Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-03-01

Harrowbeer

Weather is cold and stormy with mist on the hills, wind about 40 – 50 m.p.h. One aircraft went up for weather test. Nothing further to report. Squadron released at 1925.

1942-03-02

Harrowbeer

11.30 - Weather today remains very dull with mist, visibility about 1 mile. Cloud at 3,000 ft. “B” Ft. informed by Ops. to come to ‘DUMMY’ readiness.
Time: 11.50 – Message from ‘Ops’ Scramble (Dummy) over Dartmouth 25000ft. 1235 ‘Dummy’ exercise over. Nothing further to report. Released to 1900 hrs.

1942-03-03

Harrowbeer

Weather again was very bad with heavy rain. Cloud low and at 10/10ths. There was no flying today and the Squadron released at 15.10.

1942-03-04

Harrowbeer

Today the weather was a little better and convoy patrol was started at 1100hrs by red section, but owing to the clouds closing in on the hills they returned sonn after. There was slight improvement in the weather conditions in the afternoon and 14 aircraft took off on Photo attack and formation flying. Squadron released at 1930.

1942-03-05

Harrowbeer

The day started with mist but clearing later. Two sections today carried out convoy patrol in the afternoon. Formation flying and photo. attacks where again carried out by the squadron.
Time: 1910 – Squadron released.

1942-03-06

Harrowbeer

Weather is still bad with mist and rain showers. No flying was carried out today. Released 1740.

1942-03-07

Harrowbeer

Today the weather was much better and convoy patrol was carried on throughout the day.
1420 – 6 aircraft carried out a patrol over the channel. Nothing to report. Landed at 1545.
1935 – Squadron released. After being released there was a little night flying practice carried out as the weather was now quite clear. One pilot on landing hit the perimeter wire and crashed. The plane was rather badly damaged, the pilot however was not badly hurt, having only slight outs and shock.

1942-03-08

Harrowbeer

Weather today is mild and clear visibility being about 5 miles. Cloud 4/10ths
1120 – 13 aircraft took off Red Hill to meet other fighters for bomber escort over France.
1530 – Squadron took off from Red Hill and landed at 1710, having nothing to report. Being high escort.
1920 – Landed at Exeter. Did not return to base today.

1942-03-09

Harrowbeer

Weather was very misty to start with but clearing later. 1000 hrs. aircraft returned from Exeter. 1200 hrs. 2 sections departed for Bolt Head on attachment. A little convoy patrol work was carried out during the afternoon. Otherwise there was nothing to report. Squadron released 1945,

1942-03-10

Harrowbeer

Weather quite mild with mist and rain showers. No flying during the morning.
1549 – Red section scramble over base and landed at 1615. Nothing to report. A little convoy patrol was also carried out today.
1657 – Yellow section scrambled near Torquay and Exmouth and landed at 1725 with nothing to report.
1920 – Released.

1942-03-11

Harrowbeer

Weather today is warm but misty with cloud falling as fine mist or drizzle. No flying for today.

1942-03-12

Harrowbeer

Weather today again misty with showers and low cloud. No flying.

1942-03-13

Harrowbeer

Today the weather was again very poor with visibility about 500 yds only. No flying.

1942-03-14

Harrowbeer

There was a great improvent in the weather today and much practice flying was carried out.
The aircraft at Bolt Head were ordered to scramble on six ocassions.

1942-03-15

Harrowbeer

The mist has again prevailed and thus no flying was carried out.

1942-03-16

Harrowbeer

Visibility today about 100 yds only. Heavy rain showers and continual mist. No. flying.

1942-03-17

Harrowbeer

Nothing to report for today from this station. The weather being again very poor. One aircraft from Bolt Head was ordered to scramble.

1942-03-18

Harrowbeer

Weather much the same as previous days. Nothing further to report.

1942-03-19

Harrowbeer

The weather today was very bad early morning with mist and heavy rain showers, but cleared later with visibility remaining rather bad. By 1500 hrs. the rain had ceased and visibility cleared. Convoy patrol was therefore commanced. Apart from that there is nothing further to report.

1942-03-20

Harrowbeer

Weather today is excellent, visibility good, cloud about 2 – 3/10ths. Convoy patrol was carried out West of point 8 (Convoy ‘WATCH’ consisting of 14 vessels.) Also today formation flying and other non-operational practices were carried out by aircraft at 30 mins. readiness.

1942-03-21

Harrowbeer

Weather was again good today with visibility about 10 – 15 miles. One section did local flying over base whilst the other sections took advantage of the good weather to get in some flying practice, such as photo attacks and formation flying. Convoy patrol was carried out in the afternoon as the squadron was at readiness. Released at 20.05.

1942-03-22

Harrowbeer

Weather still very good but no operational flying was undertaken. However there was again much flying practice in progress.

1942-03-23

Harrowbeer

Weather remains good with little cloud and bright sunshine. Convoy patrol off Dartmouth was undertaken during the morning.
Time: 1030 – 12 aircraft took off for Red Hill for a sweep, with was later cancelled. The aircraft therefore returned, 8 arriving back at base 1405hrs, the other arriving 1435 after having called at Exeter. The squadron recommenced convoy patrol off point 8 and finished at 1940 hrs.

1942-03-24

Harrowbeer

Weather today was good, clouds 2-3/10ths at 8000ft.Visibility about 25 miles. Wind very changeable. Slight mist in the evening. No operational flying was undertaken today and thus the squadron was able to carry out some practice which previous weather and continual readiness states had rather delayed.

1942-03-25

Harrowbeer

Weather excellent, visibility good, wind about 5 m.p.h. No cloud.
Time: 1200 – 12 aircraft took off at for Tangmere, landing at 13.10 hrs. Two of these planes was unable to take off on the sweep from Tangmere owing to failures, but these were replaced by other Spitfires. 12 Aircraft therefore took off at 1515 hours to rendevous 9 Boston bombers and function as close escort to same on ‘Circus’ operation over France. After taking off one aircraft returned owing to loose hood trouble. Thus only 9 of the original planes rendavoued over Selsey Bill with the bombers at 4000 ft. Over the channel the bombers climed to 7000 ft. with the escorts correspondingly higher. When over the French coast some RT interference was noticed by 302 Squadron. The target appeared to by a factory site with oil tanks in the region of Le Trait. On the way in some 8 M.E’s were sighed climbing at about 4000ft. and some five miles to the South of our formation, witch was not attacked. The bombers delivered their attack at approx. 6000 ft. with this sqdn. Close escorting them at 7500 ft. The bombs mostly fell in the target area except for a few which demolished some dwellings near a railway line. On the way back it was understood that enemy A/C were following the formation , but no aircraft were seen and neither was any flak experienced. An important servicing point comes from this operation. The pilots who were unable to take part remarked on the rough and ready workmanship and also that the ground crews did not fully understand Spitfires. The squadron landed Tangmere 1645 and back at base 1910.

1942-03-26

Harrowbeer

Weather still remains very good. At 1445 hrs, 11 aircraft were airborne for cooperation with the army and landed at 1530. Readiness followed at 1630 hrs after witch 1 section was on convoy patrol from 1830 to 2045. There were three night flying sorties.

1942-03-27

Harrowbeer

Weather today has changed again and is again rather misty over the hills. The Squadron was on convoy patrol most of the day. There was a scramble at 2000 hrs. but nothing to report.

1942-03-28

Harrowbeer

Weather rather cold cloud at 4000ft. and wind 15 m.p.h. In the morning 1 aircraft did air to sea firing and some formation flying was undertaken during the afternoon. Nothing further to report.

1942-03-29

Harrowbeer

Weather quite good with visibility about 4 miles. Squadron came to readiness at 1300 hrs. There were two scrambles in the afternoon but nothing to report. Also some convoy patrol was carried out. Released at 2012 hrs.

1942-03-30

Harrowbeer

Weather once again non op., with thick mist making visibility only about 20ft. In afternoon mist turned to rain. Nothing further to report.

1942-03-31

Harrowbeer

Heavy mist in the morning turning to heavy rain showers midday and during the afternoon, clearing towards night. Nothing further to report.