Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-05-01

Hutton Cranswick

Weather at 08.00 hrs, Fine Visibility 10 miles, cloud 5/10ths at 2000ft, wind approx 15 mph. The Squadron was released for training all day. Formation flying was done in the morning by 6 aircraft and by 6 a/c in the afternoon and a further 6 a/c in the evening. There were also several tests. Non-op times 29H14m. Sorties. 31.

1943-05-02

Weather at 08.00 hrs. Fine visibility 5 miles, cloud 5/10 at 2000 ft. Wind approx 12-15 mph.
12 a/c took off to Coltishall landing at 13.05 hrs followed later by another a/c which landed at 13.35. 12 aircraft took off at 14.20 hrs as rear support to 12 Bostons, weather was favourable over Ijmuiden Holland. Aircraft landed back at Coltishall 15.55. At 18.50 hrs Sqdn again 11 a/c were airborne on Rear escort to 12 Venturas over Ijmuiden Holland. One Focke Wolfe 190 was destroyed by F/O Brzeski. Sqdn landed at Coltishall at 20.10 hrs, and at 20.50 hrs 13 a/c were airborne and landed back at Hutton Cranswick at 21.35 hrs.
Non op times 34H. 5 mins. 40 Sorties. Operational times 35h. 40 mins. Sorties 23.

1943-05-03

Weather at 08.00 hrs. Fine visibility 4-8 miles. Cloud 7/10 at 2500. Wind 10 – 15 mph. At 11.20 13 a/c took off for Martlesham landing at 12.15 hrs, Sqdn then were airborne for Coltishall at 13.50 landing at 14.15. At 17.20 12 a/c were airborne on Rear escort to 11 Venturas, over Ramrod. Amsterdam. Holland. All a/c lanced back at Coltishall at 18.55. At 19.45 12 a/c were airborne on air to sea rescue patrol landing at Coltishall at 21.10 hrs. one a/c returned to Hutton Cranswick at 21.40. 12 a/c remained at Coltishall overnight.
Non-op times 21h. 45mins. Sorties 31. Operational Flying 36h. 00mins. Sorties 24.

1943-05-04

At 08.00 hrs Weather. Fine, Visibility about 4-5 miles. Cloud at 4/10 at 2000ft, wind 5/10 mph. 11 A/C returned to Hutton Cranswick from Coltishall at 09.15 one a/c returned at 09.30.
No flying was done during the morning. At 13.00 hrs A Flight at readiness. Formation Flying and Photo attacks was done during the afternoon and at 22.12 hrs Squadron was released,
Non op sorties 28 and flying times 26hrs. 5 mins.
Sgt. Pilot Sowinski posted from 58 O.T.U.

1943-05-05

At 08.0 hrs one section at readiness. Weather at 09.00 hrs. Fine, vis 6 miles, cloud 5/10ths at 2000ft, wind approx 10 mph. Formation flying and a/c tests were carried out in the morning. At 15.00 hrs A Flight airborne on formation flying. At 18.10 A Flight did a scramble practice. Squadron released at 20.00 hrs. Non-op flying times were 38hrs 5mins, Sorties 39.
F/Lt Zulikowski posted to the Squadron for Flying duties from 58 O.T.U.

1943-05-06

At 08.00 hrs weather cloudy with heavy rain, Visibility 1-2 miles. Cloud 7/10ths at 1500 ft. At 11.00 hrs weather improved and 3 a/c did cloud flying and one a/c test. The afternoon Formation flying was done by Squadron. Non-op times 17.10hrs, Sorties 13.

1943-05-07

At 08.00 hrs Weather – Cloudy and raining. Visibility 3 miles cloud 3/10 at 2000 ft. Wind approx 20 MPH. Low flying and photo attacks practised by Squadron during the day. Non-op sorties were 15. Times 16H. 50 mins.

1943-05-08

Hutton Cranswick

Weather. Rain vis. 4 miles. cloud 8/10ths at 2000ft. wind approx 30/40 mph. Flying was impossible owing to weather though one a/c was airborne but landed after 10 mins as the weather to bad.

1943-05-09

At 08.00 hrs weather. – rain cloud 8/10 to 10/10ths at 2000ft. Visibility 4 to 6 miles but 1 to 2 miles in rain. Wind approx 25/30 mph. No flying was done owing to weather conditions.

1943-05-10

Weather at 08.00 hrs. Heavy rain reach gale force, cloud 10.10ths at 500 ft. Wind 40/60 mph. vis 1 mile. The weather was again to bad for flying.

1943-05-11

At 05.24 hrs One section at readiness one at 15 mins and one at 30 mins. At 09.00 hrs weather fine vis 6 miles. Variable upper cloud 4/10 to 7/10ths wind approx 10 – 15 mph. A/C tests in morning. At 13.00 hrs Squadron was released for training. In the afternoon air to air firing was done by Squadron. The Sqdn was released at 19.00 hrs. Non-op sorties 35. Times 38h.55mins.

1943-05-12

At 08.00 hrs weather fair to cloudy. Cloud 6/10 to 9/10ths at 1500 to 2500 ft. Visibility 2-5 miles wind approx 15 – 20 mph. 13 a/c took off at 11.35 to Coltishall. Returned at 14.15 hrs. No other flying was done. Non – op sorties 13. Times 21.30 hrs.

1943-05-13

08.00 Weather fair visibility 4/6 miles. Cloud 8/10 - 10/10ths at 1000ft. Wind approx 10/20 mph. No flying in the morning but weather improved and several pilots did air to air firing in the afternoon. Released at 20.30 hrs. Operational times 14 mins. 2 Sorties. Non-op times 20 hrs. Sorties. 15.

1943-05-14

At 09.00 hrs. Weather – Fine, visibility 6 miles, cloud 5/10ths to 8/10ths at 2000 ft. Wind approx 10 mph. At 09.30 Squadron airborne on a sweep but were soon recalled and operation cancelled. Squadron in the afternoon did air to air firing. Non-op times 30h 55mins. 43 Sorties. There were 2 Air sea rescue patrols, flying times 3hrs 30 mins.

1943-05-15

At 08.00 hrs Weather fine, cloud 1/10ths to 5/10ths at 4000ft. Vis 2000/4000yds, wind 10mph. During the day air to air firing was carried out, also Army Cooperation. 2 a/c did dusk flying and two night flying. 8 a/c were at night readiness and at 00.15 air night patrols. At 02.10 hrs Squadron were on a 30 mins readiness. Operational Times 4h. 50mins. Sorties 4. Non – op times 33hrs5mins. 50 Sorties.

1943-05-16

At 08.00 hours. Weather Fine, visibility 5 miles, cloud 8/10ths at 2000 ft, wind 5 mph. At 13.50 the Squadron of 12 a/c took off for Coltishall, landed there at 14.35. Operation cancelled. Left Coltishall at 17.20 hrs landed at Hutton Cranswick at 18.25. Dusk and night flying by 12 a/c. Non-op times 28h. 45mins. Sorties 31.
S/Ldr Lapka posted from the Squadron. S/Ldr Baranski took over the Squadron.

1943-05-17

At [06.30] hrs one section at readiness one at 15 mins one at 30 mins. Weather at 08.00 Fine, visibility 6-7 miles wind approx 10 mph. Little or no cloud. At 11.30 hours Squadron of 13 A/C airborne for Coltishall. Landed at 12.30. Left Coltishall at 16.10 as rear cover to Torpedo carrying Beaufighters – Anti flak Beaufighters in Roadstead to attack North bound convoy off Texel. Landed at Coltishall at at 17.35. No Combats. Up Coltishall 18.35 and landed at Hutton Cranswick at 20.05hrs. Op. Sorties. 7. Times 9H58M. Non-op times 17H.35Mins. Sorties 20.
F/Lt Chelmecki and Zulikowski posted from the Squadron. F/O Gladych and F/O Lanowiski becoming the New Flight Commanders.

1943-05-18

Hutton Cranswick.

08.00 hrs Weather:- Fine, visibility 2-5 miles Cloud little or none. Wind hardly any. At 10.30 hrs 2 aircraft were airborne on air sea rescue and landed at 11.30 hours. At 10.45 2 more aircraft were airborne on A.S.R. and landed at 11.30. At 15.05 13 a/c were airborne on xxxxx Wing practice to escort Bombers. Sqdn landed at 16.40. At 22.32 Night state was 30 mins. 8 a/c did night flying practice. Total non-op times 48hrs 10mins. Sorties 37.

1943-05-19

08.00.
Weather, vis 10 to 15 miles cloud 8/10 at 1500 ft wind 10 mph. No flying during morning but the afternoon state was as follows. 1 section at readiness the rest released for training and they did air to air firing. Non-op sorties 29. Times 24hrs55mins.

1943-05-20

08.00.
Weather misty, visibility at 2 to 5 miles, surface wind light and variable cloud 6 – 9/10ths at 2000 ft. One section at readiness at 09.40 and one at 15 mins. The sqdn was released for training at 13.00. No more flying. Non-op sorties 34. Times 18.h 5 mins.

1943-05-21

08.00.
Weather fair vis 1 – 3 miles Cloud approx 5/10 at 2500 ft. Wind 15 mph at 2000 ft. Sqdn airborne on formation flying at 14.50 and landed at 16.10. No other flying during the day. Non-op times 18.55.min. sorties 19.

1943-05-22

08.00.
Weather:- Vis 50 yds, cloud, base not visible Wind 10 mph, ground mist. No flying in the morning. The state at 13.00 hrs was 1 section at readiness, 2 at 30 mins. Some formation flying was done. No night readiness. The Squadron was released at 22.15 hours.
Non-op times 12.h.5.m. Sorties 16.

1943-05-23

08.00.
One section at readiness one at 30 mins. Weather, fine visibility 6 miles cloud 5/10ths cumulus wind 15 to 20 mph. Squadron was released at 13.00 for training. Formation flying done at 15.05 until 16.05. At 17.55 more a/c were airborne on formation flying landing at 19.10. Squadron released at 20.00hrs. Non-op Sorties 41. Times 37 hours.

1943-05-24

08.00.
Weather fair, cloud 3000 ft from 6 to 8/10ths. Visibility 4 to 8 miles. At 09.40 hrs the Squadron (12 a/c) took off to Coltishall, landing at 10.30 hrs. The 12 aircraft airborne again at 11.40 acting as rear cover to Torpedo carrying Beaufighters on a Roadstead N.E. of Texel. The Squadron landed back at Coltishall at 13.15 hours. Operational Sorties 12. Times 19h. 10 mins. Non-op sorties 25 Times. 21.h.10mins.
P-0820 F/O Hrycak posted for Flying Duties from A.F.D.U.

1943-05-25

08.00.
Weather:- Visibility 10 miles, cloud 3/10 at 2000ft. Wind 5 m.p.h. warm. Squadron on air to air firing. 1 section at readiness at 13.00, nothing of importance to report. No flying after 17.00 hrs. Non-op times 22h.25mins. Sorties 35,

1943-05-26

08.00.
Squadron at readiness, weather, slight mist visibility 2-4 miles cloud 8 – 10/10ths at 2000ft. wind 10-15 m.p.h. 2 aircraft on air to air firing. At 13.00 the weather became bad and at 14.00 all flying was cancelled. Non-op sorties 11. Times 6hrs 35mins.

1943-05-27

08.00.
Weather:- Fair, cloud 6/10 to 9/10ths at 1500/2000ft. Visibility 2 to 4 miles. Wind approx 10 mph. At 09.40 the Sqdn of 12 a/c were airborne on Formation flying and landed at 10.50. One a/c did take attacks on the Squadron. 4 a/c were on cross country flying, and some air to air firing was done. Non-op sorties 33. Times 26hrs 10mins.

1943-05-28

Hutton Cranswick.

08.00.
Weather: - Visibility 10 miles. wind 10 mph. Cloud 3/10ths at 2000 ft. At 09.35 hrs 5 a/c took off on A.S.R. and landed at base at 11.10hrs. 5 a/c took off at 10.40 on A.S.R. and landed at 12.30. Nothing seen. 1 section at readiness and 1 at 15 mins and one at 30 mins. at at 13.00. there was 2 convoys in the sector. Platform and Ocean. Some air to air firing was done. Squadron was released at 22.50hours. Operational times 17h.5mins. Sorties 10. Non-op sorties 7. Times. 6hrs5mins.

1943-05-29

08.0.
1 section at readiness, 1 at 15 mins, - 1 at 30 mins. Weather fine, visibility 4-6 miles, wind 10 mph, cloud 3/10ths at 2000 ft. Formation flying and air to air firing was carried out. Flying finished at 19.00 hours. Non-op times 28.h20mins. Sorties 37.

1943-05-30

08.00.
Weather, rain and cloudy. cloud 10/10ths at 2000 ft. Visibility approx 500 yds, wind 3-4 mph. One aircraft went to Hemswell and back, and one aircraft test was carried out. Non-op times 1h.45mins. Sorties 4.

1943-05-31

04.55.
One section at readiness. Weather at 08.00 hrs fine, slight mist over base. Squadron released at 10.00 hours. Everybody busy preparing for the Squadron move to Heston.

W. Baranski S/L [Autograph]
Squadron Leader, Commanding.
302 Polish Squadron.