Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-05-01

NORTHOLT

Limited training. 3 Aircraft dusk flying.

1941-05-02

NORTHOLT

Limited training. 3 Aircraft dusk flying.

1941-05-03

NORTHOLT

05.00 to 11.00. continuous patrols over convoy in Barrow Deep. Two aircraft continuously on the spot – the locally named “Bacon” patrol. One aircraft did dusk flying.

1941-05-04

NORTHOLT

14.35. „A” Flight ordered to patrol Biggin Hill. Later they were vectored over the Channel. First two and then five Me.109s were seen, but were not engage. The first two made the French coast before they could be attacked. The five Me.109s were flying at 38,000 feet and the flight could not engage. The enemy followed them back to the English coast and then returned. Perspex frosting was very acute.
Meanwhile “B” Flight were on an uneventful “Bacon” patrol.

1941-05-05

NORTHOLT

An uneventful section patrol, and there dusk landings only.
F/O Zak posted for Operations Room duties – Flight Lieutenant Post.

1941-05-06

NORTHOLT

Numerous patrols – nothing to report.
08.10. Squadron at Canterbury 32,000 feet.
11.15. “A” Flight Maidstone 15,000 feet.
13.25. “B” Flight Maidstone.
14.39. “A” Flight Dungeness, 5,000 feet.
Two section also patrolled Barrow Deep, and two dusk landings performed.

1941-05-07

NORTHOLT

13.15 to 15.50. “Bacon patrols” One aircraft dusk flying.

1941-05-08

NORTHOLT

Two Maidstone patrols, and numerous “Bacon” sections. Nothing to report.

1941-05-09

NORTHOLT

Various patrols, one over Maidstone was amended to orbiting over the Channel. Ten Me.109s attacked, but broke off when the flight concerned descended to 10,000 feet.
15.15. SPHERE OPERATION” P/O Zumbach became detached, and was attacked while himself diving to attack. After gaining the English coast he baled outsuccessfully. Glycol fumes did what a bullet through his hair could not do. On a “Bacon” patrol P/O Gladych fired at an unidentified enemy aircraft, but broke off because fighters approached him from behind – these transpired to be Hurricanes. Three aircraft made dusk landings.

1941-05-10

NORTHOLT

Numerous uneventful patrols, and one “Propaganda” Flight for War Weapons week.

1941-05-11

NORTHOLT

Various patrols. Two Squadron patrols over Dover at 15,000 feet.
14.00 to 16.30. “Bacon” patrols. Three more dusk flights.

1941-05-12

NORTHOLT

A little “Bacon” Patrolling, and some dusk flights only.

1941-05-13

NORTHOLT

Exactly as the day before.

1941-05-14

NORTHOLT

Very limited training. Sgt. Pilot Szaposznikow posted to No. 8 S.F.T.S. Montrose.

1941-05-15

NORTHOLT

Six aircraft flew to Hawkinge for Rhubard operation and took off at 12.15 hours. “Blue Section” /F/Lt. Jankiewicz and Sgt. Giermer/ They both combined in shooting down a Ju. 52: they attacked simultaneously from above and astern and the enemy aircraft crashed and exploded.
“White Section” /P/O Drobinski and Sgt. Bełc/ A tank and huts were attacked on an aerodrome. A taxying Ju. 52 was fired at – and stopped. On the return journey three ships were attacked: P/O Drobinski set one on fire – and it was subsequently reported beached! An E boat was also attacked.
Green section. /P/O Paderewski and Sgt. Popek/ Machine gun posts, soldiers and goods trains were attacked Me. 109s were machine gunned – but results could not be observed

1941-05-16

NORTHOLT

A morning on the Bacon Patrols, with nothing of consequence to report.
Three aircraft night flying.

1941-05-17

NORTHOLT

Maidstone patrol – anti various altitude tests with Spitfire IIB / Cannon aircraft /. Nothing to report – except that the cannon were rather obstreperous.

1941-05-18

NORTHOLT

An uneventful patrol. Cannon firing at Sutton Bridge, rather more successful this time.

1941-05-19

NORTHOLT

Only two aircraft tested guns.

1941-05-20

NORTHOLT

Local flying only.

1941-05-21

NORTHOLT

Circus Operation. The Squadron was patrolling enemy fighter aerodromes at 9,000 feet to give protection to the main operation. The program worked perfectly, but no enemy aircraft were observed until the return journey. Four Me. 109s above the Squadron followed them to mid-channel and then broke away. Also a certain amount of local flying.

1941-05-22

NORTHOLT

Local flying only.

1941-05-23

NORTHOLT

Some dusk and night flying only.

1941-05-24

NORTHOLT

A day of varied activity. Maidstone patrols, PROPAGANDA Flights, and Sphere Operation over the French half of the Channel, made up a very busy day. Nothing of note occurred throughout.

1941-05-25

NORTHOLT

No flying.

1941-05-26

NORTHOLT

No flying.

1941-05-27

NORTHOLT

Various training flying only.

1941-05-28

NORTHOLT

Another very busy day: Patrols and training flights, including night flying made up a quite hectic day. Nothing however to report.

1941-05-29

NORTHOLT

No flying. Weather most inclement.

1941-05-30

NORTHOLT

No flying except for one weather test.

1941-05-31

NORTHOLT

Ditto.