Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-04-01

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather today was rather changeable with showers. Convoy patrol was carried out all day. Red section came to dusk readiness at 1915 hours and released at 2015. Nothing further to report.

1942-04-02

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Today weather was fine with cloud 3/10 – 5/10 at 8000´. Visibility 20 miles. During the morning the squadron was at 30 mins readiness and some local flying was undertaken.
1300 – Came to readiness.
1750 – Yellow section airborne on convoy patrol (Supper) between points 9 and 10 but returned at 1900 being unable to locate convoy.
1920 – Red section took off on convoy but were no more successful and it was reported to Ops that patrol was impossible owing to low cloud formations over the sea.
2010 – Three aircraft came to night readiness and day pilots released. Nothing further to report.

1942-04-03

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

0540 – Came to readiness. The weather remained bad all day. Cloud 10/10ths, visibility about 100 yds. And wind 10 m.p.h. Nothing further to report as there was no flying all day.

1942-04-04

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather again very poor with periods of rain and high wind. Again no flying.

1942-04-05

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

1000 – Weather remaining rather poor with heavy rain, but practically no wind.
1500 – By this time the weather had improved and wind freshened to approx. 20 m.p.h.
1715 – Red section scramble Exeter 20000´ and Yellow section 30000´.
1825 – Both sections returned having nothing to report.
2124 – Released for day. Night pilots at readiness.

1942-04-06

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather rather dull and consequently little flying was done. A few aircraft took off on local flying. Two aircraft scramble at 1220 landing at 1235 with nothing to report.
1300 – Another two aircraft scramble landing at 1405 having seen nothing.

1942-04-07

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weatheragain very dull with mist over the hills. No flying owing to these weather conditions prevailing. Nothing further to report.

1942-04-08

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Today the weather showery with visibility quite good during bright periods.
During morning local flying over base was carried out.
1450 – Read and Yellow sections called to readiness.
1825 – Red section took off on convoy patrol (Supper) between points 8 and 9
1925 – Yellow section relieved red section, returning at 2100 hrs.
1945 – One aircraft of red section crashed on landing owing to obstruction caused by lorry laying flare path. Aircraft flown by F/O Kaminski come off runway and skidded, damaging wing and propellor. Pilot uninjured. Other aircraft of red section landed 2012.
2036 – Red section again took off on patrol.

1942-04-09

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather today is again poor and makes flying impossible. Squadron released 1400 hrs.

1942-04-10

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather good throughout the day. Cloud 3/10ths. At 8000´ Visibility about 20 miles.
1139 – Convoy patrol (Ounce) commenced. The convoy was 10 miles East of Eddystone.
Many formation and local flying exercises carried out. Nothing further to report.

1942-04-11

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Today visibility was good very poor owing to local mist and no flying was undertaken although one section remained at readiness.

1942-04-12

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather very good. Cloud 2/10 – 3/10 at 5000´. Visibility about 25 miles.
0950 – Squadron of 12 A/C airborne for Tangmere, where they landed at 1050. The Squadron was led by S/Ld. Kowalski.
1245 – Airborne for sweep over France. Rendezvous was made over Beachy Head at 1309 at 7000´ and course set for French coast which was crossed at 16000 ft. at Hardelot. Light flak experienced in this area. The Sqdn. continued inland at 17000´ in company with no 308 Sqdn. to Desvres. No enemy A/C were seen and the Sqdn recrossed the French coast E. of Calais and the English coast near Dover, landing Tangmere 1415.
1700 – S/Ldr Kowalski took off from Tangmere to Northolt arriving 1735. Departed 1945.
1850 – 11 aircraft returned to base from Tangmere.
2040 – S/Ldr Kowalski returned from Northolt.

1942-04-13

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Owing to poor weather conditions no flying was undertaken today. The weather was misty with occassional showers.

1942-04-14

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Cloud 7/10 at 5000´. Visibility about 10 miles. Wind Easterly 25 m.p.h.
0834 – 14 Aircraft led by S/ldr. Kowalski took off for Tangmere at landed 0930.
1735 – Departed from Tangmere on sweep over France (Circus No.1.) Acted with No. 308 Sqdn. from Exeter as high cover. Owing to the Middle Wallop controller ordering off 302 and 308 Sqdns. Top late the redezvous was not made over Ibsley as at first arranged, but the two squadrons want towards Cherbourg approaching the French Coast at 16000´ (302 Sqdn.) and 18000´ (308 Sqdn.) when the Cicus was seen leaving the target. The squadrons acted as high escort on the return trip.
1905 – Squadron landed at Tangmere. Aircraft returned to Harrowbeer at 2005 landing at 2105.
1100 – Squadron led by S/Ldr. Kowalski airborne on sweep over France. Acted as escort to Bombers to Caen. No combat or anything else to report. Landed Tangmere 1325.

1942-04-15

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather today was excellent, good visibility and practically no cloud.
1250 – 12 aircraft led by S/Ldr Kowalski airborne from Warmwell, where they landed at 1325 hrs.
1550 – Took off sweep, acting as Bomber escort to Cherbourg. No combat.
1700 – Landed Warmwell. Sgt. Nosowski flying aircraft J crashed on landing in Warmwell. Pilot slightly injured and admitted SSQ. Warmwell.
Two sections of No 402 Squadron relieved 302 at Harrowbeer and went on convoy patrol during the afternoon.
1855 – 11 aircraft left Warmwell for Harrowbeer arriving base 1930.

1942-04-16

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather remaining fine with good visibility.
0700 – 12 aircraft led by S/Ldr Kowalski departed for Tangmere arriving 0800 hrs.
1050 – Squadron commenced sweep around Le Havre acting as Bomber escort. No combat.
1220 – Landed Tangmere.
1750 – Squadron took off on Fighter sweep Calais, Boulogne area. No combat. Landed 1910.
1945 – Squadron departed Tangmere for Harrowbeer, landing base at 20.35.
Remaining aircraft left at Harrowbeer during the day went on Air to Sea firing practice during the afternoon.

1942-04-17

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather fair with bright periods. Visibility good, wind moderate. During the morning Air to Sea firing practice was carried out. 1315 13 aircraft led by S/ldr. Kowalski departed for Warmwell. 1513. Together with 308 Sqdn. and 12 aircraft of 306 Sqdn left Warmwell and made rendezvous with Bombers and other escort planes over Ibsley at 1528. This squadron was attacked 15 miles North of Cherbourg by 6 ME´s 109, one of which was damaged by P/O Wardzinski. Later they were again attacked by 3 ME. 109, one being shot down P/O Rytka. No casualty sustained by this Squadron.
1900 – Returned from Warmwell landing Harrowbeer at 1935.

1942-04-18

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

The squadron was released for the day and no flying was carried out.

1942-04-19

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather mild and fair woth morning mist clearing by midday. Maiden 24 attempted Air to Sea firing at 1415 but owing to mist at sea had to return, landing at 1440.
1455 – Red section did formation flying for 1 hour. Nothing further to report.

1942-04-20

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather non-operational owing to mist ant later low cloud 10/10 at 500 ft.

1942-04-21

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

0800 – Weather very good again today with little wind and further outlook good. No operational work was carried out by the squadron but pleanty of formation and local flying practice was undertaken. Three sections of No. 308 Squadron arrived in the afternoon and carried out convoy patrol. They returned to Exeter same day.

1942-04-22

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather misty at first clearing and becoming good by noon. In the afternoon formation and Air to Sea firing was carriedout. No operational flying undertaken.

1942-04-23

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather this morning was good, but cloud soon appeared, clearing again by 1600 hrs. Practice flights and formationflying was carried out during most of the day. Convoy patrol was also carried out 16 miles S.W. of point 7. Nothing further to report.

1942-04-24

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather again very good and many practice flights were carried out. F/O Ebenrytter flying AD.428 on flying over Harrowbeer had trouble with his plane, which was emitting black smoke. He crashed into the hills about 3 miles N.E. of Dousland. The pilot was slightly injured and admitted to hospital.

1942-04-25

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather remains good and clear. 1142 Red section scramble point 8 angles 20. Nothing to report. Flying practice and exercises were carried out. Nothing further to report. Advance party departed for Warmwell.

1942-04-26

R.A.F. Station Harrowbeer

Weather fine with good visibility. Two sweeps undertaken by the squadron.
1340 – 11 aircraft led by S/Ldr. Kowalski left Tangmere for sweep over France around Le Touque and Calais returning to Red Hill 1500.
1710 – The second sweep composed as above and acting as middle cover departed Bolt Head on fighter sweep to Dunkirk and St. Omer landing Red Hill at 1830. 1 FW. 190 was probably destroyed by S/Ldr. Kowalski. The aircraft later proceeded to No. 10 Group practice camp. Warwell for Air Firing training.

1942-04-27

R.A.F. Station Warmwell

Weather fine with small patches of cloud. 4 more aircraft arrived today from Harrowbeer and the day was spent in inspection, rearming etc. and preparing the Air Firing programe.

1942-04-28

Weather fine but windy.
0900 – Air firing practice commenced “A” Flight doing Air to Ground and “B” flight Air to Air. The firing continued without break until 1935. The results were qute fair and aparently up to the average for the first day.

1942-04-29

0900 – Weather remaining fine and cloudless. Wind quite strong. Firing commenced with “A” flight Air to Air and “B” Flight Air to Ground. 1800 released.

1942-04-30

0900 – Weather today remains very good. Air Firing was cancelled today at 1115 owing to proposed sweep in the afternoon. After refuelling and re-arming the aircraft flew to Harrowbeer for sweep. No combat or anything further to report.