Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-02-01

HEMSWELL

The 3 aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the previous day were cancelled.
1 aircraft on a cross country flight route - DUMFRIES – BASE. Another aircraft on a cross country flight route – DUMFRIES – BASE. 2 aircraft on Lorenz practice and single engine flying. 1 aircraft on single engine flying. 1 aircraft on tests and W/T test. 1 aircraft on circuits an landings. A lecture was given by the Squadron Gunnery Leader on “EMERGRNCIES” 16 Air Gunners attended. The lecture lasted 1 hour. A lecture was given by the photographic instructor on “PHOTO FLASH”. 10 aircrew personnel attended this lecture which lasted 30 minutes. A lecture on navigation was given by the Squadron Navigation Officer, 15 Navigators and Pilots attended. This lasted 30 minutes. (Night flying).1 aircraft on searchlight co-operation, and another aircraft on circuits and landings.
(Total non-operational flying time – 6 hours.) Aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-02-02

HEMSWELL

2 aircraft detailed for daylight operation on 3.2.43. 2 aircraft on W/T – Lorenz – and instrument test. 11 Air Gunners practised on “Moving Target” 25 yards firing range, this practice lasted 1 hour, 150 rounds were used. Aircraft inspection carried out.
Total non-operational flying time – 3 hours 20 mins.

1943-02-03

HEMSWELL

The 2 aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the previous day, were cancelled.
5 aircraft ordered to bomb HAMBURG. After 2 hours flying, one of these aircraft returned to Base with bomb-load. Another one of these aircraft bombed (believed) BREMEN. 1 aircraft on test and single engine flying. 1 aircraft on W/T test and Lorenz flying.
P.T. Exercises were attended by 26 air crew personnel, duration – 30 mins. A lecture for 10 Wireless Operators for the duration of 30 mins. Subject – T.R.9. 1 Hour’s turret and cockpit drill for 8 Air Gunners. (Total operational flying time – 26 hours 35 mins. Total non-operational flying time 1 hour.) Aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-02-04

HEMSWELL

4 Aircraft ordered to bomb LORIENT. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight route – DACHLING – BASE. 1 Aircraft on test and instrument flying. 2 Aircraft on W/T and single engine flying. Aircraft inspection carried out. Total operational flying time – 23 hours 35 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 2 hours 30 mins.)

1943-02-05

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft ordered for night operations were cancelled just before take-off. 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations for the following day. 1 Aircraft on test and W/T test. 1 Aircraft on W/T and single engine flying. 22 Air crew personnel practiced for 1 hour on the Sten-gun. 150 rounds were used. Aircraft inspection carried out.
(Total non-operational flying time – 1 hour 15 mins.)

1943-02-06

HEMSWELL

The 2 aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the previous day were cancelled.
3 Aircraft ordered for night operations (mine Laying) 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations for the following day. 3 Aircraft took part in fighter affiliation exercises. 1 Aircraft on tests and W/T test, also single engine flying. 1 Aircraft on W/T and Lorenz test. 1 Aircraft on tests and W/T tests. P.T. exercises for 20 air crew personnel, this lasted 30 minutes. A lecture on “Nighter – Fighter Tactics” given by a Wing Commander of Fighter Command, for duration of 1 hour. Aircraft inspection carried out.
(Total operational flying time – 22 hours 20 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 4 hours 5 mins.)

1943-02-07

HEMSWELL

The 2 aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the previous day were cancelled. 3 Aircraft ordered for bombing operations – Target – LORIENT. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight. Route – HORTON – IN – MARCH – BASE. Another aircraft on a cross country flight. Route OSSINGTON – BASE. 1 Aircraft on W/T, Lorenz, and Auto – pilot test. 1 Aircraft on test. Personnel of the Unit paraded for Holy Mass. 12 Air Gunners on cockpit and turret drill form the duration of 1 hour. Aircraft inspection carried out.
(Total operational flying time – 16 hours 10 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 2 hours 25 mins.)

1943-02-08

HEMSWELL

1 Aircraft on a cross country flight. Route – Exeter – base. 1 Aircraft on circuits and landings. A lecture was given by the Squadron Signals Officer – subject – “Procedure on S.O.S.” 20 Air crew personnel attended – duration 1 hour. P.T. for 30 air crew personnel. Duration – 30 mins. Station defence exercise for all personnel of the Squadron, commanding from 14.00 to 17.00 hours. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total non-operational flying time – 1 hour 50 mins.)

1943-02-09

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft on test. 1 Aircraft on Lorenz and Instrument Flying. P.T. for 30 mins, 35 Air crew personnel attended. 3 Lectures were given by the Squadron Navigation Officer. Subjects – “Co-operation of Air Crews whilst on operations”. “Enemy Night Fighter Tactics” and “Radio Location”. 40 Air crew personnel attended – duration 1 hour. Another lecture was given for 10 Navigators, by the Squadron Signals Officer. Subject – “G Box” – duration 1 ½ hrs. Aircraft inspection. (Total non-operational flying time – 2 hours.)

1943-02-10

HEMSWELL

4 Aircraft ordered for night operations were cancelled at 21.00 hours. 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the 11th. 1 Aircraft on height test and instrument flying. 1 Aircraft on Fighter Affiliation. 3 Aircraft on tests, W/T and Lorenz test. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total non-operational flying time – 2 hours 35 mins.)

1943-02-11

HEMSWELL

The 2 aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the previous day were cancelled. 4 Aircraft were detailed for night operations, but were cancelled before take-off. 2 Aircraft were ordered for daylight operations for the following day. 1 Aircraft on test, W/T and Lorenz test. Turret and cockpit drill for 4 Air Gunners – duration 1 hour. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total non-operational flying time – 30 mins.)

1943-02-12

HEMSWELL

The 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the previous day were cancelled.
1 Aircraft on Lorenz practice. Turret and cockpit drill for 4 Air Gunners – duration 1 hour. A tests practice on Aircraft Recognition was carried out by the Gunnery Leader with 15 Air Gunners – duration 1 hour. 1 Aircraft on compass adjustment. Aircraft inspection. (Total non-operational flying time – 30 mins.

1943-02-13

HEMSWELL

6 Aircraft detailed for night operations “BOMBING LORIENT”. 1 Aircraft on fighter affiliation. 3 Aircraft on Lorenz and Instrument flying. 1 Aircraft on Instrument flying. 1 Aircraft on height test. Turret and cockpit drill for 8 Air Gunners – duration 1 hour.
Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total operational flying time – 37 hours 55 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 4 hours 40 mins.)

1943-02-14

HEMSWELL

3 Aircraft detailed for night operations “BOMBING COLOGNE”. 3 Aircraft on cross country flights – Routes – WARMWELL – BASE. COLERNE – BASE and WESTCOTT – BASE. 1 Aircraft on tests. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total operational flying time – 15 hours. Total non-operational flying time – 4 hours 45 mins.)

1943-02-15

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the 16th. 2 Aircraft on height test. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight – Route BASE – BRAMCOTE – BASE. A tests practice on Aircraft Recognition for 9 Air crew personnel – duration 1 hour. “Spotlight Trainer” 9 Air crew personnel attended – duration 1 hour. 1 Crew on ‘Compass Swinging” Turret and cockpit for 30 Air crew personnel – duration 1 hour. Aircraft inspection carried out.
(Total non-operational flying time – 3 hours 45 mins.)

1943-02-16

HEMSWELL

The 2 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the previous day, were cancelled. 5 Aircraft detailed for mine laying operation, one of these aircraft after 5 minutes flight returned owing to engine trouble. 1 Aircraft on test and W/T test. 1 Aircraft on Lorenz and single engine flying. P.T. for 35 Air crew personnel – duration 30 mins. A lecture for 11 Air Gunners – Subject - “Beacons Reading” – duration 1 hour. Aircraft inspection carried out.
(Total operational flying time – 42 hours 49 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 2 hours.) Aircraft inspection carried out.

1943-02-17

HEMSWELL
1 Aircraft on a cross country flight – Route – INGHAM – BASE. A lecture for 18 Air crew personnel given by F/Lt. Kunowski. Subject – “Organisation of Air and Sea Service”. Duration – 45 mins. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total non-operational flying time – 20 mins.)

1943-02-18

HEMSWELL

3 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations for the 19th. 2 Aircraft on test. 1 Aircraft on air firing – 1600 rounds were used by 4 Air Gunners. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight – Route – BASE – THORNABY – BASE. A lecture was given by an Army Major to Air crew personnel. Subject – “Organisation of anti-aircraft artillery, types of gins and the method of firing in Great Brition and Germany:. (Night flying) 4 Aircraft on single engine flying. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight – Route – BASE – ABINGDON – GOOL – BASE.
(Total night flying time – 5 hours. Total day flying time – 3 hours 40 mins.)

1943-02-19

HEMSWELL

5 Aircraft detailed to attack WILHELMSHAVEN. The 3 aircraft ordered on the previous day for daylight operations were cancelled. 1 Aircraft on W/T test and single engine flying. 1 Aircraft on test and single engine flying. Turret and cockpit drill for 2 Air crew personnel – duration – 1 hour. Aircraft inspection. (Total operational flying time – 22 hours 10 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 25 mins.)

1943-02-20

HEMSWELL

1 Aircraft on a dinghy search. 1 Aircraft on test and W/T test. 2 Aircraft on bombing range. 1 Aircraft on bombing practice. A tests practice on Aircraft Recognition 4 Air Gunners attended – duration 1 hour. 2 Air crew personnel on “Link Trainer” practice – duration 1 ½ hours. Aircraft inspection carried out.
(Total operational flying time for the aircraft on dinghy search – 2 hours 38 mins. The flights is counted as half-operational sortie. Total non-operational flying time – 4 hours 10 mins.)

1943-02-21

HEMSWELL
5 Aircraft detailed for mine laying operation, were cancelled. 2 Aircraft on test. 1 Aircraft on constant speed test. 2 Aircraft on test and W/T test.
Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total non-operational flying time – 1 hour 50 mins.)

1943-02-22

HEMSWELL

The 6 aircraft detailed for night operations were cancelled. 2 Aircraft ordered for daylight operations on the 23rd. A lecture was given buy the Gunnery Leader to 37 air crew personnel. Subject – “Fighter Attack” – duration 30 mins. A lecture by the Bombing Leader on “Operations and Bombing Drill” 37 air crew personnel attended – duration 30 mins. The Navigator Officer gave a letter to 16 Officers (aircrew) Subject – “The German and Italian Air Force”. Duration 30 mins. Wireless Operators and Air Gunners carried out. Aircraft inspection. P.T. for 30 air crew personnel – duration 30 mins.

1943-02-23

HEMSWELL

The 2 aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the previous day were cancelled. 3 Aircraft detailed for night operations were also cancelled. 2 Aircraft on test and Lorenz practice. 1 Aircraft on test. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight. Route – BASE – TEMPSFORD. 3 Aircraft on Lorenz practice and single engine flying. A lecture by the Bombing Leader – Subject – “Synthetic Map Reading” 6 bomb aimers attended – duration 1 ½ hrs. 15 Air Gunners attended a lecture given by the Gunnery Leader – Subject – “Fighter Affiliation” duration 1 hour. 80 Ground personnel were on Station Defence Exercises for 1 hour. P.T. for 32 air crew personnel – duration 30 mins. Aircraft inspection carried out.
(Total non-operational flying time – 1 hour 55 mins.)

1943-02-24

HEMSWELL

2 Aircraft detailed for night operations were cancelled. 1 Aircraft on tests and instrument flying. 11 Air Gunners on target firing range -25 yards – 55 rounds used. 20 Air Gunners on moving target firing range – 25 yards – 200 rounds used. 3 Airmen on special training on hand grenades – duration 2 hours. Aircraft inspection carried out.
(Total non-operational flying time – 30 mins.)

1943-02-25

HEMSWELL

4 Aircraft ordered for night operations (mine laying) 2 Aircraft on fighter affiliation. 1 Aircraft on Lorenz exercise. 1 Aircraft on test. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight – Route – BASE – CHEDWORTH – BASE. Another aircraft on a cross country flight – Route TEMPSFORD – BASE. 2 Aircraft on tests. W/T tests and instrument flying. 2 Aircraft on fighter affiliation. 1 Aircraft on test. A.M. Bombing Teacher – 3 Bomb Aimers attended – duration 2 hours. 14 Air Gunners on turret and cockpit drill – duration 1 hour. P.T. for 34 air crew personnel – duration 30 mins. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total operational flying time – 28 hours 55 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 5 hours 25 mins.)

1943-02-26

HEMSWELL

4 Aircraft detailed for night operations “BOMBING COLOGNE”. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight – Route – BASE – LECONFIELD – BASE. 1 Flying Officer on a link trainer practice – duration 1 hour. P.T. for 11 air crew personnel – duration 30 mins. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total operational flying time – 19 hours 25 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 2 hours 5 mins.)

1943-02-27

HEMSWELL

1 Aircraft on a dinghy search. 3 Aircraft detailed for daylight operations for the following day. 4 Aircraft on test. 1 Aircraft on test, W/T test, single engine flying, and Lorenz practice. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight – Route – BASE – BRAMCOTE – BASE. 2 Air Gunners on turret and cockpit drill – duration 1 hour. P.T. for 125 air crew personnel – duration – 30 mins. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total flying time of dinghy search – 4 hours 5 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 3 hours 20 mins.)

1943-02-28

HEMSWELL

The 3 aircraft detailed for daylight operations on the previous day were cancelled. 5 Aircraft ordered to attack “St. Nazaire”. One of these aircraft was found to have auto-pilot trouble, this prevented the aircraft from proceeding on this operation, but the other 4 aircraft carried out the operation with success. 1 Aircraft on test. 1 Aircraft on test and W/T test. 1 Aircraft on a cross country flight – Route – BASE – BRAMCOTE – BASE. Aircraft inspection carried out. (Total operational flying time – 25 hours 51 mins. Total non-operational flying time – 2 hours 40 mins.)

MOVEMENTS DURING THE MONTH.

POSTING OUT:- Sgt. Sarachman (Pilot) F/Lt. Wielgus (Nav) Sgt. Cieslik (WOP/AG) Sgt. Czajkowski (A/G) Sgt. Slowik (A/G) Sgt. Iwancz (A/G) + Sgt. KOSIN (WOP/AG) F/Sgt. Waszak (Pilot) P/O Wrzesien (Nav) Sgt. Wlodarski (WOP/AG) Sgt. Gadomski (WOP/AG) Sgt. Turlej (A/G)
¬+ Denotes Posted to S.H.Q. N/E Sick.

POSTING IN:- Sgt. Weyna (Pilot) F/O Stadtmuller (Pilot) P/O Kulie (Nav) F/O Osuchowski (NAV) F/O Zaremba (AIR/BOMB) Sgt. Rus (A/B) Sgt. Namieczkowski (A/B) Sgt. Swiecicki (WOP/AG) P/O Zylka (WOP/AG) Sgt. Cruszyna (A/G) Sgt. Piziura (A/G) Sgt. Kasterowicz (A/G) + Sgt. Harmuskiewicz (WOP/AG) ¬¬¬+ P/O Czywinski (A/G) + Sgt. Straub (A/G) + Sgt. Korczynski (A/G).
+ Denotes Posted from S.H.Q.N/E Sick.

[Illegible]
Wing Commander, Commanding,
No. 301 (Polish) Squadron.