Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

PART I – OPERATIONS.

1944-11-01

BRINDISI

No operation were possible owing to the weather. 4 hrs. 20 mins other flying was carried out.

1944-11-02

BRINDISI

7 Halifaxes and 3 Liberators carried out supply dropping missions to North Italy, taking off and landing between 16.35 and 00.15 hrs. They were all unsuccessful owing to weather conditions, and only two a/c reached the target area, to find no reception.

1944-11-04 / 1944-11-05

BRINDISI

4 Halifaxes and 4 Liberators were detailed for supply dropping in North Italy, taking off and landing between 18.00 and 02.03 hrs. 1 Halifax returned early with engine trouble, and 1 Liberator was successful on one out of two targets detailed. The remaining 6 a/c dropped full loads.

1944-01-05 / 1944-11-06

BRINDISI

3 Halifaxes and 4 Liberators for supply dropping in North Italy took off and landed between. 18.53 and 03.55 hrs. 2 Halifaxes and one Liberator were unsuccessful owing to no, or incorrect reception. A second Liberator was successful a one only of two targets. The remaining a/c dropped ful loads.

1944-11-06 / 1944-11-07

BRINDISI

3 Halifaxes and 3 Liberators detailed for supply-dropping in North Italy took off and landed between 16.45 and 00.58 hrs. One Halifax returned early with engine trouble, one Liberator was unsuccessful owing to weather and faulty navigation, a second liberator found no reception, and the third Liberator received an incorrect reception. The remaining Halifaxes dropped full loads.

1944-11-07

BRINDISI

1586 Flight re-named 301 Squadron SD 55 2595/44 Liberator “S” (KH-151) was damaged (Category “A/C”) by an aircraft of another unit which was taxying.

1944-11-09

BRINDISI

2 Liberators attemped a supply-dropping miswion to CRETE, taking off and landing between 16.10 and 21.00 hrs. Both were forced to return owing to bad weather.

1944-11-10 / 1944-11-11

BRINDISI

Of 2 Liberators on supply dropping missions to North Italy, and taking off and landing between 19.10 and 01.25 hrs, one was successful. The other was forced to return by bad weather.

1944-11-12 / 1944-11-13

BRINDISI

5 Halifaxes and 3 Liberators for supply-dropping in North Italy took-off and landed between 17.05 and 02.25 hrs. One Halifax failed to take off, twice swinging off the run-way. All the Liberators and two of the Halifaxes were unsuccessful owing to weather, the other 2 Halifaxes successfully dropping full loads.

1944-11-16 / 1944-11-17

BRINDISI

3 Liberators and five Halifaxes were detailed for supply-dropping in North Italy and a further Halifax for Jugo-slavia. This latter returned owing to bad weather in the Jugo-slav coastal area. Of the Italian details, 2 Liberators and 1 Halifax had no reception. 1 Liberator and 4 Halifaxes dropped full loads. Take-off and landing from 16.25 to 04.10 hrs.

1944-11-18 / 1944-11-19

BRINDISI

7 HALIFAXES AND 3 Liberators attempted to drop supplies to POLAND, taking off and landing between 17.00 and 05.15 hrs. 1 Halifax returned with engine trouble, and another because off the illness of the navigator: a third met bad weather and intense Flak, Only 1 Liberator was successful, all other a/c experiencing very bad weather conditions.

1944-11-21 / 1944-11-22

BRINDISI

2 Halifaxes detailed for supply dropping in Crete, took-off and landed between 15.50 hrs. and 00.55 hrs. Both aircraft successfully dropped full loads. Owing to a strong cross-wind at base, both landed at Grottaglie.

1944-11-22 / 1944-11-23

BRINDISI

5 Halifaxes and 3 Liberators were to have dropped supplies to POLAND but owing to a continuation of the cross-wind only the Liberators, and the two halifaxes which landed at Grottaglie after the previous nights operation were able to take off. The first took off at 17.35 hrs. All these a/c landed at Grottaglie, as the wind at base was still across the only serviceable runway, the last one landing at 04.35 hrs. Of these aircraft, one Halifax and one Liberator failed owing to errors in navigation caused by thick ground haze. The remaining 3 a/c dropped full loads.

STATISTICS FOR MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 1944

Operational Flying – Night: - 465.hrs.05 mins.
Non-operational – Day:- 40 hrs 20 mins.
Non-operational – Night:- 2 hrs 05 mins.

Operational Sorties attempted:- 68
Operational Sorties successful:- 27 (includes 2 partly successful)

Personnel dropped:- 37
Stores dropped:-
365 containers 81,219 lbs. nett.
432 packages 28,071 lbs. nett.
————————–
Stores 109,290 lbs. nett.
Nickels 9,100 lbs.
Personnel 7,400 lbs.
——————————-
Total weight dropped
129,790 lbs. i.e. 56.2 tons.

PART II – PERSONNEL

1944-11-01

P-2709 P/O. Zulkiewicz posted to No. 3 B.P.D. w.e.f. 24-10-44.

1944-11-05

Award of D.F.C. (w.e.f. 8.9.44) made public to P-0399 F/O. BEDNARSKI, J. P-0771 F/L MIODUCHOWSKI, F/ and P-2416 F/O. KLEYBOR, S (Air bomber, Pilot and Navigator respectively of the same crew.).

1944-11-06

General GAWLINA Polish Roman Catholic Bishop-in-the-Field, visited the Unit and met and addressed the personnel, paraded for the purpose.

1944-11-07

1586 (Polish) Flight renamed No. 301 (Polish) Squadron.
P-2040 F/O. ABCZYNSKI, J. P780319 Sgt. FRANCOWIAK, J. and P793755 W/O. SIBILSKI, W. are now known to be safe in Italy. They were Navigator, Flight Engineer and Wireless Operator respectively, of an aircraft missing from operations on the night of the 1st/ 2nd September.

1944-11-09

Parade of No. 334 Wing for presentation of D.F.C.’s to (i) P-0026 F/Lt. Gulyn, A. /Navigator. Awarded in U.K./ (ii) P-1241 F/O. Winkler, W.K. Navigator – awarded in U.K. (iii) F/O. BEDNARSKI – awarded as number of the Unit. (iv) F/O. Kleybor awarded as a member of the Unit. The recipients were decorated by the A.O.C. Balkan Air Force.
113165 F/O. MERRY W. (A & S.D. Ops.) posted to No 283 Wing.

1944-11-10

P-1141 F/Lt. WISNIOWSKI, T. (A & S.D.) posted to this Unit for duty as Administrative Officer. Posting w.e.f. 28-9-44.

1944-11-15

P-1829 F/O. JARYNICZ, M. promoted F/Lt. w.e.f. 25-9-44.
P-1841 F/O. WINKLER, W.K. promoted F/Lt w.e.f. 25-9-44.
P-2790 P/O. KRAUZE, S. promoted F/O w.e.f. 1-7-44.

1944-11-18

Visit of inspection by the Commanding General, M.A.A.F., Lt. Gen. Ira c. Eaker, USAAF.

1944-11-21

Lecture on Security given to Aircrew personnel by S/Ldr. Hodgkinson, Chief Security Officer Balkan Air Force.

1944-11-23

P-76758 W/Cdr. M. BOKALSKI, Pilot; P-76654 F/L. M.A. RUSIECKI, Pilot;P-2477 F/O. STEPHANI, A.J. (Pilot) P-0652 F/L. R. BLASZAK, Navigator; P-0072 F/Lt. T. WIANECKI, Navigator. P-2207 F/O. A. MALECKI, Wireless operator; P-0954 F/L. ZAPASNIK, B. Pilot; 780800 Sgt. STRUCZAK, R. (Flight Engineer); 781217 F/S. JUBIAK, T. (Air Bomber); W/O. MUSZALA, E. (Air Gunner); 781752 f/Sgt. OLEJNIK, J.S. (Air Gunner); 794497 f/Sgt. ZAWISTOWSKI, J. (Wireless Operator Grade I); 782083 Sgt. SKOWRON, F. (Flight Engineer); 794506 F/S. KOWALSKI, C.Z. (Air Bomber) arrived at the Unit on posting from Home Establishment w.e.f. 20-11-44.

1944-11-24

P-2706 P/O. L. SCHEDLIN-CZARLINSKI admitted to No. 1 M.M. Hospital.

1944-11-26

P-2417 F/O. JEDRZEJCZAK, Z (Pilot); P-2441 F/O. WIZE, A. (Wireless Operator); p-76798 F/L (A/S/L.) ZURAWSKI W. (Navigator); 781100 F/S SOWINSKI, W. (Air Gunner); 781218 W/O. KALFAS, J. (Pilot) 781384 W/O. NOWOCIN, J. (Pilot); 794032 F/S. MULLER, W. (Air Gunner); 794836 Sgt. GESICKI, J. (Pilot) arrived at this Unit on posting from Home Establishment w.e.f. 25-11-44.
704998 F/S. FOLTA, J. (Air gunner); 705013 Sgt. KORSZUN, L. (Air gunner); 782817 f/s. WOLONCEWICZ, E. (Air Bomber) were posted to 56 P.D.C. for transmission to H.Q. Middle East, w.e.f. 19-11-44.

1944-11-27

F/O. YATES, R.G. (125369) (A & S.D. C & C) posted to R.A.F. Station, Vis. w.e.f. 23-11-44.

COMMANDINGS OFFICER’S REMARKS.

The low percentage of successful operational sorties carried out by the Squadron was due to bad weather conditions. The problem of accomodation and lack of cooking facilities has again been troublesome. Series of lectures were given to aircrews and no ground personnel to prepare for rearming with Liberators.

[Illegible] S/Ldr.
Officer Commanding,
No. 301 (Polish) Squadron.