Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-02-01

HESTON

Weather 10/10 cloud visibility 2 miles.
The move of the Squadron to R.A.F. Heston was completed as rails the main rail party. The train leaving Kirton 08.00 hrs arriving at Heston 16.00 hrs.
The aircraft were not able to leave Kirton as the aerodrome at Heston was unserviceable due to rain.
P-1356 F/O A. Horowicz Intelligence Officer posted from 302 Squadron supernumerary for Intelligence duties.

1943-02-02

8/10 cloud visibility 3 miles – sunshine.
14.00
18 Spirfires VB left Kirton landing at Northolt 15.00 hrs the aerodrome at Heston being still u/s. Rear party arrived Heston 17.00 hrs. move completed.

1943-02-03

6/10 cloud visibility 5 – 6 miles. sunshine.
Squadron still operating from Northolt Heston u/s. No flying.
F/O J. Schmidt ceased attached to No. 52 O.T.U. on advanced “fighting tactics” course.
P/O M. Adamek attached to R.A.F. Cosford for Polish Officers course.

1943-02-04

7/10 cloud – visibility 4 miles. Afternoon 10/10 visibility 2 miles. Readiness still maintain at Northolt.
Pilots new to the sector carried out sector recco from Northolt.
P/O A. Glowacki, VM., K.W., D.F.C., D.F.M. posted to No. 308 (Polish) Squadron as Flight Commdr.

1943-02-05

7/10 cloud visibility 4 miles lessening in the afternoon.
Heston aerodrome serviceable and aircraft flown from Northolt.
Some sector recco and battle formation practice.

1943-02-06

Weather 9/10 cloud visibility 3 miles. No flying.
P/O Bialecki ceased attachment to No. 1 Officer School Cosford.

1943-02-07

5/10 cloud visibility 3 – 4 miles. Sunshine.
Flying training – G.C.Interception. Sector recco. local flying and aerobatics.

1943-02-08

HESTON

10/10 cloud visibility Nil due to fog and mist. Improvement in weather during the afternoon. No flying.
Lecture to all flying personnel on Spitfire II.

1943-02-09

Weather 10/10 visibility 5 miles and rain in afternoon hampering visibility. No flying.

1943-02-10

10/10 cloud, visibility 3 miles.
13.35
One section scrambled to patrol about 3 miles of Beachy Head at a height of 12,000 feet. No enemy aircraft seen, and both aircraft down 15.10. Weather and vis. good.
14.30
Two further aircraft scrambled to maintain patrol on the same line at heights between 10 – 12,000 feet. Nothing to report.
No other flying.
F/O L. Ciastula arrived on posting from 610 Squadron for flying duties. Flying with “A” flight.

1943-02-11

No change in the weather.
11.30
Thirteen Spitfire VB led by S/Ldr. Bienkowski took off on patrol in the region of Beachy Head, Cuckfield, Horsbridge and Mayfield. Patrol over this area in view of visit of Royalty. No enemy aircraft seen. F/O Schmidt’s aircraft developed engine trouble and he had to force land at Eastbourne. Aircraft Cat. E. Pilot unhurt. The remainder of the Squadron landed 13.15.
15.35
11 Spitfires VB led by S/Ldr. Bienkowski on patrol in the same sector as previously – all aircraft landed at base 16.55. – Nothing to report. Weather 10/10 cloud at 3,000 feet. Visibility 2 – 3 miles.
F/O S. Socha posted back to the Squadron from A.F.D.U. for flying duties. “A” Flight.

1943-02-12

10/10 cloud visibility 1 – 2 miles.
Flying training only – Low flying and cine gun practices. Squadron formation and sector recco.

1943-02-13

1/10 cloud visibility 4 miles – sunshine. No flying.

1943-02-14

HESTON

Weather 10/10 cloud – visibility 3 miles.
Flying training only – Formation, low flying and navigation.
F/Lt. J. Marciniak “B” Flight Commander posted to No. 58 O.T.U. for instructor duties on completion of operational tour.
f/o w. Retinger posted from No. 308 (Polish) Squadron for Flight Commander duties “B” Flight and appointed Acting Flight Lieut.

1943-02-15

1/10 cloud – visibility 4 miles 0 sunshine. Afternoon 10/10 vis. 1 mile.
13.10
CIRCUS 266. 12 Spitfires VB led by S/Ldr Bienkowski took off with the Northolt Wing, Nos. 303, 306, 308 and 315 Squadrons on Escort Cover Wing. No. 303 Squadron flying at height of 16,000 feet. The English coast was crossed at North Foreland in the direction of the French coast west of Dunkirk at 16,000 feet. The Bombers reached target 3 mins. before time and the Squadron remained over Dunkirk after the target had been bombed. Explosions in the shipyards and docks were observed, but no shipping was seen. Strong A.A. fire over the target area at heights 10,000 – 17,000 feet. 306 and 315 Squadrons reported engagements with e/a North of Boulogne and the Squadron intended going in that direction but was stopped by the Wing leader. The Squadron subsequently flew North of Calais and crossed the English coast at the South Foreland, landing at base at 14.50. No e/a were observed. Weather 1/10 over France. 0/10 over Channel 8/10 over England at height of 6,000 feet.
13.20
One aircraft on Rescue patrol in connection with Cirrus 266 in region of South Foreland and Channel at height of 10 – 12,000 feet. Nothing to report. Visibility 12 miles.
F/O J. Radomski attached to Polish Inspectorate General.

1943-02-16

0/10 cloud visibility 2 miles sunshine. Afternoon 6/10 vis. 5 miles.
Training flying – Formation and battle practices. Ground “beat up” of troops.

1943-02-17

10/10 cloud visibility less than 1 mile improving in afternoon to 3 miles.
07.35
One section on Convoy patrol off South Foreland at a height of 5,000 – 10,000 feet. Convoy consisting of 20 plus 2 vessels. No e/a seen. Both aircraft down 09.35. Weather 7/10 cloud over 5,000 feet. visibility poor.
08.30
One further section on patrol over the same convoy at height of 4,000 feet to relieve previous section. 5/10 cloud and improvement in visibility. Both down 10.10.
09.30
Two aircraft maintain the same patrol as previously with nothing to report and down 11.15.
10.55
One section patrolling the same convoy as before and again with nothing to report. Both aircraft landed 12.20.
Training flying – Cross country, formation and local flying.

1943-02-18

HESTON.

10/10 cloud visibility Nil to one mile. Afternoon 4/10 vis. 5 miles sunshine.
Training flying: Army co-operation and formation practice. Ground attacks.
Squadron parade at Dispersal for inspection by Polish Station Commander Northolt, G/Cptn. Műmler. O/C R.A.F. Heston and W/Cdr. Kołaczkowski.
W/O M. Wojciechowski posted back to the Squadron from No. 2 F.I.S. Montrose for Flying duties on withdrawal from instructor training. wef. 17.2.43 reporting 18.2.43.

1943-02-19

10/10 cloud – visibility Nil in morning due to ground mist. Afternoon 1/10 vis. 2 miles sunshine.
No operational flying and test of aircraft only.

1943-02-20

Weather 8/10 cloud – fog and mist during the day prevented flying.
W/Os. Mozol and Mikolajczak cesed attachment to Polish Technical Training School Halton on completion of six week refresher course for Fitters.

1943-02-21

10/10 cloud and ground mist and fog again prevented flying.

1943-02-22

10/10 cloud and again a continuance of the same weather and no flying.
Lecture to pilots by F/Lt. Ostaszewski of Operations Room Northolt on British and German R.D.F.
F/O T. Kratke P-371 posted from R.A.F. Northolt for Operations Room Duties.

1943-02-23

The same weather for the fourth consecutive day and no flying.

1943-02-24

Weather 4/10 cloud visibility 5 miles. Sunshine.
Various flying training – Formation and cloud flying, practice firing, practice attacks and sector recco. No operational flying.
F/O S. Podobinski returned to Squadron from Sutton Bridge on completion of course (6 weeks) as gunnery Officer.

1943-02-25

10/10 cloud visibility 1 mile. 7/10 cloud visibility 2 – 3 miles. sunshine.
Squadron formation and navigation. Aerobatics.
S/Ldr. Z. Bienkowski and P/O Trenaman (Intelligence Officer attached from 315 Sqdn whilst F/O Salkeld on sick leave) attended conference at Headquarters No. 13 Group in connection with forthcoming exercise “Spartan”.

1943-02-26

HESTON

Weather 4/10 cloud visibility 2 miles.
10.30
CIRCUS 274 Part II. 12 Spitfires VB under the command of F/Lt. B. Drobinski, D.F.C. left Heston at 10.30 as escort cover to 12 Venturas. The Squadron arrived at Clacton one minute late and did not catch up with the bombers until just before reaching the French coast. Point of landfall could not be estimated due to 10/10 cloud. Bombers made a left hand turn and returned without bombing. Beehive recrossed the English coast near Margate. No enemy aircraft or flak seen. Our aircraft landed base 12.30.
10.50
One section on Rescue patrol in connection with the above operation. Both aircraft landed 12.15. Nothing to report.
14.45
CIRCUS 274 Part II. 12 Spitfires VB left by F/Lt. B. Drobinski D.F.C. “A” Flight Commander left Heston and with 308 Squadron were to form Escort cover. They made Rendezvous over Clacton with 12 Venturas and escort Squadron and after 5 minutes at sea level the Beehive climbed reaching Dunkirk at 15.35 with Squadrons at height of 12 – 13,000 feet. Considerable flak observed coming up from Dunkirk, bursts being seen between 8 – 20,000 feet. After bombing the Beehive turned left and the Squadron left the bombers north of the North Foreland. 9 – 12 large barges seen stationery 4 miles north of Dunkirk. Bomb bursts observed on the pens on the south side of the turning basin and a large ship seen along side the armament quay. All aircraft landed base 16.45.
Weather 3/10 cloud at 5,000 feet over England. Channel clear. France 6/10 at 7-9,000 feet. Clear over target.
15.05
One section on rescue patrol in connection with Circus 274. Nothing to report and down 16.30.

1943-02-27

Weather 10/10 cloud mist in morning reducing vis to Nil. Afternoon 2/10 vis. 2 miles Sunshine.
13.30.
12 Spitfires VB led by S/Ldr. Z. Bienkowski took off and made rendezvous at Northolt with No. 308 Squadron at 13.40. They ten proveeded to Clacton arriving at 14.00 and to form escort cover to 4 Boxes of 6 bombers. Weather over target perfect. Over England 9/10 at 4,000 feet. Bombers turned left after bombing. Great density of flak at 11.000 feet and moderate at 17,000 feet. Very accurate. The Squadron was too high to observe results of the bombing though dust clouds were seen. On the way home unidentified aircraft were seen 20 miles astern which followed to English coast. They were fairly high as exhaust trails were seen. The Squadron landed at 15.25.
Training flying – Local flying and aerobatics.

1943-02-28

HESTON.

Weather 10/10 visibility Nil in morning, clearing to 2 – 3 miles later with 7/10 cloud.
Squadron released from readiness in order that preparations may be completed for exercise “Spartan”. Aircraft to be painted etc. Parade held at dispersal for instruction of personnel.
J. Bienkowski S/L (Autograph)
No. 303 (P)SQDN.