Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-12-01

NORTHOLT

There was no flying today and nothing of interest occurred.

1943-12-02

Weather – foggy AT the beginning and drizzle, slight wind – West. – Clearing up later. In the afternoon rather fair and fine. No flying in the morning. At 14.30 hours, Squadron landed at Fairwood Common from Northolt. Ground personnel of 3206 Servicing Commando Unit took over the servicing of the Squadron’s Spitfires. No flying took place afterwards. Non-op hours 13. – Sorties 12.

1943-12-03

Weather – West Wind – fair and fine except for fog and clouds in the morning period. Visibility about 5 miles, over the clouds good. Pilots attended a lecture in the morning on deflection and assessment in firing exercises, which lasted until lunch time. In the afternoon Squadron commenced A1 and A2 flying 12 a/c. in two sections. A1 and A2 was practiced. This lasted till dusk, 2 a/c landing even after dusk after having lost their way. They were brought in by operations and a special signal was given from the base watch – office. Both aircraft landed safely at base. Total non operational sorties 24 – Non-op hours 17.40.

1943-12-04

Weather – Fair and fine, little cloud, rather cold, with sun. Visibility about 6 – 8 miles. North – west wind. From 09.00 till 10.00 Pilots attended a lecture on assessment of A1, A2 and A3. From 10.00 hours till 17.00 hours flying on A1. A2 and A3, also air to air firing aircraft made 57 sorties totaling 33.00 flying hours, four planes having arrived from Northolt to Fairwood Common during the day.

1943-12-05

Weather – Fair and fine, except slight fog in the early morning – cold and many clouds at 2000 feet. Slight northwest wind. From 09.00 hours to 10.00 hours, pilots were lectured on assessment a2 and a3, also air to air firing which lasted to approximately 17.00 hours in the afternoon. 1 a/c. took off for Northolt and landed there at 15.00 hours. There were 48 non operational sorties and 25.15 hours non op. flying.

1943-12-06

Weather. Fair and fine, frosty in the morning and sunny during the day. Little cloud – North – east wind. At 09.00 hours to 10.00 hours pilots attended lecture on Browning Gun and assessment of A2 and A3 exercises. Flying was started at 10.10 hours. Pilots flew A2 and A3 exercises and air to air firing. In the afternoon, the same flying was continued and lasted till 17.00 hours. 1 a/c. took off for Northolt, where it landed at 15.50 hours. Non operational sorties 43. Non op. hours 22.20.

1943-12-07

Weather – fair and fine, with frost in the morning hours. Low clouds p clearing up later Wind – North – west and west. At 09.00 hours pilots were lectured on assessment A3 – Air to Air firing. At 10.20 hours 1 a/c. piloted by F.O Wiza crashed whilst trying to land after engine failure, cutting of engine whilst in the air. A/c. categorized “E” Pilot being quite seriously injured, was taken to hospital. Squadron did A3 exercises – air to air firing. There were 42 non op sorties and 20.55 hours non op flying. 2 a/c. landed at 16.00 hours from Northolt.

1943-12-08

Weather – Frost, fair but foggy, and low clouds, visibility very poor. Wind North – east. From 09.00 hours pilots were lectured on assessment and Browning Guns. No flying during the day owing to bad weather.

1943-12-09

Weather – Foggy in the morning and drizzle., clearing up a little during the day. Visibility very poor. Wind - North – east. Low clouds. From 09.00 hours lecture for pilots on assessment and Browning Gun, No flying in the morning hours. One aircraft carried out weather test and another a/c. flew to Northolt, landing there at 16.50 hours. Non op. sorties 2, non op. flying hours. 1.40.

1943-12-10

Weather – Frosty and fine, little but low clouds – visibility 4 – 6 miles, no or little wind. As on previous days, pilots attended lecture on assessment and Cannon – maintenance, construction and use. For the rest of the day there was A3 and A4 flying exercises and air to air firing. There were 30 non op. sorties and 17.00 non op flying hours.

1943-12-11

Weather – Mild, but drizzly, clearing up later., changeable, cloudy, wind from North – North – east. Visibility 5 miles. In the morning from 09.00 to 10.15 hours the pilots were lectured on assessment and cannon. – A4 exercises and air to air firing. 40 non op. sorties with 22.55 hours non op. flying.
W/CDR ROLSKI, commanding No. 18 (F) Polish Wing visited the Squadron, landing from Northolt at 13.00 hours. Took off returning to Northolt at 15.05 hours, and landed there at 15.55 hours. 1 a/c. of Squadron took off for Northolt and landed there at 16.25 hours. 1 a/c landed at FAIRWOOD COMMON from NORTHOLT, arriving at 12.15 hours.

1943-12-12

Weather – fine and fair. Little clouds – no wind – visibility 4 – 5 miles. The programme of the day was as on previous days., according the plan. In the morning the pilots attended their daily lecture on assessment and cannon. In the afternoon A4 exercises and air to air firing were carried out. 1 a/c. landed from Northolt, arriving at 13.05 hours. 1 a/c. flying from WARMWELL landed at FAIRWOOD COMMON at 17.05 hours (F/Sgt. ZIENDALSKI, who took off from NORTHOLT at 14.25 hours and landed at WARMWELL at 16.30 hours.). 15 NON OP. SORTIES AND 12.05 non op flying hours.

1943-12-13

Weather – Fair, mild, cloudy and light wind from the North and east. After the daily lecture on assessment 1 a/c. did A3 and A4 exercises and air to air firing. There was a flying accident in the afternoon. F/SGT. JASZCZAK was forced to land on fields in the coastal area. Spitfire No. MH. 327 turned over. Afterwards pilot was lucky and was rescued by civilians. He was uninjured. Aircraft was categorized “E”. At 14.25 hours, an aircraft (F/L. MIKSA) took off for Northolt where it landed at 15.10 hours. There were 27 non op. sorties, totaling 17.05 non op. hours.

1943-12-14

Weather – foggy in the early morning, later clearing up with clouds. Visibility over clouds good. Wind North North east, changing to West. From 09.15 hours to 10.00 there was a lecture on assessment for pilots. From 10.10 hours A4 and Air to Air firing. There were 39 sorties, non operational, and 19.20 non op. flying hours.

1943-12-15

Weather – changeable, mild, cloudy: clearing up during the day. Wind N.N.E. and N.N.W. From 09.30 hours to 10.30 hours. lecture for pilots on assessment. From 11.00 hours A3 and A4 flying exercises. and air to air firing. There were 27 non op. sorties, and 15.15 hours non – operational flying.

1943-12-16

The advance party of the Squadron left by Rail for NORTHOLT, the Squadron itself remaining at FAIRWOOD COMMON owing to the weather’s being unfit for flying.

1943-12-17

The weather was still unsuitable for flying therefore the Squadron did not return. Nothing of interest occurred.

1943-12-18

The weather was still unsuitable for flying, therefore the Squadron did not return. Nothing of interest occurred.

1943-12-19

To – day, the weather being suitable, the aircraft of the Squadron returning from FAIRWOOD COMMON took off at 13.20 hours, arriving at NORTHOLT at 14.10 hours. Non op. sorties 12. Non op. flying times 9.25 hours.

1943-12-20

NORTHOLT

There was little flying today. two aircraft of the Squadron carried out cross country flying – one from FAIRWOOD COMMON to NORTHOLT, and the other to WREXHAM. Total non op. flying hours 1.40. Non op. sorties 2.

1943-12-21

At 10.30 hours, the aircraft flew in Ramrod 382 – 1st. Fighter Sweep LE MEILLARD, LILLE AREA and there were 1 aircraft test, one ‘plane from HESTON, and one ‘plane from FAIRWOOD COMMON. Total Operational hours 24, Op. sorties 13. Non op. hours 1.45 Non op. sorties 3.

1943-12-22

At 12.05 hours, aircraft carried out Escort Cover to Marauders in Ramrod 385, flying to CORMETTE and one aircraft carried out air – sea rescue. Local flying was carried out by F/S MURYADA, and one aircraft, piloted by S/L. OXSPRING arrived from FAIRLOP. Op. Hours. 22.10 Sorties 13. Non op. hours 2.00 Non op. sorties 2.

1943-12-23

There was no flying today, and there occurred nothing of importance to report.

1943-12-24

Today, at 11.30 hours, aircraft of the Squadron carried out Escort Cover to Marauders, over CORMETTE, in Ramrod 392. At various times in the afternoon, other aircraft of the Squadron carried out local flying. Op. hours 22.00 Op. sorties 12. Non op. hours 2.20 sorties 5.

1943-12-25

There was no flying today and nothing else of interest to report.

1943-12-26

Today. also, there was no flying.

1943-12-27

There was no flying in the forenoon, but in the afternoon, four pilots carried out local flying making a total of 4 hours non op. flying and 4 non op. sorties.

1943-12-28

There was again no flying today, and nothing of interest to report.

1943-12-29

Today, one aircraft flew from HESTON, making 1 non op. sorties and non op. hours 0.15.

1943-12-30

At 09.50 hours aircraft carried out RAMROD 396, As Spitfire Escort to Fortresses to COMPIEGNE, and again at 13.30 hours, Close ESCORT TO Marauders (36) in ST. OMER area, in Ramrod 397. Three aircraft of the Squadron carried out Air –Sea Rescue in the morning, and during the day one aircraft carried out local flying and and another aircraft was tested. Op. hours 53.50. Op. sorties 27. Non op. hours 0.50 Non op. sorties 2.

1943-12-31

At 09.35 hours, aircraft flew out on Ramrod 401 which was Fighter Umbrella to BLANGY and FREVANT area. At 12.35 the aircraft again flew out on Ramrod 403 as Escort Cover to 72 Marauders to EPERLESQUES FORET. In the morning one pilot carried out local flying. Op. hours 43.30 Op. sorties 24. Non op. hours 0.15. Non op. sorties 1.

[Illegible]
for Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 302 (Polish) Squadron.
R.A.F. Station, Northolt.