Shooting Competition. One new crew P/O. NOWACKI, F/O. BUDNIK, Sgt. SOBINSKI, Sgt. TACZARSKI, Sgt.. GRABOWSKI and Sgt. SEP-SZARZYNSKI posted from 18 O.T.U. P/O. POZYCZKA porceeded to MILDENHALL on B.A. Course.

1941-11-03

HEMSWELL

Flying training for new crews. W/T. and aircraft tests, map reading, runway landings, clay pigeon shooting for flying personnel. One crew carried out bombing practice. Night flying by two pilots.

1941-11-04

HEMSWELL

S/Ldr. KRZYSTYNIAK assumed command of Squadron vice W/Cdr. PIOTROWSKI on leave. Instrument and one-engine flying, cross-country, aircraft and W/T. tests. Clay pigeon shooting for flying personnel.

1941-11-05

HEMSWELL

Cross-country flying, W/T. and aircraft tests. Bombing practice by one crew.

1941-11-06

HEMSWELL

G/Cpt. PENDRED bade farewell to Squadron on relinquishment of command to the Station. Instrument and one-engine flying, runway landings, cross-country flights, W/T. and aircraft tests. Clay pigeon shooting for flying personnel.
OPERATIONS. Cancelled at 21.00 hours.

1941-11-07

HEMSWELL

OPERATIONS. Nine aircraft detailed: six for BERLIN and three for MANHEIM. Weather deteriorated over Continent, but four got through and bombed BERLIN area. One had to return owing to icing trouble and Wellington GR–D (Capt. P/O. RZEMYK) bombed alternative target at MINDEN. GR-D developed engine trouble, fire resulting and P/O RZEMYK radiced base: he was preparing to abandon aircraft. However, he managed to continue on one engine and landed safely after a hazardous trip. Of machines detailed for MANNHEIM one Wellington GR-Z failed to return and the following members of the crew are missing: Sgt. BOLCEWICZ (Capt.), Sgt. LENCZEWSKI (2nd Pilot), F/O. KOLANOWSKI (Observer), Sgt. SZCZEPANOWSKI (W/T. Opr.) Sgts. WROBLEWSKI and MORYN (A.G.s).
Air firing at MABLETHORPE, training for new pilots, one engine and cross-country flying, W/T. tests, astro sight tests for observers.

1941-11-08

HEMSWELL

Aircraft tests after operations. Air firing, one aircraft took part in searches for machines believed landed on sea but without result.

1941-11-09

HEMSWELL

W/T. and aircraft tests. Flag of the Polish Air Force handed over to No. 302 (Polish) Squadron.
OPERATIONS. Five aircraft attacked HAMBURG and one EMDEN all returning safely.

1941-11-10

HEMSWELL

Link Trainer now serviceable after a week and pilots practised. News received that HALIFAX L.9612 crewed by W/Cdr. RUDKOWSKI, former Squadron C.O. and detached personnel from Squadron F/O. KROL, Sgts. SOBKOWIAK, WASILEWSKI, MOL and SOLTYSIAK, force-landed in SWEDEN on night 7th/8th November, 1941. Crew interned. W/Cdr. PIOTROWSKI re-assumed command of Squadron on return from leave.

1941-11-11

HEMSWELL

Special Service to commemorate Polish Independence Day. Air firing, Z.Z. landing practice, W/T. tests, cross-country flying. Link Trainer for pilots.

1941-11-12

HEMSWELL

Instrument flying, W/T. and aircraft tests, Z.Z. landing practice. Link Training for pilots, bombing practice, lecture for A.G.s., clay pigeon shooting for flying personnel.

1941-11-13

HEMSWELL

No flying. Link Trainer for pilots and lecture for A.G.s.

1941-11-14

HEMSWELL

W/T. and aircraft tests, Link Trainer, clay pigeon shooting from turret, rifle practice at Roman’s Hole. OPERATIONS. Cancelled at 13.00 hours.

1941-11-15

HEMSWELL

Z.Z. landings, cross-country flying and W/T. tests. Practice landing for new pilots, Link Trainer and turret shooting at 25 yards range.
OPERATIONS. cancelled 20.15 hours.

1941-11-16

HEMSWELL

P/O. LISKA on B.A. course at MILDENHALL. P/O. LEWICKI reported from R.A.F. Hospital, COSFORD.
During cross-country flying aircraft GR-R. and GR-B. landed at aerodromes in YORKSHIRE because of bad weather conditions.

1941-11-17

HEMSWELL

Cross-country flying and aircraft tests. Clay pigeon shooting for flying personnel. F/O. WODZICKI, F/O. TAJCHMAN, Sgts. KLOSOWSKI and NOWINSKI attached to R.A.F. LECONFIELD for special aircrew duties.

1941-11-18

HEMSWELL

Flying training including photography from the air. Turret firing practice. Night flying cancelled owing to bad weather. Formation flying during day.

1941-11-19

HEMSWELL

Lectures for flying personnel on tracer bullets and recognition of aircraft – friendly at enemy.
OPERATIONS cancelled 13.30 hours.

1941-11-20

HEMSWELL

Polish personnel decorated by Air Vice Marshal UJEJSKI, the Polish Inspectorate General. Farewell presentation to G/Cpt. PENDRED in officers’ mess. Flying training and Link Trainer for pilots.

1941-11-21

HEMSWELL

Lectured for W/T. A.G.s. Flying training and Link Trainer for pilots.

1941-11-22

HEMSWELL

Cross-country and one-engine flying. Lecture on handling o engines and meteorology. Clay pigeon shooting and Link Trainer. Aircraft testing.

1941-11-23

HEMSWELL

Formation flying and W/T. tests. Lecture for pilots and Observers. OPERATIONS cancelled.

1941-11-24

HEMSWELL

Link Trainer for pilots. Runway landings and training for new pilots. OPERATIONS cancelled 17.00 hours.

1941-11-25

HEMSWELL

Clay pigeon shooting and W/T. and aircraft tests. Runway landing practice and one engine flying. Sven crews practised bombing. Instruction for pilots on low meters during flight. Formation flying and fighter affiliation. Night flying.
OPERATIONS. Two fresher crews carried out successful attack on CHERBOURG. Station Commander G/Cpt. WRAY took part in raid flying in aircraft of 300 Squadron. Wellington GR-B. encountered enemy aircraft and fired three bursts. Result unobserved.

1941-11-26

HEMSWELL

Aircraft tests. Instrument and cross-country flying. Flow meter practice for pilots. Rifle practice for ground personnel.
OPERATIONS. Eight crews attacked EMDEN but thick cloud prevented accurate bombing.

1941-11-27

HEMSWELL

Check of aircraft after operations. Flying training and bombing practice. Link Trainer for pilots. OPERATIONS. cancelled. Night Flying for three pilots. S/Ldr. KRZYSTYNIAK assumes command of Squadron vice W/Cdr. PIOTROWSKI on leave.

1941-11-28

HEMSWELL

P/O. ZYGMUNTOWICZ, P/O. DOBROMIRSKI, Sgts. WOJCIECHOWSKI and ZUK posted to 138 Squadron, STRADISHALL for special aircrew duties. Link Trainer for pilots and lectures on German “Flak” and Aldis lamp operation for flying personnel.

1941-11-29

HEMSWELL

Link Trainer for pilots, Short astro-nav. lecture courses started for observers. Clay pigeon shooting for flying personnel. Sgts. KLEINSHMIDT and CHOROSZEWSKI posted to 18 O.T.U. for duty as instructors.

1941-11-30

HEMSWELL

Flying training including taking off with aircraft fully loaded.
OPERATIONS. Three freshers attacked EMDEN and returned safely; one aircraft landing at MIDDLETON, Another machine saw an enemy aircraft but avoided action. Night Flying cancelled after one take off.

[Illegible] P/O
Adjutant 301 (Polish) Squadron.