Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-06-01

Weather: Heavy mist with poor visibility but improving. Wind 10 mph, 3/10ths cloud. F/O STALLEBRASS returned from NEWARK HOSPITAL. No. 251902 Cpl JONES T. and No. 508965 Cpl. WILSON H. were promoted to the rank of T/Sergeant.

1941-06-02

Weather: Moderate visibility with 10/10ths cloud, wind 15-20 mph. XXIIIrd. Operational Flight comprising six aircraft captained respectively by S/L BEILL, F/L ONOSZKO, F/O OSTROWSKI, F/L BLAZEJEWSKI, F/O CZETOWICZ and P/O ISZKOWSKI undertook the bombing of DUISBURG. Thick mist over the target made accurate bombing and observation difficult and on the return to this country S/L BEILL was forced to land at WEAST WRETHAM and F/O OSTROWSKI at LANGHAM. Aircraft R 1232 (F/O CZETOWICZ) was struck, but not seriously, by A/A fire.

1941-06-03

Weather: Visibility 2-3,000 yards, cloud 5-7/10ths, wind 10-15 mph. S/L ABRAHAM left for HULLAVINGTON to collect TIGER MOTH A/c No. T. 5631 on Allotment No. 41G/29173.

1941-06-04

Weather: Visibility 2-3,000 yards, cloud 8-10/10ths. The funeral of F/O WAROCZEWSKI, F/O KUSZCZYNSKI and P/O WIECZOREK, who were killed when A/c No. R 1392 was destroyed in KENT after an operational flight took place at 10.30 hours in NEWARK CEMETERY and was attended by G/C KARPINSKI of No. 1 Group, G/C WASKEIWICZ of the Polish Inspectorate General, and many Officers and other personnel. F/O KARCZEWSKI was Officer in charge. Night flying was interrupted by the proximity of enemy aircraft and was curtailed.

1941-06-05

Weather: Wind 10-15 mph, 5/10ths cloud increasing to 10/10ths. Visibility good but later deteriorating.

1941-06-06

Weather: Misty improving to visibility of 800 – 1,000 yards, but again worsening. Wind 10–15 mph, cloud 6-8/10ths to overcast later. Operational flight No. XXIV was cancelled at 17.15 hours.

1941-06-07

Weather: Slight mist with visibility 2-3000 yards, wind 6-10 mph, cloud 5-7/10ths. W/C KIPPENBERGER visited from No. 1 Group. P/O A. GISMAN was married in BIRMINGHAM. Task XXV was cancelled at 15.50 hours.

1941-06-08

Weather: Wind 5 mph, cloud 6/10 ths, misty early and poor visibility later.

1941-06-09

Weather: Slight mist turning to rain and drizzle, cloud 6-8/10ths.

1941-06-10

Weather: Wind 15-20 mph, low cloud 5-7/10ths. F/O T.GILBERT, Squadron Adjutant, was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. No. 808160 Cpl. ATKINSON F. was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Operational Task No. XXVI was cancelled at 17.55 hours.

1941-07-11

Weather: Slight mist early improving to moderate visibility of 2-3,000 yards. Wind 5-15 mph, cloud variable 3 8/10ths. The Commander in Chief, Bomber Command, Air Marshal Sir RICHARD PEIRSE ACCOMPANIED BY THE A.C.C No. 1 Group, Air Vice Marshal R.D. OXLAND, visited the Squadron.

1941-06-12

Weather: Slight haze improving to 2-3000 yards visibility, Wind 5-10 mph, cloud 2-4/10ths. Group Captain H.R.H. the Duke of Kent Honoured the Squadron with a visit in the afternoon and afterwards took tea in the Officers’ Mess. Task XXVII was undertaken by five aircraft R.1230, R.1002, R 1704, W 5688 and W5720, captained by F/L BLAZEJEWSKI, F/O OSTROWSKI, W/C DUDZINSKI, F/O ISZKOWSKI and S/L BEILL respectively, and comprised the bombing of OSNABRUCK. Starting at 22.51 hours all the aircraft successfully completed their task and returned to base between 05.00 and 05.20 hours.

1941-06-13

Weather: Wind 10-20 mph, cloud 3-6/10ths, visibility moderate to good. The following telegram was received from the A.O.C. No. 1 Group: - “The operational effort on the night of 12/13th June was the largest yet made by this group on one night. The A.O.C. wishes to congratulate all those who were concerned in the carrying out of the operation and in the production of this large number of crews and aircraft”. Task XXVIII and XXIX were accomplished by this Squadron. Both comprised the bombing of the harbour of BREST and of the German battleships GNEISENAU, SCHARNHORST and PRINZ EUGEN therein. A smoke screen largely impeded accurate observation of the attack. The aircraft taking part were, in Task XXVIII, 1414, 5720, 1602 and 2840 captained respectively by F/L BLAZEJEWSKI, S/L BEILL, F/L ONOSZKO and F/O OSTROWSKI and in Task XXIX 5688, Captain F/O ISZKOWSKI.

1941-06-14

Weather: Wind 15-20 mph gusting 30 mph – some rain early in period. Cloud variable from 5-9/10 ths, visibility good. W/C DUDZINSKI and many other Polish and British Officers and other ranks attended the funeral in NEWARK Cemetery at 15.30 hours of F/L STEFANICKI, SGT MRUK, F/O WOJTOWICZ SGT KRAWCZYK, F/O KOWALCZE and F/O ZIEWITZ of 305 Squadron who lost their lives in an Aircraft crash on June 12th.

1941-06-15

Weather: Wind 25 – 30 mph, cloud 4 – 6/10ths, Clear generally but hazy at times, visibility mainly good.

1941-06-16

Weather: Wind 5–10 mph Ground mist early in period, cloud nil, visibility good. Task XXX was undertaken by A/c Nos 5688, 5720 and 9620 captained respectively by W/C DUDZINSKI, S/L BEILL and F/L ONOSZKO and comprised the bombing of DUISBURG. S/L BEILL was unable to reach the target on account of engine trouble, attacked instead the harbour of DE MOK.

1941-06-17

Weather: Wind 5 mph. Slight haze early with 10/10ths cloud clearing later with 3/10-5/10 cloud – Fine, visibility moderate to good. F/O STALLEBRASS reported on posting to WELLESBOURNE MOUNTFORD.

1941-06-18

Weather: Wind 10-15mph. Hazy. Cloud 4/10-6/10, visibility mainly good but deteriorating at end of period. F/O KUREK left for a Navigation Instructors Course at CRANAGE. No. 780877 Sgt KLIMIUK and No. 780720 Sgt ZUWALA Z. arrived on posting from BRAMCOTE for Aircrew duties.

1941-06-19

Weather: Wind 5 mph, Heavy mist at first clearing later. 3/10 cloud, visibility good.

1941-06-20

Weather: F/O DAAB and F/O MICHALIK left on posting for KEMBLE. Two aircrews arrived on posting from BRAMCOTE consisting of (1) P/O HIRSE (Captain), No. 782216 Sgt LOZOWICKI, F/L RZEPA, No. 782129 Sgt KWIECIEN, 781200 Sgt KALODZIEJ and No. 782122 Sgt ADAMIK and (2) No. 780401 Sgt TRZEBSKI (Captain), 780403 Sgt. ZAYAC, P/O MACZYNSKI, No. 784302 Sgt STRZYZEWSKI, No.782119 Sgt POKRZYWA and No. 782120 Sgt SKIEROZYNSKI. Night flying programme was interrupted by the proximity of enemy aircraft.

1941-06-21

The following aircrew arrived on posting from SWINDERBY: - F/O KUZIAN (Captain), No. 783678 Sgt TOMASZEWSKI, P/O KLATT, No.793771 SGT SYLWESTROWICZ, No. 781767 Sgt PODZIEMSKI and No. 793025 Sgt CZERNIEWESKI. In the inter-section football this Squadron’s team 3 goals to 3 with No. 305 Squadron. Task XXXII was carried out by four aircraft Nos. 1761, 5688, 5720 and 1215 captained by F/O CZETOWICZ, F/O ISZKOWSKI, S/L BEILL and F/L ONOSZKO, and consisted in an attack on the main railway station at COLOGNE. S/L BEILL being unable to locate the target bombed successfully a neighbouring aerodrome. Leaving at 23.18 hours all the aircraft returned by 05.30 hours without mishap.

1941-06-22

Weather: Wind 5-10mph, 4/10ths cloud, visibility good deteriorating to moderate at night.

1941-06-23

Weather: Wind 10-15 mph decreasing late in period to 5-10mph, cloud 3-5/10ths, Fine, visibility good. DR. ZYGMUNT NOWOKOWSKI lectured POLISH personnel.

1941-06-24

Weather: 5-10mph, cloud nil-3/10ths, visibility good. S/L CHARLTON-JONES and F/L CARR-BIRKBECK visited from No.1 Group. Aircraft Nos. 1230, 1761, 1002, 5688 and 9620 took part in Task XXXIII comprising the bombing of COLOGNE, and this task was successfully carried out by all five aircraft captained respectively by F/L BLAZEJEWSKI, F/O CZETOWICZ, F/O OSTROWSKI, F/O ISZKOWSKI and F/L ONOSZKO. Leaving at 22.58, all had returned by 05.10 hours.

1941-06-25

Weather: 5-10 mph. Hazy early in period, 3/10ths cloud, fine, visibility moderate to good.

1941-06-26

Weather: 10-15 mph, gusting 20 mph, cloud 3-8/10ths, fine, visibility good.

1941-06-27

Weather: Wind 5-10 mph, slight haze early in period, clear, cloud 2-3/10ths, visibility good. F/O SOSKA and F/O MUSIAL attached for aircrew duties from No. 305 (P) Squadron pending posting. The bombing of the docks and town of BREMEN was allotted as Task XXXIV for which A/c Nos. 1230 1761, 1215 and 1005 were detailed, captained by F/L BLAZEJEWSKI, F/O CZETOWICZ, F/L ONOSZKO and F/O OSTROWSKI. Severe icing conditions and thunderstorms rendered the task difficult and compelled F/L BLAZEJEWSKI to jettison his full load CUXHAVEN. The A/c No.1761 was struck by A/A fire but no serious injuries were sustained, and all aircraft had returned safely by 05.30 hours.

1941-06-28

Weather: Slight mist, 10/10ths cloud, visibility 2,000 yards, wind 10-15 mph. W/C P.DUDZINSKI and S/L ABRAHAM and many other officers and personnel attended the Requiem Mass for, and funeral of S/L KIELICH of No.305 (P) Squadron at NEWARK Cemetery.
Air Vice Marshal UJEJSKI held an investiture this afternoon which was attended by the A.C.C. Air Vice Marshal R.D, OXLAND and Group Captained KARPINSKI. The following officers and sergeants received the Polish Order KRZYZ WALECZNYCH for bravery in action against the enemy: - W/C DUDZINSKI, S/L WOJDA, F/L BLAZEJEWSKI, F/O’s KARCZEWSKI. KRANC, OSTROWSKI, CZETOWICZ, ISZKOWSKI, KUREK, LEWKOWICZ, WOJCIK, P/O’s BLICHARZ, SIUDA, RACH and Sergeants APANASEWICZ, THIER, ADAMCZYK, GEBICKI, SZANTROCH, PASKIEWICZ, PIECHOCKI, SZEWCZYK, BERGNER, SANKOWSKI, WEDRYCHOWSKI.
The order has also been posthumously awarded to F/O KUSZCZYNSKI and to the following who are missing after an operational flight: - F/O SYM, F/O SOBIERALSKI, P/O DUCHNICKI, SGTS HAMPEL, ZOLNOWSKI and BIALEK. After the presentation of the medals the Squadron marched past the Air Vice Marshal.

1941-06-29

Weather: Wind 10-15 mph, 10/10ths cloud early decreasing to 2/10ths later, becoming clear, visibility good. F/O STEPIEN and F/O JAROSZYNSKI left on posting to BRAMCOTE.

1941-06-30

Weather: Wind nil-5 mph, cloud 2-3/10ths, visibility 2-3,000 yards, fine.
P/O BLECHARZ left for MILIENHALL for a Blind Approach Training Course. S/L ABRAHAM accompanied by F/L GILBERT and P/O SYMONDS flew to LINDHOLM.

ABRAHAM
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 304 (Polish) Squadron,
R.A.F. SYERSTON