Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-01-01

Lindholme

Weather – Mainly cloudly, with fog during morning.
Crews stood down from operations.

1942-01-02

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudly, with intermittent rain and drizzle.
Crews stood down from operations.

1942-01-03

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudly, with a period of rain in the afternoon.
The following three aircrews arrived on posting from BRAMCOTE: - (1); F/O M. KUCHARSKI, Sgt. ZIELIŃSKI, A., F/O A. KAUCZ, Sgt. JASIŃSKI T., Sgt. KOCYK, B. , Sgt. ZESKO, S.; (2):Sgt MATJASZEK, L., Sgt. STRACZEK, M. F/O J. WACNSKI, Sgt. GIBAS, L. Sgt. MYLNARSKI, R. Sgt. GARBACZ, W.; and (3): Sgt. SOLECKI, L. Sgt. MACHNIEWSKI, R. , F/O B. PIWOWAREK, Sgt. KLUS, Z. Sgt. MOSZYNSKI, T., and Sgt. WALUKIEWICZ, W. Air firing practice took place at LEA MARSH and bombing practice at MABLETHORPE.

1942-01-04

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudly, with a period of light rain in early morning and evening.
Freshers were detailed for operations, but these tasks, as well as the night flying training programme, were cancelled on account of bad visibility.

1942-01-05

Lindholme

Weather – Fair, with light snow showers.
Five senior crews were detailed to attack shipping at BREST, and there Freshers the docks at CHERBOURG. Of the former Sgt. KOSTURKIEWICZ was unabld to take off owing to inter-communication trouble in aircraft 9680 and cloud prevented F/O SZCZUROWSKI, Sgt. ZIOLKOWSKI, F/O FIGURA and P/O LADRO, in aircraft numbers 1088, 9829, 1604 and 441 accurately bombing the target; for the freshers’ task P/O SKARZYNSKI, Sgt. JONSKI and P/O DZIEGIELEWSKI captained aircraft numbers 1112, 1660 and 443, but cloud here also impeded them in their attack.

1942-01-06

Lindholme

Weather - Fine at first, becoming fair and hazy; frost at night.
All personnel took part in an invasion exercise but only a feint attack was made on the area defended by the Squadron, in which two members f the invading force were captured. F/O HIRSZ returned from a Beam Approach course at MILDENHALL.

1942-01-07

Lindholme

Weather – Fair and misty with poor visibility. Frost and night.
F/O KOSSAKOWSKI left for a Gunnery Leaders’ course at CHELVASTON. P/O LADRO left for RAUCEBY for medical treatment. Two fresher crews were detailed for operations but this task was cancelled before briefing.
1942-01-08
Lindholme

Weather – Fair, with poor visibility.
Sgt. ZIOLKOWSKI, F/O KWAK, P/O ZAJAC, Sgt. KOSTURKIEWICZ, F/O SZCZURKOWSKI and F/O HIRSZ, captaining respectively aircraft numbers 1112, 9829, 423, 1230, 437 and 1660 were detailed to attack shipping at BREST, but cloud prevented accurate observation results. Two fresher crews captained by Sgt. JONSKI and P/O DZIEGIELEWSKI, in aircraft numbers 9680 and 1697 were detailed to attack the docks at CHERBOURG. The former did not locate the target owing to cloud, but the latter satisfactorily accomplishes task. A night flying training programme was also carried out.

1942-01-09

Lindholme

Weather – Fair during morning, wintry showers in afternoon. Strong gusty winds. Night frost. all crews were stood down from operations.

1942-01-10

Lindholme

Weather – Fair and misty; light snow showers in afternoon and fog in evening. Frost at night. The tasks for four fresher crews and night flying training were cancelled, but seven seniors were detailed to attack the railway station at WILHELMSHAVEN. Of these P/O ZAJAC and Sgt. OBIOREK, captaining respectively aircraft numbers 423 and 1082, are missing; F/O KWAK bombed EMDEN and Sgt. KOSTURKIEWICZ, F/O ISZKOWSKI, F/O HIRSZ and F/O SZCZUROWSKI –completed their task, but on account of thick fog at base were diverted to other aerodromes.

1942-01-11

Lindholme

Weather – Fair, with fog and frost.
Aircraft numbers 5688, 1230 and 1660 returned from HORSHAM ST. FAITH (5688) and SWANTON MORLEY (1230 and 1660). P/O OSTAPISNKI left for medical treatment at TORQUAY.

1942-01-12

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudy, with period of fog during morning and snow in the evening. Frost nearly all day. F/O KWAK and crew and P/O SZCZURKOWSKI and crew returned from BIRCHAM NEWTON and BINBROCK respectively by train.

1942-01-13

Lindholme

Weather – Mainly overcast with snow and sleet during morning. For period in early evening. Operations for four fresher crews were cancelled at 13.30 hours, but a night flying training programme was able to be completed.

1942-01-14

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudy, with poor visibility and frost at night.
Two medium distance and two fresher crews’ tasks were cancelled, but six senior crews, captained by Sgt. KOSTURKIEWICZ, F/O HIRSZ, P/O FIGURA, F/O MORAWSKI, F/O SZCZUROWSK and Sgt. ZIOLKOWSKI, in aircraft numbers 5688, 1660, 1602, 1230 and 9664 respectively, attacked an aircraft factory in HAMBURG. On account of icing, F/O FIGURA and Sgt. ZIOLKOWSKI were compelled to abandon the primary target and bombed TEXEL and CUXHAVEN instead. A night training programme was carried out.

1942-01-15

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudy, becoming fair in afternoon; misty. Frost all day.
The operational flight for two fresher crews was cancelled, but three medium, captained by P/O DZIEGIELEWSKI, Sgt. SICINSKI and P/O SKARZYNSKI, in aircraft and numbers 441, 5688 and 1112 successfully bombed the docks at EMDEN.

1942-01-16

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudy with slight mist. Frost and night.
F/L NOWICKI was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader and Flying Officers WOJCIK and ISZKOWSKI to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. F/O SUSKA was appinted Gunnery Leader and promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant.

1942-01-17

Lindholme

Weather – Mainly cloudy, with slight mist or haze. Frost at night.
Wellington aircraft W. 5627 arrived from HULLAVINGTON on No. 41 Group’s allotment No. 1359. The operational tasks for two fresher crews were cancelled at 17.00 hours, but five senior crews were detailed to attack BREMEN. These were captained by Sgt. KOSTURKIEWICZ , P/O SZCZUROWSKI, F/O MORAWSKI, F/O KWAK and P/O SKARZYNSKI in aircraft 1230, 1660, 9680, 9829 and 9664 respectively. Good results were not obtained owing to cloud. F/O KWAK bombed alternatively SCHWERIN and, running short of petrol, returned to NORTH COATED. A night flying training programme was carried out.

1942-01-18

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudy with mist and occasional light snow showers. Frost all day.
Crews stood down from operations.

1942-01-19

Lindholme

Weather – mainly overcast with continuous snow and strong wind in evening.
Crews stood down operations.

1942-01-20

Lindholme

Weather – snow continuous untill early evening, with fall of about 6in., in drifts. Frost all day.
Aeodrome unserviceable.

1942-01-21

Lindholme

Weather – Fine at first, becoming cloudy. Hard frost all day.
The fresher tasks and night flying training were cancelled owing to bad weather.
F/O FIGURA and F/O JAROSZYNSKI left for medical treatment.

1942-01-22

Lindholme

Weather – Mainly cloudy, with period of continuous snow in evening. Hard frost all day.
F/ Sgt. MILNE left for W. G. M. conversion course at CRANWELL. F/L WISNIEWSKI left for a medical coference in BLACKPOOL. The task for one fresher crew was cancelled at 14.00 hours.

1942-01-23

Lindholme

Weather – Snow continued, turning to rain at about 07.00 hours, which went on all day untill late evening. Thaw commenced at about 09.00 hours. F/L JARZABEK, Polish Committee of Adjustment, visited from BLACKPOOL.

1942-01-24

Lindholme

Weather – Mainly cloudy with a period of rain in the morning. Strong winds.
Aerodrome unserviceable. W/C DUDZINSKI visited the Squadron. F/L WISNIEWSKI returned from BLACKPOOL. Cpl BECKER promoted to the rank of sergeant.

1942-01-25

Lindholme

Weather – Mainly cloudy, with a period of rain in the morning. Strong winds.
Aerodrome unserviceable. P/O ZIEMIANSKI left for a Beam Approach Training course at MILDENHALL.

1942-01-26

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudy with period of snow in the morning, becoming during the evening. Frost and strong winds most of day.
Seven senior crews captained by S/L CZETOWICZ, F/O KWAK, P/O SKARZYNSKI, F/O HIRSZ, F/O MORAWSKI, Sgt. KOSTURKIEWICZ and P/O SZCZUROWSKI in aircraft 1602, 1704, 1112, 5688, 9644, 1230 and 1088, attacked the town of HANOVER. F/O MORAWSKI, experiencing engine trouble, attacked MINDEN instead and returned to SWANTON MORLEY. Two freshers - Sgt. JONSKI and P/O MISNIAKIEWICZ, in aircraft 437 and 1967, attacked the docks at EMINEN.

1942-01-27

Lindholme

Weather – Fine at first, becoming cloudy, with snow turning to rain in afternoon and evening, accompanied by a that.
The task for three fresher crews was cancelled at 13.00 hours before briefing. Sgt. DALTON was attacked to S. H. Q. to be in charge of the Dream lighting system.

1942-01-28

Lindholme

Weather – Fine early, becoming partly cloudy with light rain showers.
P?O DZIEGIELEWSKI, captaining aircraft 1602, was forced to abandon the task of bombing MUNSTER owing to serve icing. Five fresher crews in aircraft 1704, 5627, 5688 and 9680, captained respectively by Sgt. OMIELJASZKO, Sgt. SICINSKI, P/O MISNIAKIEWICZ, F/O KUCHARSKI and P/O TRZEBSKI, were detailed to attack the docks at BOULOGNE. The nast-named was unable to take off owing to engine trouble but the task was satisfactorily accomplished by the reminder.

1942-01-29

Lindholme

Weather – Mainly cloudy, with period of rain early, turning to show, followed by intermittent drizzle; becoming fine with frost during evening.
Aerodrome unserviceable. W/O RUSTON received a commission and was posted overseas for services as an Armament Officer.

1942-01-30

Lindholme

Weather - Fair at first, becoming partly couldy with light rain showers, turning to snow. News was received of the crew of aircraft 1215, missing since November 7th. The captain, P/O BLICHARZ, wrote saying that lack of petrol compelled him to land on BRUSSELS aerodrome, where after having destroyed their aircraft the crew were taken prisoners by the enemy. Sgt. STRACZEK, while returning from a cross-country flight, landed at FINNINGLEY and was unable to return to base owing to bad visibility. Air Vice Marshal R. D. OXLAND Officer Commanding No. 1 Group, addressed flying personnel of both squadrons.

1942-01-31

Lindholme

Weather – Cloudy, with period of rain in early morning, becoming fair in afternoon.
Aerodrome unserviceable.