Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1940-10-01

NORTHOLT

13.15. 9 Hurricanes left Northolt at 13.15 hrs. with No. 1 Canadian Squadron. 9 Hurricanes landed Northolt at 14.45 hrs. Combat at 14.00 hear North Foreland. Squadron Cruised, led by No. 1 Canadian Squadron at 21,000 ft, saw several groups of Me. 109 at from 15,000 to 20,000 ft. Enemy Aircraft were in close formation and stepped up. Neither Squadrons attacked Enemy Aircraft. F/Lt. Kent broke away down to investigate an enemy formation which he thought were bombers. They were almost certainly Me. 109s. Before he reached them he bacame involved with a formation of Me. 109s. He sext one on fire and hit the engine of another which disappeared into the cloud smoking. He succeeded in evading enemy and returned to Northolt a few minutes after rest of Squadron.
Summary:- Enemy Casualties. 1 Me. 109 Destroyed. 1 Me. 109 Probable.
Our Casualties. NIL.
16.00. From 16.00 hrs. to 17.05. hrs. Patrol. 11 Aircraft. No contact made.

1940-10-02

NORTHOLT

09.45. From 09.45 hrs. to 11.00. hrs. Patrol. 11 Aircraft. No contact made.
12.00. From 12.00 hrs. to 12.55. hrs. Patrol. 9 Aircraft. No contact made.
16.25. From 16.25 hrs. to 17.35. hrs. Patrol. 12 Aircraft. No contact made.

1940-10-03

NORTHOLT

Three single patrols were made by F/Lt. Forbes at 09.45 – 11.30 hrs., 11.45 – 12.25 hrs, and 13.20 – 13.45 hrs. but no contact was made.

1940-10-04

NORTHOLT

S/Ldr. Kellett patrolled base between 17.10. 17.20 hrs. but no contact was made. Nothing to report.

1940-10-05

NORTHOLT

11.05. Combat over Rochester, Channel 11.40 hrs. 12 Hurricanes left Northolt 11.10 hrs. to rendezvous with No. 1 Canadian Squadron leading. 11 Hurricanes landed Northolt 12.20 – 13.10 hrs. The Wing flying Southward, met Enemy Fighters flying Northwood to East of them over Rochester when the Squadron was at 18,000 ft. and alto cirrus layer of cloud 5/10 at 3,000 ft. and alto cirrus 10/10 at 25,000 to 30,000 ft. Me. 109s descended from upper cloud in 5’s and 3’s. One group of Me. 109s was turned 180º, and attacked No. 1 Canadian Squadron and dived away Southwards. About 60 Enemy Aircraft and 40 Friend;y Fighters were locked in running individual and section Dog Fights, rolling Southwards to the Channel. Over Lympne were about 15 Me. 110s at about 20,000 ft, which formed a defensive circle, and there were great numbers of Me. 109s above them and in the high clouds. Our aircraft attacked the circle singly from head on and below, and broke it up, inflicting heavy casualties in spite of attacks by Me. 109s. Over the Channel, the Squadron was ordered home. S/Ldr. Kellett damaged one Me. 109, seeing pieces fly off the engine and wing, and the enemy aircraft disappeared in a steep dive. P/O. Feric destroyed one Me. 110 which crashed near the Coast on land. F/O. Henneberg destroyed one Me. 110 but the position if crash not visible. F/O. Pisarek destroyed one Me. 109 on land and badly damaged another. Sgt. Karubin destroyed one Me. 109 which exploded. Sgt. Palak destroyed one Me. 109 near Lympne and damaged one Me. 110. Sgt. Belc destroyed one Me. 110 near Lympne, one man balling out. Sgt. Suidak destroyed two Me. 109s one near Ashford, and one in the sea off Kittlestone. He attacked a Me. 110 to starboard, with a Spitfire attacking to port, and the Enemy Aircraft was destroyed. Sgt. Suidak landed at an unidentified aerodrome near Rochester and was ordered to proceeded to Gravesand whence after refuelling and rearming he return to Northolt.
Summary:- Enemy Casualties. 4 Me. 110 and 4 Me. 109 destroyed and 2 Me. 110 and 1 Me. 109 damaged.
Our Casualties. 1 Hurricane missing. F/O. Januszewicz crashed in flames at Hawkinge, and was killed.
14.05. From 14.05 hrs. to 15.20. hrs. Patrol. 6 Aircraft. No contact made.
15.55. From 15.55 hrs. to 16.30. hrs. Patrol. 12 Aircraft. No contact made.
17.20. From 17.20 hrs. to 18.25. hrs. Patrol. 12 Aircraft. No contact made.

1940-10-06

NORTHOLT

10.30. Enemy attack made on the aerodrome by one aircraft, Sgt, Suidak was killed by a bomb which fall between the hangars. Aircraft totally destroyed.
F/Sgt. Kania rejoined the Squadron from No. 6 OUT.

1940-10-07

NORTHOLT

10.20. From 10.20 hrs. to 11.35. hrs. Patrol. 12 Aircraft. No contact made.
13.15. Combat over South London at 13.50 hrs. The Squadron leading No. 1 Canadian. 11 Hurricanes left Northolt at 13.20 Hrs. 10 Hurricanes Northolt 14.20 – 14.50 Hrs. The Squadron was ordered to patrol Kenley – Brooklands at 20,000 ft. After several vectors given 55 degrees and told bandits on right which was correct. Over London were about 50 Me. 109s and four He. 113 flying N.E. at 25,000 to 30,000 ft. They dived down in groups of five, and two groups attacked No. 1 Canadian Squadron and others followed them, then dived away Southwards. The Squadron tried to overtake them unsucessfully. The Squadron then shadowed another formation of Me. 109s flying Westwards, and these came down to attack and were chased South over the Channel. The Hurricanes could not catch the Mes. in level Flight. All the Mes. had yellow noses. F/O. Pisarek destroyed one Me. 109 over the Channel.. Sgt. Belc destroyed one Me. 109 N.W. of Redhill. Sgt. Szaposznikow destroyed one Me. 109 in the Sea off Brighton and probably another. P/O. Mierzwa landed at decoy aerodrome and crashed taking off. He proceeded to Detling and was unhurt. Cloud conditions were 2/10 at 3,000 ft.
Summary:- Enemy Casualties. 3 Me. 109 destroyed and one probable.
Our Casualties. One Hurricane Cat. Unknown.
15.30. From 15.30 hrs. to 15.35. hrs. Patrol. 10 Hurricanes. No contact made.

1940-10-08

NORTHOLT

09.00. 12 Hurricanes left Northolt 09.00 hrs. 11 landed Northolt 09.55 hrs. No contact made. Sgt. Frantisek crashed at Evall, near Sutton, and was killed.
10.45. From 10.45 hrs. to 11.25. hrs. Patrol. 11 Hurricanes. No contact made.

1940-10-09

NORTHOLT

10.10. Patrol by F/Lt. Forbes from 10.10 hrs to 10.35 hrs. but no contact was made.
14.55. From 14.55 hrs. to 16.05. hrs. Patrol. 11 Hurricanes. No contact made.

1940-10-10

NORTHOLT

09.50. From 09.50 hrs. to 11.05. hrs. Patrol. 12 Hurricanes. No contact made.
12.00. From 12.00 hrs. to 13.10. hrs. Patrol. 11 Hurricanes. No contact made.
15.40. From 15.40 hrs. to 16.20. hrs. Patrol. 12 Hurricanes. No contact made.
Movement of complete Squadron was ordered from Northolt to Leconfield.

1940-10-11

NORTHOLT

11.55. From 11.55 hrs. to 12.55. hrs. Patrol. 12 Hurricanes. No contact made.
15.40. 18 Hurricanes left Northolt 15.40 hrs. 18 Hurricanes landed Leconfield 16.40. Complete movement of Squadron from Northolt to Leconfield.

1940-10-12

LECONFIELD

Squadron released until 12.00 hrs. 14.10.40. 12 new Pilots posted from No. 307 Squadron, Defiants for conversion and training on Hurricanes. F/O. R. Mickiewicz, F/O. Z. Zadrozinski, F/Lt. Szczeschiewski W. P/o. Kornicki F. P/O. J. Burzymski. P/O. T. Koc. P/O. A. Malarowski. P/O. M. Lukaszewicz. Sgt. S. Brzeski. Sgt. F. Pretkiewicz. Sgt. B. Koscik. Sgt. W. Giermer.

1940-10-13

LECONFIELD

1940-10-14

LECONFIELD

Commenced training of pilots. 6 New Pilots given solo on Hurricanes. Completing 9 hours flying, also Operational Flight completing 9 hours flying.
Sgt. Krawczynski posted to R.A.F. Blackpool.

1940-10-15

LECONFIELD

09.45. Operational Flight. 3 aircraft. 02.20 hrs flying.
Commenced training of all pilots, solo on Hurricanes, completing 12.05 hrs. Flying.

1940-10-16

LECONFIELD

Continued training of new pilots completing 10.10 hrs. flying.
F/Lt. A.S. Forbes D.F.C. posted to No. 66 Squadron to Command.

1940-10-17

LECONFIELD

Weather unsuitable to continue training of Pilots.
F/Lt. J.A.Kent D.F.C. A/F/C/ Posted to No. 92 Squadron to Command.
Sgt. Rytka posted from No. 5 O.T.U.

1940-10-18

LECONFIELD

Pilots given formation practice. Total flying hours 17.05.

1940-10-19

LECONFIELD

Further formation practice given completing 30.15 hrs. flying.

1940-10-20

LECONFIELD

Formation practice and Dog Fight Practice completing 06.20 hrs. flying.

1940-10-21

LECONFIELD

Weather unsuitable for flying. P/O. W. Miksa and P/O. B. Zielinski posted to No. 151 Squadron. Sgt. Skowron posted from No. 151 Squadron.

1940-10-22

LECONFIELD

Weather unsuitable for flying.

1940-10-23

LECONFIELD

Weather unsuitable for flying. S/Ldr. Urbanowicz posted to Headquarters No. 11 Group as Liaison Officer. F/O. Jankiewicz posted from No. 601 Squadron Sgt. Wunshe & Sgt. Rogowski posted from Northolt on ceasing to be non-effective sick. Sgt. Rytka posted to No. 302 Sqdn. Northolt.

1940-10-24

LECONFIELD

Training continued giving Formation Practice, Dog Fight Practice. and Aerobatics completing 27.25 hrs. Operational Flight by 3 aircraft 3 hrs. flying.
P/O. J. Burzymski killed in a practice Dog Fight.

1940-10-25

LECONFIELD

Attack Practice and Formation practice 22.30 hours flying.
F.Lt. Pietraszkiewicz atached for Conversion Course.

1940-10-26

LECONFIELD

Operational Flight. 6 Aircraft 03.15 hrs.flying.
New Pilots given Attack Practice 25.40 hrs. flying.

1940-10-27

LECONFIELD

Operational Flight 8 aircraft. 07.00 hrs. flying.
New Pilots given Attack Practice. 13.55 hrs. flying.
Aerodrome bombed by 2 He. 111 at 18.08 hrs. Ac. Rossocachacki injured by Shrapnel.

1940-10-28

LECONFIELD

Weather unsuitable for flying. F/Lt. Adams D.F.C. posted from No. 29 Squadron.

1940-10-29

LECONFIELD

Operational Flight. 3 aircraft. 02.15 hours flying.
New Pilots given attack practice 06.50 hrs. flying.

1940-10-30

LECONFIELD

Operational Flight. 3 aircraft. 03.00 hrs.

1940-10-31

LECONFIELD

Weather unsuitable for flying.