Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-05-01

Weather: Wind 25 mph gusting to 35 mph. 3/10 ths cloud.
Visibility good but deteriorating with rain to poor at night. S/L R.Beill returned from LONDON after a conference at the POLISH INSPECTORATE GENERAL. P/O S NOWICKI left for WAINFLEET to act as Range Security Officer.
No. 510627 CPL, GREGORY H. was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Task 4 for night operations in which four crews were to have participated was cancelled at 16.45 hours.

1941-05-02

Weather – Wind 5-10 mph. 3/10 ths Cloud. Clear with visibility mainly good. Task V comprised an attack on the docks at EMDEN and was carried out by A/c Nos. R 1230, N 2840, R1232 and R 1443, captained respectively by F/L BLAZEJEWSKI, P/O ISZKOWSKI, F/L CZETOWICZ and P/O SYM. The flights began at 20.55 and all aircraft were landed by 03.40 hours.

1941-05-03

Weather – Wind 5-10 mph generally. Cloud varying from 5 to 7/10 ths. Fine, visibility good. W/C W.M. GRAHAM attended a Conference at 1 Group Headquarters.

1941-05-04

Weather – Wind 5-10 mph. Cloud 3-5/10ths. Fine through day with good visibility but hazy at night. No. P 793332 SGT KONSTRUKIEWICZ returned from Blind Approach Course at MILDENHALL. Task VI was undertaken by A/c Nos. R 1443, R 1232, R 1215 and R 1002, captained respectively by P/O SYM, F/O CZETOWICZ, F/L BLAZEJEWSKI and F/O OSTROWSKI. A fine night assisted the bombing of the Docks at LE HAVRE, and considerable damage was seen to have been sustained. The Flights began at 22.14 hours and routed via COTTESMORE and BRIDPORT returned by 04.32 hours. A/c No. W 5668 was also detailed to take part, captained by P/O ISZKOWSKI but was damaged by fire soon after the engine had been started.

1941-05-05

Weather – Wind 5-10 mph. Cloud varying from 5 to 10/10 ths. Fair and clear with visibility moderate to good.
F/Sgt Symonds E.B. received commissioned rank as Pilot Officer. F/O KOSTUCH left for an Observer’s course at STAVERTON.

1941-05-06

Weather – Wind gusting from 25-30 mph, Cloud 3 to 5/10 ths, visibility 2 to 3 miles. P/O NOWICKI returned from WAINFLEET. P/O E. SYMONDS has been appointed Squadron Engineer Officer in the place of FLYING OFFICER R. STALLEBRASS who has been posted to WELLESBOURNE MOUNTFORD. The latter was however, unable to proceed as he was removed to Hospital with an attack of appendicitis. Task VII entailed an attack on the docks and shipping of LE HAVRE and was carried out A/c Nos. R 1002, W 5668, R 1230, R 1761 and R 1443 captained by F/O OSTROWSKI, W/CDR. DUDZINSKI and F/O CZETOWICZ alone were able to locate the target on account of thick cloud at from 3 to five thousand feet. F/L BLAZEJEWSKI after attempting to find the secondary target and F/O OSTROWSKI returned with full load. P/O SYM did not return and no further information is available. Leaving at 21.45 hours the fourth and last aircraft returned at 04.27 hours.

1941-05-07

Weather – Wind 15-20 mph, 3 to 5/10 ths Cloud, Fine, Visibility good. An invasion practice was held in which W/CDR GRAHAM and F/O LYNES in the Magister and Anson respectively took part.

1941-05-08

Weather – slight mist early, wind 5-10 mph, cloud variable, visibility moderate to good. Three A/c were detailed to take part in this Squadron’s Task VIII – Night operation viz. Wellington R 1002, R 1761 and R 1473 captained respectively by F/O OSTROWSKI, F/L BLAZEJEWSKI and F/O LYNES. R 1002 failed to take off owing to Microphone trouble. R 1473 did not return and nothing is known of its fate. R 1761 bombed BREMEN after starting at 23.04 hours. Observation was difficult owing to mist over the target, but large fires were seen in the neighbourhood of the target. The A/c returned at 05.34.

1941-05-09

Weather – Clear, wind 5-10 mph, Cloud 5 to 7/10 ths. Visibility 2 to 3 miles. Hazy late in period. Wellington A/c Nos. R 1392 and R 1413 arrived from LICHFIELD on B.C. Allotment 41G/4920
Task IX and X were cancelled at 13.15 hours.

1941-05-10

Weather – Wind 5-15 mph Cloud 3 to 5/10ths visibility good. P/O KANIEWSKI left on posting for CARLISLE. SGT GLYDZIAK collected Wellington A/c R 1660 from SILLHOUTH on Allotment No. 41G/4884. A/c Nos. 1232, 1002 and 5668 captained by F/O CZETOWICZ, F/O OSTROWSKI, and W/C DUDZINSKI, took part in Task XI which commenced at 22.14 hours and ended at 05.15 hours. F/O OWSTOWSKI and F/O CZETOWICZ successfully bombed the docks at HAMBURGH and dropped leaflets. W/C DUDZINSKI not having located the primary target bombed the dock at BREMEN. Task XII was completed by A/c Nos. 1215, and 2840, captained by F/L ONOSZKO and P/O KUSZCZYNSKI and comprised the bombing of EMDEN. The latter aircraft was considerably damaged by A.A. fire but the damage was only discovered after the return at 04.50.

1941-05-11

Weather – Wind 5 to 10 mph, cloud 3 to 5/10 ths, visibility hazy with fog later. S/L J. BECK and CAPTAIN HUNTER, Navigation Officers, Bomber Command, visited the Squadron. F/L WISNIEWSKI Squadron Medical Officer left for a course at HALTON.

1941-05-12

Weather – Cloud 7 to 10/10ths, with poor visibility generally, wind 3- 5 m.p.h. Sgt KOSTURKIEWICZ returned from Blind Approach Course at MILDENHALL. P/O HOPPER arrived on posting as Squadron Education Officer. No. 562232 Sgt NORKETT A. was promoted to the rank of F/Sgt and No. 567843 Cpl THOMPSON J. to that of Sgt. Task XIII which comprised the bombing of MANNHEIM and LUDWIGSHAVEN was undertaken by F/L BLAZEJEWSKI, F/O CZETOWICZ and P/O ISZKOWSKI captaining A/C Nos. R. 1761, R1232 and R 5668. The flights began at 22.35. hours and travelling by ORFORDNESS and BRUSSELS started numerous fire in the centre of the target and dropped leaflets. All the aircraft had returned at by 05.05 hours. Task XIV was cancelled at 17.15 hours owing to inclement weather over proposed target.

1941-05-13

Weather – Wind 5 – 15 m.p.h., cloud 10/10 ths, visibility moderate. F/O BURLEY, Committee of Adjustment, visited from No. 1 Group. P/O WAROCZEWSKI took P/O RACH and P/O KUSZCZYNSKI to HULLAVINGTON and LITTLE RISSINGTON to collect Wellington A/c Nos. W 5720 and R 1602 under Allotment Nos 41G/4911 and 4972 respectively.

1941-05-14

Weather – Wind 5 to 15 mph, cloud 6 to 9/10 ths. visibility poor. Task XV and XVI were cancelled at 22.00 and 15.00 respectively.

1941-05-15

Weather – wind 5 to 15 mph, cloud 3 to 10/10ths, visibility moderate. The following promotions have been made 781776 F/SGT WALCZYNSKI K to Warrant Officer, 782186 SGT NOWAK W. to F/Sgt, 782097 CPL UKROJ A. to Sgt, and 793244 SZPEK J., 780365 SYMKIEWICZ 781352 PODKOWSKI A., 782103 KOT J, 782098 GALECKI H., 781743 BARCZUK R, 780096 FILIPOW K. to Corporals.

1941-05-16

Wind 10-15 mph, cloud 3 to 9/10ths, visibility moderate. No. 980146 DALTON H. has been promoted to the rank of Corporal.

1941-05-17

Weather – Slight mist at first, cloud 10/10ths generally, wind 5 mph, visibility 2,000 to 3,000 yards. F/L BLAZEJEWSKI, F/O OSTROWSKI and F/O CZETOWICZ captaining respectively A/c Nos. 5688 1002 and 1232, took part in the bombing of COLOGNE which comprised Task XVII. Good visibility enabled accurate bonbing of the target area around HAUPTBAHMHOF. Flights commenced at 22.15 hours and had finished at 04.30. Task XVIII was undertaken by F/L ONOSZKO and S/L BEILL in A/c Nos. 1215 and 1230, and the Docks and shipping in BOULOGNE Harbour were bombed. A/c 1392 captained by KUSZCSYNSKI was also detailed but did not start owing to the absence of SGT BAREWSKI.

1941-05-18

Weather: 5 – 10 mph Cloud varying from 3 to 10/10ths. Fine with rain later, visibility moderate. F/L WISNIEWSKI returned from HALTON.

1941-05-19

Wind 10mph, cloud 10/10ths, rain, bad visibility.

1941-05-20

Weather – hazy, wind 5 to 15 mph, cloud 5 to 7/10ths, visibility 2,000 - 3,000 yards. P/O A TURSKI was detailed to take Summary of Evidence in the case of SGT BAREWSKI.

1941-05-21

Weather – hazy, wind 5 to 15 mph, cloud 5 to 7/10ths, heavy showers of rain, wind 10-15mph, visibility poor. A telegram has been received from the International Red Cross quoting German Official Information to the effect that of the crew of the aircraft R 1473 missing on the night of May 8th SGT WADY was a prisoner of war, unwounded, and that the remaining members lost their lives.

1941-05-22

Weather – Wind 15mph increasing to 25 mph. 10/10ths cloud, rain intermittent during evening and night, visibility poor.

1941-05-23

Weather – wind 30-35 mph, cloud 6 to 8/10ths, intermittent rain, visibility 2,000 to 3000 yards.

1941-05-24

Weather – Wind 10–15 mph – cloud 10/10ths, early rain, visibility moderate. Task XIX, which was to have included four senior crews was cancelled at 21.45 hours.

1941-05-25

Weather – Rain generally. Cloud 5 to 10/10ths, visibility moderate – poor later. P/O WILCZYNSKI left on posting to No. 4 Bombing & Gunnery School at West FREUGH.

1941-05-26

Weather – Wind 5/10 mph. cloud 10/10ths, rain generally, visibility 2,000 to 3,000 yards. S/L ABRAHAM attended as President a Court of Inquiry at NEWTON. F/L KARR-BIRKBECK visited from No. 1 Group. Tasks XX and XXI were cancelled at 06.00 hours (27.5.41) and 18.00 hours respectively.

1941-05-27

Weather – wind 5 – 10 mph, cloud 10/10ths decreasing to 5/10ths. Rainy periods, visibility 2,000 to 4,000 yards. Task XXII was undertaken by two Fresher crews, captained by S/L BEILL and P/O WAROCZEWSKI in A/c Nos. 5720 and 1392. Leaving at 22.55 and 22.57 hours respectively the former successfully bombed BOULOGNE but latter was struck in the port engine by A.A. fire over the target, and crashed near BRIGHTLING (Map Ref. Sheet 135. 132378). SGT DROZDZ baled out either in enemy occupied territory or over the sea and Sergeants NILSKI and JOSEFIAK just before crash happened. The former being uninjured and latter breaking his ankle. P/O WAROCZEWSKI, P/O KUSZCZYNSKI and P/O WIECZOREK lost their lives and the A/c was written off.

1941-05-28

Weather – 15 – 20 mph Cloud 9/10 to 10/10 ths decreasing to 3 to 5/10 ths, visibility moderate to good. The Air Officer Commanding No. 1 Group, Air Vice Marshall R.D.OXLAND visited.

1941-05-29

Weather – Wind 10 -15 mph, cloud 6 to 8/10ths, rain or drizzle, visibility 1,000 to 3,000 yards.

1941-05-30

Weather – Wind decreasing from 15 to 5 mph late in period, cloud 10/10ths, visibility 2,000 to 3,000 yards. Wellington aircraft No. X 9620 was ferried from KIRKBRIDE under Allotment No. 41 G/5414. P/O TURSKI, interpreter, was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer.

1941-05-31

Weather – Wind 10 mph – Heavy mist clearing later to 3/10ths cloud, visibility moderate to good. Night flying training but for a few Second Pilots has during the past month now been completed, and there are now six operationally fit crews. One incomplete crew remains under training.

The loss of the Squadron Commander Officer, Wing Commander W.M.Graham and Flying Instructor Flying Officer G.Lynes, together with the other valuable members of the British crew on an operational flight, represents a most severe blow to the Squadron. They are deeply missed by all personnel, not only for their pre-eminent ability, but also for the fact that they were so largely responsible for the founding and training of the Squadron.

Abraham
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 304 (Polish) Squadron.