Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-01-01

R.A.F. Heston

08.24 Squadron at 30 minutes. The weather was showery with a very strong wind.
13.00 One Section came to readiness but only one hour local flying was during the day.
17.20 Released off Station.

1943-01-02

08.20 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather fine with good visibility.
12.30 Some aircraft flew to Tangmere and four aircraft were scramble [Illegible] from there during the afternoon. Returned to Heston before dusk.

1943-01-03

08.45 Squadron at readiness. Weather quite clear.
09.20 squadron, 12 aircraft, airborne on sweep over Cherbourg and all aircraft returned at 10.55 hours. Some formation flying was carried out during the afternoon.
17.20 Released off Station.

1943-01-04

08.20 Squadron at 50 minutes. Weather cold but quite good for time of year.
10.00 12 aircraft went to Tangmere and some patrols were done from there. Squadron returned from Tangmere and were released off Station at 17.00 hours.

1943-01-05

08.50 One Section at readiness. Weather very foggy, visibility about 10 yards.
09.20 All Squadron except one Section released off Station and the remaining section was released at 13.00 hours. There was no flying all day owing to the [Illegible] of the weather.

1943-01-06

08.20 Squadron at 30 minutes. (?)t was raining heavily and visibility was only about 200 yards.
10.00 Squadron released off Station. There was no flying undertaken.

1943-01-07

08.00 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather cold and misty, visibility about 500 yards.
13.00 One Section at readiness but no flying was done owing to bad weather.
17.55 squadron released off Station.

1943-01-08

08.20 Squadron at readiness. Weather had improved quite a lot. No flying during the Morning.
13.00 Squadron at 30 minutes. 12 aircraft did formation flying the afternoon.
17.50 Released off Station.

1943-01-09

R.A.F. Heston.

08.20 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather was cold and cloudy. Six aircraft went to Tangmere and some patrols were carried out from there. Three other aircraft did an air/sea rescue patrol.
17.10 Squadron released off Station.

1943-01-10

08.20 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather very foggy, visibility less then 100 yards.
13.00 One section at readiness but no flying undertaken owing to the weather which did not improve.
17.00 Squadron released off Station.

1943-01-11

08.20 One Section at readiness, remainder of squadron at 30 minutes. weather was misty but cleared by noon. Four Section did patrols over Beachy Head during the afternoon and three other aircraft carried out an air/sea rescue patrol. Some training flying was also done.
17.40 Squadron released off Station.

1943-01-12

08.20 Squadron at 30 minutes. There was slight rain which increased later in the day.
Some training flying was carried out during the morning. By 11.45 hours the weather was much worse and the Squadron was released off Station.

1943-01-13

08.20 Squadron at 30 minutes. weather fine with good visibility. Squadron did formation flying during the morning.
12.50 Squadron airborne to/escort Ventura bombers to Abbeville aerodrome and all returned at 14.20 hours
17.45 Squadron released off Station.

1943-01-14

08.20 One Flight at readiness, the other at 15 minutes. weather dull and raining.
13.00 squadron at 30 minutes. no flying on this day owing to bad weather. Squadron was released off Station at 17.40 hours.

1943-01-15

08.20 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather very cold and raining. The weather [Illegible] improved by 15.00 hours and some air to sea firing was carried out.
17.40 Squadron released off Sation.

1943-01-16

08.20 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather very bad with heavy rain.
13.00 One Flight at readiness, the other at 15 minutes. bad weather persisted and there was no flying carried out. Squadron was released off Station at 17.40 hours.

1943-01-17

R.A.F. Heston.

08.20 One Flight at Readiness, the other at 15 minutes. Weather fine with good visibility.
13.30 Four aircraft airborne on Rhubarb Operation against railways in France. All returned safely. Three other aircraft were on air/sea rescue patrol in connection with this operation.
17.55 Squadron released off Station.

1943-01-18

08.15 Squadron at 30 minutes. The weather was good owing to bad visibility and no flying
was carried out all day. At 17.25 hours 6 aircraft come to readiness for fighter [Illegible] night, but the mist was so bad that they were put 60 minutes available.

1943-01-19

08.15 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather was misty with slight rain.
13.00 One Section at readiness. there was no improvement the weather and the Squadron was released at 17.40 hours without any flying being carried out.

1943-01-20

09.00 OneFlight at Readiness, the other at 15 minutes. Weather fair with good visibility.
Some patrols were done during the morning and at 12.40 hours six aircraft scrambled as enemy aircraft were over the London area. No contact was made. Further patrols were carried out during the afternoon. Squadron was released off Station at 17.50 hours.

1943-01-21

08.12 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather was good with visibility over 5 miles. Some cine camera gun training was carried out during the morning.
11.00 Squadron at readiness. Two sections of three aircraft were airborne on air/sea rescue
patrols.
17.55 Six aircraft took over for night readiness. These were put to 30 minutes at 19.10 hours.

1943-01-22

08.10 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather fair but rather windy.
13.00 Squadron, 12 aircraft, airborne on bomber escort to Abbeville and returned at 14.50 hours. One aircraft did air firing. Squadron was released at 18.00 hours.

1943-01-23

08.00 One Flight at readiness, and whole Squadron at readiness at 08.55 hours. Weather fine. Patrols were carried out throughout the day and the Squadron was released at 17.55 hours. Six pilots were at readiness for fighter night but there was no further flying.

1943-01-24

R.A.F. Heston.

08.00 Squadron at 60 minutes. Weather foggy, visibility less than 50 yards.
13.30 Squadron released off Station. it remained very foggy and there was no flying.

1943-01-25

08.00 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather much clearer but rather windy.
11.00 Squadron at readiness. During the afternoon one pilot was airborne to shoot down a stray balloon but he returned after five minutes owing [Illegible] bad weather. There was no other flying.
17.30 Squadron released off Station.

1943-01-26

08.04 One Flight at readiness, the other at 15 minutes. Weather quite good, visibility over 2 Miles. A little training flying was carried out during the morning and the whole Squadron same to readiness 12.00 hours. At 14.15 hours 12 aircraft were airborne on an air/sea rescue, patrol off Dover.
15.35 Squadron landed and released at 18.05 hours.

1943-01-27

08.00 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather very dull with low clouds. The Squadron was brought to readiness at 16.00 hours but no flying was undertaken.
17.30 Squadron released off Station.

1943-01-28

08.03 Squadron at 30 minutes. Weather rather misty. One aircraft was airborne on weather test and the pilot considered that the weather was non-operational.
13.00 One Flight at readiness, the other at 15 minutes. There was no further flying and the Squadron was released at 18.10 hours.

1943-01-29

08.01 One Flight at readiness, the other at 15 minutes. The weather had improved a good deal. Some cine camera gun training was carried out during the morning. After 13.00 hours, when the Squadron was at 30 minutes, [Illegible] training flying including some firing was done.

1943-01-30

08.00 Squadron at 30 minutes. There was no flying all day owing to bad weather. There was
A gale most of the time with some sleet and rain.

1943-01-31

08.00 Squadron at 30 minutes but released at 11.00 hours. The weather was again bad and
there was no flying. Preparations were being made for the move to R.A.F. Station, Kirton Lindsey the following morning.

Flight Lieutenant, Commanding,
No. 302 (Polish) Squadron,
ROYAL AIR FORCE.