Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-05-01

R.A.F. Station Warmwell

0900 - Weather today is fine and cloudless with good visibility. Further outlook good. The aircraft returned to Warmwell from Harrowbeer in the morning and continued with Air Firing practice, which ended at 1800 hrs. Sgt Beyer and Sgt. Paczuski were today granted the rank of P/O.

1942-05-02

0900 – Weather is still perfect with further outlook remaining the same. “B” Flight commenced Air to Air firing and had completed the programme by 1815 hrs. “A” Flight did several hours formation flying.

1942-05-03

0900 – Weather remaining fine and dry with good visibility, mild. “A” Flight commenced Air to Air firing, which was completed by 1800 hrs. Today “B” Flight did formation flying.

1942-05-04

0900 – Today broke fine but fresh becoming warmer later. Further outlook good. “B” Flight commenced Air to Air firing, which continued without break to 1800 hrs. “A” Flight again did local and formation flying.

1942-05-05

0900 – Weather again perfect. “A” Flight commenced Air to Air firing finishing about 1700 hrs. to allow for inspection, rearming etc., packing of tools kits etc., prior to movement of the attached portion of the Squadron the following day to R.A.F. Station, Heston. Arrangements were made during the day with Movement Control Salisbury, R.T.O. Dorchester, and R.A. Moreton Station. A luggage van was at Moreton station at 1930 and all tool kits etc. were put on by 2000 hrs. Intention to move an advance party of 25 and kits by rail from Moreton 0910 hrs. 6/5. The remaining airmen direct to R.A.F. Heston after the aircraft had left on 7/5. The remainder of the Squadron at R.A.F. Harrowbeer proposed to move by rail 6/5.

1942-05-06

0830 – 25 airmen departed Warmwell for Moreton Station.
0910 – 25 airmen departed Moreton for Heston arriving Waterloo 1259. Departing for Heston 1426 and arriving at approx 1600 hrs.
0630 – 3 Officers and 90 Airmen, being main rail party left Harrowbeer arriving Heston approx. 2000 hrs. The Magister N.3980 piloted by Sgt. Wyskowski with Sgt. Radkowski as passenger crashed a few miles away from Warmwell on the course for Heston. Both Sgts. Were killed and the aircraft burnt out.

1942-05-07

R.A.F. Station Heston

0900 – Weather fine and warm. 17 aircraft arrived from Warmwell led by S/Ldr. Kowalski.
2 transport planes arrived with remaining personnel at Heston from R.A.F. Station, Warmwell. The remainder of the day was spent in unpacking and generally settling down.

1942-05-08

Weather still fine with light cloud formations, Warm. The aircraft were on sector recognition. Nothing further to report. Call sign now TORPID.

1942-05-09

Today commenced very fresh becoming warmer later. Visibility good but few light clouds. Sector reco. was only work carried out again.

1942-05-10

The weather started very dull with only a few hours sunshine. Sector reco. again carried out for a time. By 1700 hrs it had become very cloudy with slight drizzle, which later turned to a steady rain, continuing throughout the night.

1942-05-11

The day started with rain followed by ground hazetill about 1100 hrs., then clearing so that by 1300 there were brighter periods. Formation and sector reco. was only undertaken.

1942-05-12

Weather dull and cool.. Sector reco. and local flyingonly. Commenced to rain again in the evening.

1942-05-13

Dull with cloud and rain. Sections of the squadron were at readiness throughout the day. No flying. By 1700 hrs. there were some small breaks in the cloud and for a time even much brighter the rain having ceased about 1200 hours. Nothing further to report.

1942-05-14

Weather dull, cloud 10/10ths and quite low. No flying carried out and the squadron was at 30 mins. available.

1942-05-15

Weather again dull with ground mist early morning clearing by 1100.
6 aircraft on formation flying over base in late morning. The weather was quite bright by 18.00 hours but cloud still persisted.

1942-05-16

The day started dull with low heavy clouds. Very little flying was carried out owing to poor weather. A little practice flying was, however, was carried out during brighter periods.

1942-05-17

Weather fine and cloudless at first becoming cloudy during late morning and afternoon. Two sweeps over occupied France were carried out , one between 10.40 and 12.10 hours and another between 15.45 and 17.15 hours.

1942-05-18

Weather was cloudy with short bright periods. Some formation flying was carried out.
17.35 – 12 aircraft led by S/Ldr Kowalski took off on a sweep which was abandoned owing to bad weather. The aircraft returned to base.

1942-05-19

The weather was fine but cloudy. The squadron was at 120 minutes available all day and a good deal of training flying was done. Squadron released at 22.55 hours.

1942-05-20

Weather still dull and the Squadron was at 30 minutes during the morning. Sections were carrying out convoy patrol from 13.00 hours when the Squadron came to Readiness until 22.55.hours.

1942-05-21

04.45 – Squadron at Readiness but weather not good. Misty.
13.00 – Squadron to 30 minutes and released at 14.25 hours. No flying all day owing to bad visibility.

1942-05-22

Squadron at 30 minutes all day. The weather was rather dull but some training flying was carried out during the day.
17.30 – Thunder storm which lasted for about one hour. Squadron released at 22.56 hours.

1942-05-23

30 minutes all day. Weather was very cloudy but some formation flying was done in the morning. It rained heavily later in the day and there was no more flying.

1942-05-24

Weather showery. The Squadron was at 30 minutes in the morning and came to Readiness at 13.00 hours. Very little flying dine.

1942-05-25

04.49 – One flight at Readiness and one at 30 minutes until 13.00 hours. Weather was dull and windy. One section was airborne on Convoy Patrol S.E. of Brighton. Nothing else of importance occurred during the day.

1942-05-26

15 aircraft did battle formation flying in the morning. No more flying owing to heavy rain and wind later in the day.

1942-05-27

10.00 – Squadron came to Readiness and was airborne for a sweep over France at 10.45 hours. Squadron landed at 12.25 hours having seen nothing. 14 aircraft carried out local formation flying in the afternoon.

1942-05-28

Weather dull with very high wind and occasional rain. Squadron came to Readiness at 13.00 hours and was released at 22.55 hours. No flying all day.

1942-05-29

Weather a little better. One flight was at Readiness from 04.45 until 13.00 hours. Some training flying was carried out during the afternoon.
14.00 – F/O. S. Godlewski crashed near Henley and was killed, during a practice formation flight.

1942-05-30

The Squadron was at 30 minutes in the morning and released at 13.00 hours. The weather was fine with a little cloud. Squadron formation flying was carried out during the morning and some air to sea firing was done in the afternoon.
20.30 – Squadron was called to Readiness and one section was airborne on rescue service. Released at 23.07 hours.

1942-05-31

The weather was very good but only one engine test was done before the evening.
18.57 – The Squadron (12 aircraft) was airborne on a sweep over France. 11 aircraft landed at 20.32 hours and it was reported that Sgt. J. Galazka was missing.