Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-01-01

HEMSWELL

Operations ordered on the 31st December, 1942 were cancelled at 09.00 hrs. personnel of the Unit paraded for Holly Mass. Aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-01-02

HEMSWELL

4 Aircraft detailed for mine laying. 2 Aircraft took part in fighter affiliation exercises. Air to air firing 1 Aircraft. 2 Aircraft instrument flying. 1 Aircraft on test. 1 Aircraft on test. 4 Aircrew on link trainer practice. Aircraft inspection carried out. Total non-operational flying for this day 4 hours 55 minutes.

1943-01-03

HEMSWELL

5 Aircraft detailed for mine laying. At 09.00 hrs personnel attended Holy Mass. 2 aircraft on test. 3 aircraft on cross country flights. 4 Aircraft on lorenz exercise. Aircraft inspection. Total non-operational flying time for the day 5 hours 20 minutes.

1943-01-04

HEMSWELL

No operations ordered. Alecture was given to 15 Air Gunners which lasted 1 hour.
1 Aircraft was tested. 1 Aircraft on cross country flight. 5 Aircrew personnel on link trainer practice. Aircraft inspection. Total non-operational flying for day 45 minutes.

1943-01-05

HEMSWELL

Operations not ordered. Range shooting was carried out on the 25 yds range by 6 air gunners 60 rounds of Ammunition was used. Clay pigeon shooting by 11 Air Gunners and 100 rounds used. Aircraft inspections.

1943-01-06

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft details for daylight operations on 7.1.43. 17 Air Gunners attended a lecture which lasted 1 hour. 4 air crew personnel on link trainer practice. Aircraft inspections.

1943-01-07

HEMSWELL

At 09.10 hrs the 2 aircraft detailed for daylight operations were cancelled. 2 aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the 8th January 1943. A lecture was given to 18 Air Gunners, this lecture lasted 1 hour. 1 Aircraft on test. Aircraft inspection. Total Non-operational flying time for the day 30 minutes.

1943-01-08

HEMSWELL

The operations ordered the previous day were cancelled. 5 Aircraft detailed for night operations, but just before the take-off 4 were cancelled. 2 aircraft on test. & aircraft inspection.

1943-01-09

HEMSWELL

7 Aircraft detailed for mine laying 4 of which were cancelled just before the take-off but were detailed for operations on the 10th January 1943. 3 Aircraft on test and aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-01-10

HEMSWELL

One of the aircraft detailed for operations on the 9.1.43 crashed on the return journey whilst over ENGLAND and 4 members of the crew were killed, the other number of the crew (Rear Gunner) was uninjured. The 4 aircraft detailed for daylight operations were cancelled, and 2 aircraft were detailed for daylight operations on 11.01.43. A lecture was given to 19 Air Gunners which lasted 1 hour.

1943-01-11

HEMSWELL

The 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations were cancelled. 4 aircraft detailed for night operations and cancelled at 16.00 hours. Alecture was given to all Air Gunners on Fighter Affiliation and Aircraft recognition. Aircraft inspection.

1943-01-12

HEMSWELL

5 aircraft detailed for mine laying operations, one of which was cancelled. The 4 sorties were carried out but 2 of the aircraft returned with their mines owing to very bad weather. The A.O.C. of No 1 Group visited the Station and presented Medals to Polish personnel.
Aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-01-13

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the 14th. Turret and cockpit drill was carried out by 15 Air Gunners for 1 hour. 1 A/C on cross country flight. 2 Aircraft on test and W/T test. Aircraft inspection carried out. Total non-operational flying for the day 2 hours 50 minutes.

1943-01-14

HEMSWELL

The 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations carried out their task but one was unsuccessful and the load was brought back.
3 Aircraft detailed for night operations 2 of which were successful the other brought back its load.
In the afternoon the burial took place of the 4 members of the crew who lost their life on the night of 9.1.43. The were buried at NEWARK cemetary. 2 Aircraft on test and W/T test.
Aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-01-15

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft detailed for mine laying which was successful. 4 Aircraft on Cross country flights. 1 Aircraft of W/T tests. Aircraft inspection carried out. Total Non-operational flying for the day 4 hours 15 minutes.

1943-01-16

HEMSWELL

1 Aircraft ordered for daylight operations on the 17th January 1943. A lecture was given to 14 Air Gunners which lasted 1 hour. 4 Aircrew on link trainer practice. Aircraft inspection.

1943-01-17

HEMSWELL

The 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations were cancelled. 5 aircraft detailed for night operations were also cancelled. 6 Aircraft on lorenz practice and test. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight. 1 Aircraft on test. A lecture was given to 15 Air Gunners for the duration 1 hour. Aircraft inspection. (Total non-operational flying 3 hours).

1943-01-18

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft detailed for operations for the following day. 5 air crew personnel attended clay pigeon shooting, 25 rounds of ammunition used. 14 Air crew personnel attended a lecture on aircraft recognition which lasted 1 hour. 4 air crews on link training practice. Aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-01-19

HEMSWELL

At 09.00 hours, operations ordered on the previous day were cancelled. 2 Aircraft detailed for operations for the following day. A lecture was given to all Air Gunners subject:- Mine construction and safety devices given by the Station Armament Officer. This lasted 1 hour. Aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-01-20

HEMSWELL

Operations ordered by the previous day were cancelled. An aircraft test was carried out.
3 Aircraft on lorenz and single engine flying. A lecture was given by the Photographic Instructor on “PHOTO CAMERAS” 35 aircrew personnel attended the lecture which lasted from 14.30 hours – 15.30 hours. 5 Aircrew personnel on Link trainer practice. Aircraft inspection. Total non-operational flying time 3 hours 30 minutes.

1943-01-21

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft detailed for operations for the following day. P.T. Exercises were attended by 35 aircrew personnel from 09.00 hrs to 09.15 hrs. 09.145 hrs to 10.15 hrs Dinghy drill and Radio transmitting test – 30 aircrew personnel attended. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight from BASE – BRAMCOTE – BASE. Another aircraft on a cross country flight – BASE – ANDOVER – ELY – BASE. 14.15 hrs to 15.45 hrs a lecture was given by the Intelligence Officer. Subject of the lecture was “Enemy target” (Town) and method of camouflage used by Germany this was illustrated by slides on the screen. 17 aircrew personnel attended. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total non-operational flying time 4 hrs 25 minutes).

1943-01-22

HEMSWELL

Daylight operations ordered by the previous day were cancelled. 3 aircraft detailed for daylight operations for the following day. Cockpit and turret drills for 20 aircrew personnel for 1 hour. Aircraft inspection carried out. Total non-operational flying time NIL).

1943-01-23

HEMSWELL

The 3 aircraft detailed for daylight operations were cancelled. 3 Aircraft on Lorenz practice.1 Aircraft test carried out. 1 Aircraft on single engine flying. Clay pigeon shooting for 4 Air Gunners for the duration of 1 hour. Aircraft inspection carried out. Total Non-operational flying for the day 3 hours.

1943-01-24

HEMSWELL

6 Aircraft detailed for night operations and later cancelled. 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operation for the following day. Aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-01-25

HEMSWELL

Daylight operations ordered on the previous day were cancelled. 7 aircraft on Lorenz and single engine flying. Aircraft inspection. Total non-operational flying time 6 hrs 25 minutes.

1943-01-26

HEMSWELL

The 2 aircraft detailed for daylight operations were cancelled at 09.10 hrs. 7 aircraft were detailed to attack LORIENT HARBOUR. 2 Aircraft on Air and W/T test. Lorenz equipment test. Daily inspection W/T. Aircraft inspection carried out. Total non-operational flying time 1 hour 25 minutes.

1943-01-27

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the following day. 2 Aircraft on cross country flying (Single Engine). 3 Aircraft on cross country and test. Route for all 5 aircraft – BASE – INGHAM – BASE. 1 Aircraft on W/T test and single engine flying. Aircraft inspection. Total flying time for day 1 hour 4 minutes.

1943-01-28

HEMSWELL

Operations ordered on previous day were cancelled. 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations for the following day. 1 Aircraft on cross country and lorenz practice. Route – BASE – LANGAR – BASE. 4 Aircraft on test and W/T test. Aircraft inspection carried out. Total non-operational flying time 3 hour 20 minutes.

1943-01-29

HEMSWELL

Operations ordered on the previous day were cancelled. 4 aircraft detailed for night operations. 3 aircraft on test. Aircraft inspection. Total non-operational flying 1 hour.

1943-01-30

HEMSWELL

4 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations for the following day. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight Route – HURN – BASE. 1 Aircraft on test and W/T test. Turret and cockpit drill for 22 Air Gunners, which lasted 1 hour. 1 Aircraft on circuits and landings. Aircraft inspection. Total non-operational flying time 2 hours 5 minutes.

1943-01-31

HEMSWELL

Operations ordered on the previous day were cancelled. 3 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations for the following day. Aircraft inspection carried out.

MOVEMENTS DURING THE MONTH.
POSTING OUT:-
F/SGT. A. GLUBA. (PILOT) SGT. J. STEPHANI. (PILOT) P/O. J. SZWARCZYK. (A/G) SGT. J. NAWROT. (A/G) F/LT. R. GALEWICZ (A/G) F/LT.Z. KROLIKOWSKI + (PILOT) SGT. M. KROL + (PILOT) F/O. W. PIETRASIK + (NAV) F/O. S. SUSKIEWICZ + (NAV) SGT. C. HARMUSZKIEWICZ + (WOP/AG) SGT. S. RATLINSKI + (A/G) P/O. N.S.CYWINSKI + (A/G) SGT. M. KORCZYNSKI. + (A/G) SGT. B. WAWRZAK + (A/G) F/L. WIELOCHOWSKI. L (PILOT) F/O. K. SUSZCZYNSKI (PILOT) F/SGTL. J. DREWELUS (WOP/AG)
+ DENOTES POSTED TO S.H.Q. N/E SICK.

POSTING IN:-
P/O. K.W. BROCHCKI + (PILOT) F/O T. NAWALANY + (NAV) F/O Z. GURANOWSKI + (AG/BA) SGT W. KORYCKO + (A/G) F/O M. ADUCKIEWICZ + (NAV) F/O. S. LISZKA. (PILOT)
+ DENOTES POSTED FROM S.H.Q. N/E SICK.

[Illegible] W/C
WING COMMANDER, COMMANDING
NO 301 (POLISH) SQUADRON