Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-04-01

Kirton Lindsey

Weather at 08.00 hours, good, visibility 10 miles cloud 7/10 at 2000 ft, wind N.W. at approx 21 m.p.h. Squadron did formation and local flying. Released at 20.00 hrs. Non-operational flying times. 16.h.35m. 26 non-op sorties.

1943-04-02

One section at readiness 05.51 hrs, one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. Weather at 08.00 hrs, good visibility 5 miles, cloud 6/10 to 8/10 at 1500 ft wind approx 10 mph. At 13.00 Sqdn were released for training. Cross country, formation and low flying practised by Sqdn. No other matter of importance. At 20.08 Sqdn released. Non op times 31h.15m. 26 non-op sorties.

1943-04-03

Weather at 08.00 hrs, Fair vis 4 miles Wind 10 to 15 mph. Local formation flying till 13.00 hrs. At 13.00 One section at readiness, one at 15 mins, one at 30 mins. Afternoon, air to air firing practiced also low flying and cross country. At 20.10 Sqdn released. Non op sorties. 27. Times 22Hrs 45 mins.

1943-04-04

Weather at 08.00 hours. Fine Vis 3500 yds. Surface wind southerly. Trace cloud at 3000 ft. Sqdn at readiness at 06.43. Twelve a/c were airborne at 09.25 for Coltishall landed at 09.50. At 12.50 hrs Sqdn were airborne to act as diversionary escort to 70 Flying fortresses and 25 Liberators. Landed at Coltishall at 14.15 hrs. Nothing seen. At 18.45 Sqdn airborne on RAMROD as top rear Squadron support wing to 24 Venturas bomber. Down at Coltishall 20.15. They met returning Venturas 6 miles from Dutch coast flying at 4000 ft. Turned left to formate behind and above them. After 10 mins 15-20 F.W. 190s made single attacks on formation diving from 12000 ft and climbing steeply away. W/Cdr Gabszewicz got on the tail of one of the FW190 as it was rising and fired a series of short bursts from 300 yds port quarter. They them manoevered for position and our aircraft at last right on the tail of enemy a/c fired several long bursts saw engine blow up, undercarriage drop, saw enemy a/c dive vertically down to the sea where it hit with an explosion. This was seen by F/O Gladych 302 Sqdn and F/O Kirchner 317 Squadron. No of rounds fired cannon 60 ball and 60 armour piercing, machine gun 130 ball 130 UZB. Landed at Coltishall 20.15 hrs. Weather over channel good trace cloud. Left Coltishall at 20.30 and landed at Kirton Lindsey at 21.10 hrs.

1943-04-05

Weather at 08.00 Good vis 5 miles Cloud at 3/10 at 2000ft wind approx 15 Mph., becoming stronger during day. One section at readiness, at 15 mins, and one at 30 mins. Formation flying during day. Sorties 13. Times 8hrs. 15mins.

1943-04-06

At 16.41 One section at readiness one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. Weather at 08.00 hours good vis 5 miles, cloud 3/10 at 1500 ft wind approx 20 mph. Sqdn did air to air firing, formation flying some local flying in afternoon. Sqdn released at 21.16 hours. Non op sorties 29. Times 25H.40m.

1943-04-07

Weather all day u/s for flying. At 18.00 hrs gale expected. Wind approx 60/70mph. Squadron released at 21.18 hrs. F/O Krajewski posted to Sqdn for flying duties.

1943-04-08

At 16.46 one section at readiness two sections at 30 mins. Weather at 08.00 Fair vis 6 miles cloud 10/10 at 2500 ft, wind N.W. approx 10 mph. Eight a/c did air to air firing and low flying. The whole squadron were airborne at 17.25 and did formation flying. Sqdn released at 21.18. Non op times 21h. 50 mins. Sorties 31.

1943-04-09

Weather at 08.00 hours – Fine, vis 6 miles, cloud 10/10 at 2000 ft, wind approx 10 mph. In the morning the Sqdn practiced formation flying, at 13.00 one section at readiness one at 30 mins. In the afternoon air to air firing. One of our ac No. H42 made a crash landing at 16.50 hrs. The pilot Sgt. Czarnecki could not release the undercarriage. He was fortunately unhurt. The Sqdn was released at 21.19 hrs. Non-op sorties 29. Times 29H. 35 Mins.

1943-04-10

At 06.31 hours one section at readiness one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. Weather at 08.00, Fine wind approx 15/20 mph. vis. 5 miles, cloud 10/10 at 1500 ft. Air firing practiced by Sqdn in the morning. At 15.00 12 a/c were airborne on formation flying. The Squadron were released at 21.21 hrs. Non-op sorties 29. Times 24h. 25 mins.

1943-04-11

At 08.00 hrs weather fine, good vis 6 miles wind 10 MPH. 10/10 cloud at 2500ft. Formation flying by Squadron in morning. At 13.00 one section at readiness, one at 15 mins and one at 30 mins. In the afternoon air to air firing and formation. 15 pilots with the Sqdn Intelligence Officer visited the Scunthorpe Swimming Baths and were instructed in the went dinghy drill. Squadron released at 21.22 hrs. Non-op sorties 32. Flying times 34h. 25 mins.

1943-04-12

At 06.20 hours one section was at readiness 2 sections at 30 mins. At 09.00 hrs Weather good, vis 5 miles. Cloud 7/10 at 2000 ft. wind approx 10.mph. The weather was ideal for flying and the whole Squadron did an excellent days practicing on formation flying. Released at 21.24 hours. Non-op times 50.40 hours. Sorties 46.

1943-04-13

Weather at 08.00 hrs good, vis 6 miles. Cloud at 2000ft, wind approx 10 mph. Local flying in morning. At 13.00 hrs one section at readiness one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. In the afternoon air to air firing practiced. The Squadron was released at 21.27 Hrs, Non-op times 33h. 35 mins.

1943-04-14

One section at readiness at 06.20 one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. At 06.30 hrs 2 a/c went on dawn patrol. At 08.00 hours weather fair, visib. one mile, cloud 10/10 at 1000ft wind 10 mph, some rain. Later towards noon the weather improved and an excellent days flying was done. Squadron was released at 21.27 hours. Non op times. 42 h. 50 mins. 34 sorties.
Sgt Krzysztofinski was posted to the Squadron for Flying duties.

1943-04-15

Weather 09.00 hours fine, good visibility 6 miles cloud 7/10 at 2000ft. In the morning local flying was practiced by the Sqdn, At 13.00 h one section at readiness one at 15 mins and one at 30 mins. Squadron did air to air firing and local flying. Released at 21.28h. Non op sorties 27. Times 27 hrs. 20 mins.

1943-04-16

Kirton Lindsey

Readiness at 06.18. One section at readiness one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. Weather at 08.00 hrs good, visibility 10 miles cloud 3/10 at 2000ft. wind approx 10 mph. There was no flying done in the morning owing to the Squadron preparing for moving to Hutton Cranswick. At 13.25 14 a/c wrer airborne to Coltishall, down at 14.00 hrs.
At 19.00 hrs the Squadron of 14 a/c were airborne at Coltishall on a RAMROD acting as rear support to 12 Ventura bomber. Target was Haarlam. Some FW190s were seen but they did not attempt to intercept. Squadron down at Coltishall at 20.30 hrs. They were airborne on return to Kirton Lindsey at 21.00 hrs but owing to approaching darkness landed at a nearby aerodrome Hibaldstow between 21.45 and 22.15 hrs. Later 3 a/c were at readiness for night state. They were put to 1 hour at 01.45 and released at 06.21.
Non op times 30.45 hrs, Sorties 22. Operational times 20.10 hours. Sorties 13.
The Squadron had a farewall dinner party at the Station which a great success finally breaking up at 03.00 hrs. Speeches were made by W/Cdr Gabszewicz, G/Cp Stannard, S/Ldr Lapka, etc.

1943-04-17

Hutton Cranswick.

This was a very busy day for the Squadron we were moving to Hutton Cranswick. A special train left Kirton Lindsey at 09.00 hrs arriving at Hutton Cranswick at 12.00 hrs. No flying.

1943-04-18

Weather at 09.00 hrs. Fine, visib 6 miles cloud 10/10 at 5000ft. Squadron did Sector Recco and local flying during the day. Night readiness commenced at [.5.59] hrs. Non Op times 29 hrs. 55 mins. 39 sorties. Squadron were given two lecturs on local flying one by Intelligence Officer the other by Flying Control Officer.

1943-04-19

The weather was very good both by day and night. Visibility 5 miles, cloud 4/10 to 8/10 at 2000 – 2500 ft. wind approx 20 mph. A Flight at readiness at 13.00 and remained at readiness until 21.40 hours. 4 a/c took off up to the night state and some night flying practice was done. Non op times 32H. 50 mins. Sorties 28. Sector recco practiced by both flights during the day.

1943-04-20

Squadron was settling down nicely at their new station. At 09.00 hrs weather fine, visibility 6 miles, cloud 5/10 at 2000 to 3000 ft. Wind approx 25 mph. At 09.30 hours one section at readiness one at 15 mins and one at 30 mins. Formation flying and sector recco carried out all day. Night readiness started at 21.42 hours. Non op sorties 25. Times 19h. 20 mins.
W/Cdr s Holden and Gabszewicz gave a talk to pilots on night flying on the station.

1943-04-21

Weather 09.00 hrs. Fine, visibility 6 miles Cloud 6/10 to 8/10 at 2000 ft. Wind approx 25 mph. At 13.00 hrs one section at readiness one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. Local flying in afternoon. Released at 21.50. Non op times 16.35 mins. sorties 16.

1943-04-22

Weather at 08.00 cloud with drizzle, 8/10 at 1000 to 2000 ft. visibility 1 to 2 miles. No flying possible all day owing to weather conditions. Night state was 60 minutes.

1943-04-23
Weather at 08.00 hours, cloudy, surface wind 20/25 mph. visibility 1 to 3 miles cloud 5/10 to 9/10 at 1500 ft. There was no flying today owing to extremely bad weather conditions. Released at 14.00.

1943-04-24

Hutton Cranswick.

At 08.00 hours weather fair with occasional showers cloud 5/10 to 8/10 at 2 to 3000 ft. visibility good wind 15/20 mph. Bomber interception was done by 2 aircraft. Flight formation and wing formation flying was practiced by the Sqdn. At 13.10 one section at readiness one at 15 mins and one at 30 mins. At 22.00 hrs Squadron was released for the day. Non op times 11h. 55 mins. 10 sorties.
F/O Brzeski posted from 58 O.T.U. to the Squadron. F/LT DEC “A” FL. COMMANDER KILLED IN FLYING ACCIDENT.

1943-04-25

At 08.00 hours one section at readiness one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. At 09.00 hours weather very windy surface WSW/SW 20/25mph. cloud 4/10 to 8/10 at 2000 ft – 3000 ft. No flying owing to u/s conditions.

1943-04-26

Weather at 08.00 hrs. Fine but strong wind approx 50 mph. with gusts. Visibility good. Cloud 3/10 to 7/10th at 2/3000ft. No flying again owing to weather conditions.

1943-04-27

Weather at 08.00 hours. Wind 10/15 mph. gusty. Cloudy period of local rain, visibility good. Cloud at 5/10 to 8/10 at 2500 ft. 6 a/c went on flight formation three on formation flying and three on sector recco, and cloud flying. Non op sorties 12. Times. 11h. 55 mins.

1943-04-28

At 08.00 hours weather – wind 10-15 mph at 2000 35/40 mph at 5000 ft. Mainly cloudy local showers visibility 3-6 miles cloud 3/10 to 7/10 at 2-300 ft. 5 aircraft went on a GCI. Practice and one on aircraft test. At 13.00 hours 2 sections at readiness, 1 aircraft on a cross country flight. The Squadron were released at 22.00 hours.

1943-04-29

One section at readiness at 05.55 hours one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. At 08.00 hours Weather. – Fine visibility 6 miles. Cloud 2/10 to 5/10 at 500 ft to 3500 ft. Wind S.W.W approx 10 mph. There was no flying in the afternoon owing to very rainy conditions.

1943-04-30

Very bad weather conditions. No flying carried out. Lecture for Pilots by Intelligence Officer.

Łapka S/L [Autograph]