Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-06-01

NORTHOLT

Considerable local flying, formation practice and some dusk landings.

1941-06-02

NORTHOLT

Similar to the previous day. P/O Bondar posted in.

1941-06-03

NORTHOLT

Formation practice only.

1941-06-04

NORTHOLT

Six aircraft did a patrol Dungeness – Cap Gris Nez. Some Me. 109s were attacked when cloud permitted. S/Ldr. Lapkowski fired his guns and claimed a ‘damaged’ P/O Klosin attacked a 109 which was itself attacking his No. 1 P/O Drobinski. He shot this down with only four rounds of cannon, but washimself hit and damaged. He was last seen by the Squadron with glycol fumes pouring from his engine, but he crash landed near Tonbridge and miraculously escaped with cute and bruses despite completely wrecking his aircraft.
P/O Lipinski and Sgt. Balejka / Czech / posted from No. 58 O.T.U. P/O Klosin was posted to R.A.F. Northolt on admission to hospital.

1941-06-05

NORTHOLT

Formation practice only, and some ‘bacon patrols’.

1941-06-06

NORTHOLT

A little formation practice only.

1941-06-07

NORTHOLT

An offensive patrol over Dungeness – subsequently splitting into fours and sweeping up Channel. Nothing to report however. Also some practice and dusk landings.

1941-06-08

NORTHOLT

No flying.

1941-06-09

NORTHOLT

No flying.

1941-06-10

NORTHOLT

Local flying – two aircraft only.

1941-06-11

NORTHOLT

Some practice and a „sphere” operation at 13.20 hours. Six aircraft proceeded over France, but reporting nothing but “E” boat movements. Other uneventful patrols and widespread practice flying made up w very busy day.

1941-06-12

NORTHOLT

16.00. „Dungeness – Manston patrol – nothing to report. Also flying practice . Sgt. Damm posted from No. 3 Squadron.

1941-06-13

NORTHOLT

11.50. Grinstead patrol and much training flying. F/O Gierzod posted for Intelligence duties supernumerary.

1941-06-14

NORTHOLT

Squadron deported on “Circus 12. The Squadron maintained close escort to the bombers. As they were returning they were attacked by 4 Me. 109s. One aircraft fired without results, and one crash landed at Martin Mill nr Dover. Bombing was not very good. Dusk landings ended the day.

1941-06-15

NORTHOLT

Some practice – “ZZ” landings only.

1941-06-16

NORTHOLT

15.30. Bomber escort again to Boulogne. Nothing special to report – except that the bombing was quite good. In the morning an uneventful Channel patrol took place

1941-06-17

NORTHOLT

19.30. Patrol over France – patrolling Cap Gris Nez at 16,000 feet in connection with
Circus 13. The Squadron was operating in fours. F/O Strzembosz and F/O Kolaczkowski obtained probables, but were unable to confirm results. P/O Bondar was hit and crashed, but escaped with very slight leg wounds.
There was also some “Bacon” patrols and considerable practice flying.

1941-06-18

NORTHOLT

Squadron flew to Merston, Tangmere, and took off as bomber escort. Strong A.A. was encountered between Calais and Cap Gris Nez. Me.109s were encountered and the Squadron began to operate in fours. S/Ldr. Lapkowski and F/O Lokuciewski each destroyed a 109, and P/O Drobinski, in the same four, destroyed two 109s. All our aircraft returned safely to base.

1941-06-19

NORTHOLT

16.50. Bomber escort again. This time no enemy aircraft were encountered, and all aircraft returned to base. The bombing at Le Havre was pretty good apparently.

1941-06-20

NORTHOLT

Some “ZZ” landings and a little practice only.

1941-06-21

NORTHOLT

Squadron left at 11.43 hours with W/Cdr. Kent to escort bombers to St. Omer. Near to target Me’s attacked but did not close in. W/Cdr. Kent saw two Me’s climbing below him, turned and successfully attacked one of them, which crashed. Sgt. Belza was attacked and his machine damaged, but P/O Drobinski closed with this enemy aircraft which was destroyed. P/O Drobinski landed at Merston owing to lack of fuel, but aircraft undamaged. A small boat was attacked on the return journey. There were other patrols during the day, but they produced no significant results.

1941-06-22

NORTHOLT

The Squadron accompanied by W/Cdr. Laguna left at 15.20 on Circus operation. Me’s were waiting over the target area in pairs and larger numbers and fierce fights developed. S/Ldr. Lapkowski destroyed in turn two Me’s which were attacking Hurricanes – one on each side of the bombers. F/Lt. Jankiewicz found one Me . on his tail but managed to manoeuver so successfully that he got behind it and destroyed it. In this same engagement W/Cdr. Laguna got out of control and was prepared to bale out when his aircraft righted itself. He attacked a ship on finding himself at sea level. P/O Drobinski, F/O Feric and F/O Lokuciewski also destroyed 109’s in their own battles. This engagement, in which 4 Me. 109F’s and 2 Me. 109E’s were destroyed and others claimed as probable was wonderfully successful as all the aircraft returned to base, only two of them showing any signs of battle.

1941-06-23

NORTHOLT

In the morning the Squadron was out over France as high cover, and in the fighting which ensued P/O Gladych destroyed one Me. and probably another. The Squadron left on Circus 20 at 19.37 hours of Hardelot. Over the target area much A.A. fire and mane e/a turned the sky into one large confused dog fighting involving the bombers, two Spitfire squadrons and one of Hurricanes. At least one bomber crashed in flames and confused fighting developed in all directions. Sgt. Szlagowski, Wunsche, Wojciechowski each destroyed a 109 and Sgt. Adamek got two. This fighting proved a Sergeants picnic. In addition F/O Strzembosz destroyed another e/a and P/O Bondar got a probable. The story of these cmplez battles in which excellent use of R/T was made in the combats were however rather eclipsed by P/O Gladych’s adventures. He shot down one e/a and then became involved in a general fight with many Me’s at about 12,000 feet. Thinking he was being attacked by one of these he dived steeply and crashed into the supposed attacker. He was wounded by fragments of the e/a. Half stunned he flew back to English coast and crashed near Ramsgate. He hit a telegraph pole when landing completely breaking up the aircraft and himself receiving a broken collar bone. He was admitted to Ramsgate General Hospital and posted to Northolt non-effective.

1941-06-24

NORTHOLT

Squadron proceeded to Martlesham Beach for escort duty. The operation proceeded to plan except for haze over the target area. S/Ldr. Lapkowski and Sgt. Belc each destroyed a 109 and returned to Squadron formation.

1941-06-25

NORTHOLT

Another very busy day. In the first sortie over France at 1200 hours P/O Drobinski and F/O Wroblewski both broke formation and succeeded in destroying Me. 109s. The flak on this occasion was rather severe. Two aircraft landed at West Malling, but returned later undamaged. In the second operation – Circus 23 – an “A” Flight four were attacked by Me’s after R/T warning had been given. F/Lt. Arentowicz damaged one e/a, but F/O Paderewski is missing from this operation. This is the first casualty suffered by the Squadron in the intensive phase of operations.

1941-06-26

NORTHOLT

The Squadron went to Martlesham to take part in Circus operation. 10/10 cloud over France made bombing impossible so the bombers turned back and the fighters encountered no opposition and returned to base.

1941-06-27

NORTHOLT

A rather hectic day. Weather conditions made a morning circus impossible so the squadron went on a mass Rhubarb operation. Various Me’s were damaged or destroyed on the ground. W/Cdr. Kent blew up a bowser and some offices. D/Ldr Laguna did not return – he was apparently hit by ground fire, and crashed. At 2100 hours the Squadron proceeded as escort on Circus 25. F/O Zumbach damaged one e/a, but otherwise no startling events occurred.

1941-06-28

NORTHOLT

Circus 26. The Squadron were acting as escort, high cover. Near the target numerous 109’s were encountered and some dog fighting took place. P/O Bondar was hit and apparently crashed out of control. P/O Drecki was attacked by a 109, and Sgt. Belc promptly attacked this aircraft and destroyed it. P/O Drecki became detached and was involved in a fierce dog-fight. He destroyed a 109 and then found himself attacked by other enemy aircraft. He fired at one e/a attacking from ahead, and it was destroyed. His own aircraft was damaged and he was forced to bale out over the sea. He was observed and quickly picked up unhurt. Meanwhile F/O Kolaczkowski had been involved in a dog-fight, but makes no claim until, finding himself ay zero feet he attacked and destroyed a 109 on the ground before returning over the Channel very low.

1941-06-29

NORTHOLT

Very little flying for a change!. Sgt. Balejka / Czech / and Sgt. Szlagowski posted to No. 1 A.A.S. Manby.

1941-06-30

NORTHOLT

Another circus, but this time nothing special to report, except that the Me.109’s were weaving !