Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-03-01

HEMSWELL

All personnel attended a morning church service and this was followed by flying training which included cross-country and instrument flights while other aircraft were tested. At night one cross-country was flown and Air Gunners practised on the range. Ground Defence tactics were also continued.

1942-03-02

HEMSWELL

An important feature of to’days activities was a lecture to crew on the destruction of their aircraft if forced down in enemy territory. One engine flying and cockpit drill was also a feature and there was the Link Trainer for Pilots. Yet another Pilot P/O. JAROSZYK proceeded to Mildenhall for B.A. course.

1942-03-03

HEMSWELL

Promotions to the Acting Rank of F/Lt. of F/O. WOLSKI (Flying) and F/O. KLOSINSKI (Gunnery Leader) were authorised by Group to fill the vacancies created by the posting of A/F/Lt’s SAWLEWICZ and WILKOJC. There were more aerodrome defence exercises with bayonet, rifle machine gun drill for ground personnel while in the air there was one-engine flying, instrument flying and circuits and landings practice. Observers practised on the A.M.L. Teacher.

1942-03-04

HEMSWELL

A full day’s flying training and practice. Aircrew were lectured on the advantages of the Searchlight Pointer Organisation and the best method of evading “flak”. Ground personnel continued their defence training. P/O. SADOWSKI proceeded to R.A.F. CHELVESTON for a Gunnery Leaders Course.

1942-03-05

HEMSWELL

The weather changed for the worse during the night and a snow covered aerodrome prevented flying. Ground objects and the Link Trainer were taken by aircrews and Air Gunners were on the 25 yds. range.

1942-03-06

HEMSWELL

Fog added a further handicap and all flying had to be foregone again. Pilots practised on the Link Trainer and there was also defence training.

1942-03-07

HEMSWELL

Bad visibility prevailed to-day and flying was cancelled after one cross-country flight. Aircraft were tested and defence training continued. F/O. HALLAS completed his Bombing Leaders Course at MANBY.

1942-03-08

HEMSWELL

The first of there consecutive attacks on KURPPS ARMAMENT WORKS was ordered but owing to the soggy state of the ‘drome it was deemed adviseable that only the more experienced Pilots should attempt the take-off with a full load with the result that out of 11 aircraft detailed only 5 went to the starting post. Flare path trouble prevented one of these from getting into the air and of the remainder one attacked OSTEND owing to engine trouble. The others bombed the target area despite heavy ‘flak” and reported seeing fires and big explosions. Polish awards were announced and it was also announced that F/O. SKROL a former member of the Squadron had been awarded the D.F.C.

1942-03-09

HEMSWELL

All 9 aircraft detailed for the second raid on ESSEN got off and with the exception of the which jettisoned its bombs over ZWOLLE all crews reported seeing hits on KRUPPS WORKS and a big explosion. Smoke rose to 1500 ft. and flames could be seen 60 miles away. “Flak” was again very intense, but all told the operation was considered to be very successful and crews expressed themselves as highly pleased.
Normal flying training during day and at night 5 second pilots practised circuits and landings.

1942-03-10

HEMSWELL

To-night’s effort against ESSEN was marred by ground haze which made recognition of ground detail difficult, but bombs were dropped in the target area. Sgt. MELCHERT, K. W/T Opr. Of GR-O. receiver a fractured left femur when a piece of shell hit the machine. He was taken to Hospital on landing. This was the only casualty. One engine flying and Link Trainer for pilots.

1942-03-11

HEMSWELL

Aircraft and W/T. tests and Instrument flying. Lectures for A.G’s on air firing theory. Sgts. MAJCHERCZYK, A., SZRAJER, K. and TOKARSKI, T. were granted commissions as P/O’s in the Polish Air Force w.e.f. 1.3.42.

1942-03-12

HEMSWELL

Operations against KIEL with 7 aircraft. Crews reported that the ground defences seemed less active than on previous occasions. Weather conditions over the target were good and hits were observed in the dock area. One machine GR-J. failed to return and the following members of the crew are missing: F/O. ZAKRZEWSKI, S Capt.) Sgt. KORZON, Z. (2nd Pilot), F/O. PERKOWSKI, P. (Observer) Sgt. KOSIOR, E. (W/T. Opr.), Sgts. ZIAJSKI and SIUDA (Gunners). During the day there were aircraft tests and Lorenz practice landings.

1942-03-13

HEMSWELL

A search over the North Sea by 4 aircraft for the missing machine was unavailing. Aircraft and W/T. tests with one-engine flying constituted the day’s training and pilots practised on the Link Trainer.

1942-03-14

HEMSWELL

Aircraft and W/T. tests with Lorenz practise at WADDINGTON. Clay pigeon shooting and Link Trainer for Pilots.

1942-03-15

HEMSWELL

More aircraft and height tests. Instrument flying and one engine flying while at night 6 Pilots practised. One result of KIEL raid was received in a message from the A.O.C. that many of the crew of the battlecruiser “SCHARNHORST” were killed when a bomb hit their depot.

1942-03-16

HEMSWELL

Another Pilot F/O. HERNASINSKI, K. went to Mildenhall for a B.A. Course while P/O. FLORCZAK, F. returned from Watchfield where he had undergone a course in B.A. Equipment. Six aircraft carried out practice bombing and there was a lecture for A.G.’s on defence against night fighters.

1942-03-17

HEMSWELL

The lull in operations enabled more flying training to be carried out, a feature of which was formation flying while there were the usual aircraft and W/T. tests.
A new device by a member of the Squadron Armament Staff for operating gun turrets when the hydraulic system breaks down was tested successfully before being forwarded to Group for expert opinion. During the day sections of all personnel attended a mobile demonstration of Luftwaffe flying equipment captured from machines brought down over this country.

1942-03-18

HEMSWELL

F/O. KUZMICKI, M. (Observer), P/O. PANTKOWSKI, F. (W/T. Opr.) and Sgt. SULGUT, C. (Pilot) were posted to No. 18 O.T.U. for instructor duties. Normal flying training and night flying had to be cancelled after one flight owing to haze developing. F/O. SLIWINSKI, H. was admitted to R.A.F. Hospital, Torquay.

1942-03-19

HEMSWELL

Hazy conditions persisted and after an aircraft test flying for the day was abandoned. Bomb aimers practised on the A.M.L. Teacher and further tests were made on the new turret device with guns firing. These were successful.

1942-03-20

HEMSWELL

Flying was again out of the question with heavy clouds almost at ground level. The only activities consisted of an aircrews conference and continued defence training by ground personnel.

1942-03-21

HEMSWELL

Weather still bad and clay pigeon shooting with the A.M.L. Teacher were the only training features.

1942-03-22

HEMSWELL

Operations were ordered against DORTMUND but were cancelled at 16.00 hrs. The usual Sunday Church Service was held and with an improvement in the weather there were aircraft tests, one engine instrument and cross-country flights while Pilots had the Link Trainer.

1942-03-23

HEMSWELL

Although weather conditions again caused a cancellation of operations, local flying was not interfered with and in addition to the usual aircraft tests, cross-country and one engine flights. Crews practised Dinghy Drill. At night 4 Second Pilots did circuits and landings. P/O. SZRAJER, K. went to Mildenhall for his B.A. Course and Sgt. KUBIAK, T. (Pilot) was admitted to Rauceby, Hospital.

1942-03-24

HEMSWELL

Another disappointment when operations against the now well known ESSEN were cancelled. Bombing practice was carried out on the Lea Marsh Range and aircraft tests with shooting with machine guns on the 25 yards range by Pilots and Observers and a lecture on hydraulic system made up the day’s activities.

1942-03-25

HEMSWELL

The A.O.C. came and watched 11 ESSEN bound aircraft take off without a hitch; afterwards expressing his satisfaction. The whole operations in fact went without a hitch for, with the exception of one machine which bombed MAASLUIS owing to oxygen trouble, all the aircraft Bombed their target and reported seeing fires. Five of them encountered night fighters but evaded action. Even the MAASLUIS crew had compensations for they helped to start a fire which could be seen 60 miles away. F/Lt. LEWKOWICZ, W. (Observer) was admitted to R.A.F. Hospital, Torquay,

1942-03-26

HEMSWELL

This will rank as an unlucky date in the Squadron’s history. For the first time since its formation in July 1940, two aircraft failed to return from a single operation, in addition to which 4 were “shot up”, one so badly that a landing had to be be made away from base. Ill luck dogged their trail from the start for 1 machine, out of the 9 which were detailed against ESSEN “dropped” a 1,000lb. bomb at the starting post and could not take off. Dummy fires were seen in the target area, but these did not misland the crews which reached there and bombs were dropped with good effect. “Flak” was again intense and crews reported seeing two machines in flame over the target. Three members of the crews of one of them baled out safely. The machine which landed at HONNINGTON was captained by the Squadron Commander, W/Cdr. PIOTROWSKI. While over the target the 2nd Pilot (F/O. S. MODUCHOWSKI) was at the controls when he was hit by a shell fragment and seriously injured. The aircraft got into a dive but F/O. MIODUCHOWSKI was able to leave his seat and enable his captain to “take over” and right the dive. F/O. MIODUCHOWSKI was taken to West Suffolk Hospital, on landing and the front gunner, Sgt. ADAMCZYK was also treated for a forehead abrasion. The missing machines were GR-H. and GR-R. and their crews: GR-H. F/O. JAROSZYK, W. (Capt) P/O. RETUR, Z. (2nd Pilot), F/O. KOWAL, C (Observer) P/O. GRYCZ, C. (W/T/ Opr.) Sgts. GOLASZEWSKI, M. and BOCHACZEK, A (Gunners). GR-R. F/Sgt. PORADA, F. (Capt.), Sgt. HORBAJCUK, E. (2nd Pilot), P/O. JANKOWIAK, W. (Observer), Sgt. TOBOLA, T (W/T. Opr.), Sgts. PUKAS, R. and PIETROW, J. (Gunners).

1942-03-27

HEMSWELL

Air firing over the sea with height tests and cross country flying.

1942-03-28

HEMSWELL

One enemy aircraft claimed as destroyed, target a mass of flames which could be seen as for away as HELIGOLAND: These were the reports of the crews of three aircraft which raided LUBECK for the first time. The enemy aircraft was also the Squadron’s first claim in this respect. The machine was GR-G. (Capt) P/O. MAJCHERCZAK, A) and the man who fired the shots which sent the J.U. 88 hurling to its doom was Sgt. A. RUDEL, the rear gunner. GR-G. jettisoned its bombs over SCHARNHORN ISLANDS when the J.U. 88 and an M.E. 109F. attacked it. Sgt. RUDEL fired two short bursts at 100 yards range when the J.U. 88 attacked with cannon fire. Both the enemy and cut machine dived to 8,000 ft. after the J.U. 88 had made its second attack. This time Sgt. RUDEL held his until the fighter was 30 yards away. He saw bursts on the enemy aircraft which dived towards the sea trailing smoke. Some confirmation of the claim is forthcoming from the crew of GR-B. which was in the vicinity at the time and saw an aircraft in flame before it hit the sea. Other activities to-day included a lecture on searchlight co-operation with night fighters. There was also night flying for Five 2nd Pilots. F/O. WIELGUS proceeded to Manby for a Bombing Leaders Course.

1942-03-29

HEMSWELL

A search was made over the sea for a missing machine from another Station but without result. Aircraft tests and cross-country and local flying. Church Service.

1942-03-30

HEMSWELL

F/O. N. KRUPOWICZ attached to No. 1 Group. Lorenz landings were practised and there was also clay pigeon shooting. Four 2nd Pilots did circuits and landings at night.

1942-03-31

HEMSWELL

Aircraft were tested and practice take off’s with full bomb loads took place together with one engine flying.

[Illegible] F/Lt.
Adjutant,
301 (Polish) Squadron.