Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-10-01

10/10 cloud vis. 1 – 2 miles. Afternoon vis. 4 miles – sunshine.
No flying apart from two tests of aircraft – Weather unfit for operational flying.

1943-10-02

0/10 cloud visibility 3 miles – sunshine.
Training flying – Air to Air firing – flight formation and cine gun attacks. G.C.I.
16.25
RAMROD 256 PART I. 12 Spit. IX led by F/L. Nartowicz up with 302 Squadron / Wing Leader W/C. Gabszewicz / as top cover to 72 Marauders attacking St. Omer airfield. R/v was made with the bombers and crossed the French coast according to plan. Extensive cloud met over France which obscured the target and prevented observation of bombing. No e/a were seen but moderate heavy flak was experienced over Boulogne and St. Omer directed at the bombers . After escorting the bombers back the Squadron landed base 18.25.

1943-10-03

10/10 cloud – vis. 4 miles – ground mist and haze. 4/10 vis. 6 miles – sunshine.
10.15
RAMROD 257. 11 Spit. IX including the Wing Leader up with 302 Squadron as first fighter sweep to second diversion to Ramrod 257 – Marauders attacking Voensdrecht airfield. The Wing crossed the French coast at Gravelines at 24,000 ft. and reached Ypres at some height at 11,00 hrs. They then swept Ghent to Knocke and returned eventually to base. No e/a seen and no flak. Down 12.15.
16.20
RAMROD 259 PART I. 11 Spit. IX led by S/L. Zumbach, former Officer Commanding, as first fighter sweep to Marauders attacking Beauvais airfield. Operational according to plan. 4 FW.190 met south of Lille at 26,000 ft. at 17.15. One section, P/O Stasik and W/O Popek attacked these and both claim 1 FW.190 damaged. No further e/a seen and no flak. Wing crossed out of France at Ault at 17.45 and returned to base landing 18.20. Three aircraft landing at forward airfields and later returning to base – all well after dusk.

1943-10-04

10/10 vis. 4 miles – little change during the day.
09.30
12 Spit. IX left for forward base at Bradwell Bay landing 10.10.
11.30
RAMROD 261. 1[1] Spit. IX led by F/L. Nartowicz up as Fighter cover to first formation of Fortresses returning from a raid of Frankfurt. Operation according to plan. Bombers were approx. 14 mins. late and the Wing picked them up over Antwerp area at 12.10 hrs. Cover was given to the last box and stragglers and escorted then back to the Bradwell area. 1 Fortress seen to ditch 12 miles south of Friston and crew picked up by a surface vessel bel[…] belonging to a convoy. No e/a seen. Moderate heavy flak probably from Antwerp and coastal area, but exact locality difficult to establish owing to 10/10 low cloud over whole area. Down at base 14.05 except two landing at Bradwell.
Briefing took place for an operation which was later cancelled – weather closing in.
Sgt. Pilot Czezowski J. attached to Aircrew Refresher course at Sheffield.

1943-10-05

10/10 low cloud – visibility two miles.
Test of one aircraft only – weather being unfit.

1943-10-06

NORTHOLT

10/10 low cloud – little or no change from the previous day – rain. No flying.

1943-10-07

10/10 cloud vis. ½ mile due to mist – clearing later.
Training flying – High flying – formation and cine gun training.
15.45
One section of two aircraft “scrambled” to patrol base – Down after 15 mins. Uneventful.

1943-10-08

5/10 cloud – vis. 1 mile – ground mist – sunshine later.
14.00
The Squadron left base for forward airfield at Manston.
16.10
RAMROD 264 /Part 3/. 10 Spits. IX with 302 Sqdn and 317 Sqdn up from Manston as High cover to 72 Marauders bombing targets in Belgium. Operation according to plan and over target area 16.50. Haze prevented observation of bombing. Moderate flak to bombers from the target area and west of target. No e/a seen. Down at base 18.20. Landing difficult due to thick ground haze.
16.10
One section of two aircraft on air/sea rescue patrol in connection with the above operation. Uneventful and down at base 18.20.

1943-10-09

2/10 cloud but heavy ground mist reducing visibility to nile but with good prospects of sunshine later.
12.25
Squadron took off for forward base at Bradwell Bay – landing 13.05.
14.35
RAMROD 266. 11 Spits. IX led by F/L. Arct / Wing Leader S/L. Zurakowski / took off as 2nd Fighter sweep to 72 Marauders attacking Woensdrecht a/f. Up from Bradwell Bay and swept Breda – Woensdrecht – Flushing area at 18 – 24,000 ft. Uneventful. This Unit landed at Northolt 16.40. The other Squadrons landing at Bradwell.

1943-10-10

10/10 cloud – very thick ground mist and fog reducing vis. to 50 yds. Only slight improvement during the day.
Squadron briefed before lunch for an operation but the weather made it impossible to get away. No flying during the day.

1943-10-11

Some heavy fog and mist with even less visibility than before. Vis. increasing to 500 yds during the afternoon.
P/O K. Wunsche, V.M., K.W., D.F.M., and P/O S. Belza, K.W. posted to Deputy Polish Inspectorate and to be granted 1 yrs unpaid leave for complete education.
P-782471 W/O M. Popek, K.W. posted to 16(P)S.F.T.S. – to report on expiration of leave.

1943-10-12

10/10 low cloud and thick mist and fog. Vis. 50 – 100 yds. drizzle.
No flying – aircraft recognition tests for pilots.
F/L. K. Jarzebinski, Defence Officer posted to RAF Heston to report on discharge from S.S.Q.

1943-10-13

10/10 cloud vis. 50 – 100 yds due to fog and ground mist. Slight improvement in afternoon.
Some formation and cine gun practice but weather unfit for operational flying.

1943-10-14

10/10 low cloud – slight drizzle vis. 100 yds. No flying.
Squadron called to readiness at 15.45 to act as withdrawal cover to Ports attacking Schweinfurt despite the bad weather. Released again at 17.00 hrs. for preventing take off.
F/O J. Baykowski – Interpreter – posted to No. 131 Airfield Headquarters.

1943-10-15

No change in the weather – Slight clearance during the afternoon but vis. only 1 mile.
No flying.

1943-10-16

10/10 low cloud – poor visibility – slight improvement later.
11.55
The Squadron took off for forward base at Halesworth, but again weather caused the operation to be cancelled and the Unit returned to base landing 15.45.

1943-10-17

10/10 low cloud and rain during the morning – Improvement later.
Squadron briefed for an operation and one of the Squadrons of the Wing became airborne at 09.00 but had to land almost immediately.
16.10
RODEO 262. 10 Spit. IX led by F/L. Koc took off to Sweep Beachy – West of Le Havre – Bernay – Pavilly – East of St. Valery and back via Beachy Head. Height maintained at 22-26,000 ft. Uneventful. Two small ships seen, one in and one just North of Le Havre. Down 18.00.

1943-10-18

NORTHOLT

6/10 cloud and poor vis. on ground. Clearing later and sunshine.
08.20
RAMROD 271 Part I. 12 Spit. IX led by S/L. Falkowski / Wing Leader W/C. Gabszewicz / up as high cover to 72 Marauders bombing airfield in France. Believed over target 09.30 but practically the whole area was obscured by cloud. Slight inaccurate flak possibly from Rouen. No e/a seen and the bombers did not bomb owing to 10/10 cloud in target area. The Squadron landed at Ford after 2.10 hrs. flying.
10.50
Squadron returned to base.
13.20
RAMROD 273. 12 Spit. IX again led by S/L. Falkowski Wing Leader W/C. Gabszewicz acted as cover to formation of Fortresses on their way to Germany. Wing remained with the bombers from Berck to a point south of Douai through difficult conditions of cloud and bad visibility, returning via Hardelot and Bechy Head. Vis. never more than one mile. Believed bombers abandoned task shortly afterwards. Dawn at base 15.25.
13.30
One section of 2 a/c on rescue patrol in connection with the above operation – Down 15.40 Uneventful.
16.00
RAMROD 274 PART II. 12 Spits. IX led by S/L. Falkowski up as High cover to 72 Marauders which were to have bombed an airfield in France. Weather was bad and the bombers turned back shortly after leaving the coast. The Northolt Wing then swept Dieppe and back without incident, landing at base 17.35.
F/L. W. Krol posted to 302/P/ Squadron to command.
P/Os. R. Brygider and T. Haczkiewicz posted from D.P.I.G. for flying duties /formerly with the Squadron as airmen pilots.

1943-10-19

8/10 low cloud vis. 2 – 3 miles. Later rain and 10/10 cloud. High wind.
No operational flying, but flight formation and cine gun practices.

1943-10-20

08.55
RODEO 263 Part I. 10 Spits. IX with the Polish wing as second fighter sweep. Crossed the French coast near Fecamp at 09.45 at 20-25,000 ft. and swept Goderville – Caude – Bec – Rouen area – Pavilly – St. Valery where enemy coast was crossed at 10.10 hrs. No e/a seen but slight heavy flak from Rouen. Down 10.45. 10/10 cloud inland at 22,000 ft.
13.00
RAMROD 277. 12 Spit. IX, including S/L Bienkowski, up with the Wing as fighter cover to second formation of Fortresses – Operation according to plan. Escorted bombers for 16 mins. turning back probably at Cambrai – St. Quentin area. Wing crossed French coast just North of Le Touquet at 14.30. After leaving the bombers at 14.03 a number of unidentified a/c seen diving from North East on first box of bombers. S/L. Zurakowski, leading the Wing saw after this incident 2 parachutes at 25,000 ft. When returning Ops. gave warnings of e/a but none seen. Down at base 15.05. Weather: Channel and French coast clear – Inland – cumulus 5/10 increasing.
13.25
One section on air/sea rescue patrol – uneventful.
F/O T. Radkiewicz – Squadron Intelligence Officer /Polish/ posted to 133 Airfield.
F/L. S. Wandzilak posting to 316 Sqdn for flying duties.
F/O B. Mach posted to 308 Sqdn for flying duties.
P/O W. Sliwinski posted to 302 Sqdn for flying duties.

1943-10-21

10/10 low cloud and rain during the morning – slight improvement in the afternoon but cloud closing in later.
Training flying only – Formation flying – cine gun Practice – Target towing and air to air firing.

1943-10-22

NORTHOLT

2/10 cloud vis. 1 mile – some mist and fog – Sunshine later.
Notification of the following Polish promotions:
Kpt. S/L. J. Falkowski to the rank of Major.
Por. F/L. B. Arct to the rank of Kapitan.
Ppors. F/Os B. Bialecki and L. Karaszewski to the rank of Porucznik.
Ppor. F/L. W. Gałuszka to the rank of Porucznik.
09.30
RAMROD 280. Squadron led by S/L. Falkowski, with the Polish Wing, up as High cover to Marauders attacking Evreux a/f. Excellent bombing in S.E. dispersals where fires seen. South of Rouen 5 Me.109s seen to approach the port section of 317 Sqdn but dived away when the section turned to attack. Bomber boxes 5 miles apart – considered to far for adequate cover. 8/10 cloud at 8/10,000 ft. – Target area clear. Down 11.35.
14.35
RAMROD 282. The Sqdn led by F/L. Nartowicz up as high cover to formation of Marauders detailed to attack targets in France. Bombers set course early and Wing followed behind. Bad weather encountered over the Channel – 10/10 cloud 7/9,000 ft. so the operation was abandoned and the formation returned to base Down 16.06.
14.35
One section of 2 a/c on Rescue patrol but returning to base at the same time as the rest of the Sqdn.

1943-10-23

10/10 cloud vis. 3 miles – Afternoon 6/10 vis. 8 miles – sunshine.
No operational flying – only one cross country flight and air test.

1943-10-24

0/10 vis. ½ mile, fog and mist – some increase in visibility later with sunshine.
11.20
RAMROD 263 Part I. The Squadron led by S/L. Falkowski with the Wing up as high cover to a formation of 72 Marauders – target Beauvais / Tille a/f. Bombers 5 mins. late for r/v. Formation crossed in between Dieppe & Le Treport at approx. 12.15. This Unit at 20,000 /Top/ saw 12 F.W.190s approaching through thick mist but they were lost sight of. Bomb bursts seen between Beauvais / Tille and Beauvais / Rivillers a/fs. Thick column of smoke seen. Over target 12.30. Down at base 13.25. Thick haze at 21,000 ft.
15.35
RAMROD 284 Part I. First fighter sweep to 12 Mitchells bombing Amsterdam / Schiphol. The Squadron swept as planned but below 17,000 ft. and made one port orbit West of Walcheren after leaving the Dutch coast. Slight heavy flak North of Walcheren but otherwise uneventful. 10/10 cloud – base at 17,000 ft. No e/a.

1943-10-25

10/10 – vis. NIL due to ground mist. Afternoon 0/10 vis. 1 ½ miles – sunshine.
Altitude flying and tests of aircraft only.
P-781368 Sgt. Kaniok P. Pilot, posted from 302 Sqdn for flying duties.

1943-10-26

10/10 cloud vis. NIL – fog and mist. Later 4/10 cloud vis. 2 miles – still misty but sunshine.
13.55
“A” Flight scrambled to patrol London in the area of Buckingham Palace at a height of 8/10,000 ft. Weather fairly good. Uneventful and down after 2 hours.
Formation flying training.

1943-10-27

10/10 cloud and fog reducing visibility to NIL. No flying.

1943-10-28

Continuance of the same foggy weather and no flying.

1943-10-29

No difference and visibility still NIL and impossible for aircraft to get off the ground.

1943-10-30

Fog and ground mist still reducing visibility to NIL and no flying.

1943-10-31

Still no change and no flying.

Falkowski [Autograph]
Squadron Leader, Commanding.
No. 303 /Polish/ Squadron.