Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-07-01

DALE

Notification was received of the promotion to the rank of Acting Flight Lieutenant of Flying Officer E LADRO and Flying Officer Z HIRSZ. Sgt. A ZIELINSKI and Sgt. A KASZKOWSKI received commissions and were re-posted to the Squadron as Pilot Officers. W/O SUTERSKI arrived on posting from R.A.F. Station EXETER to fill the F/Sgt. Discip. post.

1942-07-02

DALE

It was learned that Sgt. E POLESINSKI, a member of F/O MORAWSKI’S crew which was missing from operations on the night of 27th April, 1942, was safe and had reached GIBRALTAR. Sgt. LIPSKI, a member of the same crew, was learned to be safe in German hands.

1942-07-03

DALE

P/O K TETTAMANDI was re-posted to the Squadron following his appointment to a commission.

1942-07-04

DALE

Six aircraft detailed for an anti-submarine sweep were recalled owing to bad weather.

1942-07-05

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-07-06

DALE

Aircraft 1112 (Capt - F/O T SKARZYNSKI) encountered a German seaplane, an ARADO 196, while on an anti-submarine sweep, and the rear gunner, P/O K TETTAMANDI, got in several bursts of machine-gun fire which were seen to enter the engine and wings of the enemy aircraft. Due to the skilful evasive action of the pilot, the only damage sustained by aircraft 1112 from the enemy’s fire was one bullet through the port wing. Eight aircraft took part in this sweep, and that of which Sgt. H. GOLEBIOWSKI was pilot sighted a U-boat which was attacked with six depth charges about a minute and a half after it had submerged.

1942-07-07

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-07-08

DALE

F/L RYZAK, Signals Officer, R.A.F. Station, LINDHOLME, returned to LINDHOLME on completion of temporary attachment.

1942-07-09

DALE

Three of six aircraft which took off for an anti-submarine sweep were recalled owing to bad weather. The remaining three completed the patrol.

1942-07-10

DALE

F/O R FIGURA, captaining the crew of aircraft 597, sighted and attacked a U-boat while on anti-submarine patrol. It was considered that the U-boat was damaged sufficiently to cause it to return to its base. An oil patch which probably denoted the presence of a U-boat was attacked by the crew of aircraft 671 (Captain - Sgt. W SICINSKI). Altogether eight aircraft were employed on this sweep.

1942-07-11

DALE

Group Captain MAKOWSKI, Senior Polish Officer at Headquarters, BOMBER COMMAND, visited the station and held discussions with the Squadron Commander. While on a cross-country flight aircraft Z.1072 crashed on taking off from R.A.F. Station, BRAMCOTE, and P/O MAZURKIEWICZ and F/Sgt. A KOSTURKIEWICZ, first pilot and second pilot respectively, were killed. Second Lieut. PIETRASZEK, of the Polish Land Army, cousin of P/O MAZURKIEWICZ, was fatally injured. Of the rest of the occupants, F/O E PESKI, P/O N WODZINSKI and F/Sgt J ADAMCZYK, aircrew, and Cpl. SZPEK, passenger, were injured and taken to hospital.

1942-07-12

DALE

Information was received via the International Red Cross Committee that F/L S. WOJCIK, F/O T KWAK and Sgt. JANKOWSKI, were killed on operations on the night of 24th April. They are now classified by the Air Ministry as missing, believed killed in action. No news was given of the remainder of this crew.

1942-07-13

DALE

The funeral took place at NEWARK of P/O M MAZURKIEWICZ and F/Sgt. A KOSTURKIEWICZ. The Squadron was represented by S/L B NOWICKI, their Flight Commander, together with F/O W MINAKOWSKI and four other ranks.

1942-07-14

DALE

S/L K CZETOWICZ returned from the Wingfield Morris Hospital, OXFORD, having recovered from the injuries he received when his aircraft crash-landed at LINDHOLME on April 25th owing to damage by enemy action. He subsequently proceeded to R.A.F. Station, LINDHOLME, to which station he had been posted non-effective sick on the move of the Squadron from LINDHOLME. P/O K DZIEGIELEWSKI was discharged from hospital at TORQUAY. Aircraft 1172 (Captain - P/O J WROBLEWSKI), on anti-submarine patrol with five other aircraft of this Squadron, sighted what appeared to be the periscope of a U-boat at considerable distance, but an attack was not made as evidence of the U-boat had disappeared by the time the aircraft reached the spot.

1942-07-15

DALE

The following signal was received from the Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Coastal Command: “On this day which the Polish Air Force celebrates on Allied soil, I wish to convey to No. 304 Squadron my heartiest good wished and an expression of my admiration for the magnificent work which the Squadron and all the Polish Air Force are doing in the battle for freedom”.

1942-07-16

DALE

From the Air Officer Commanding No. 19 Group, Coastal Command, the following signal was received: “Very sorry weather prevented my visit to your squadron today, but glad improved conditions midday enabled your aircraft to operate against the enemy in accordance with the traditions of Polish Air Force Day. In keeping with the the magnificent work Polish squadrons have done with Fighter and Bomber Commands it is fitting that Coastal Command should now have 304 Squadron to add strength to the war against U-boats. With your help we will make the Bay a death trap for these pests”. Three of nine aircraft of the Squadron engaged on an anti-submarine sweep — 1181, 384 and 836, captained respectively by Sgt. H GOLEBIOWSKI, F/S K ZIOLKOWSKI and Sgt. W SICINSKI — encountered Focke Wulf Kurier aircraft but no hits were registed by either side in the exchanges of fire which took place.

1942-07-17

DALE

W/C S POZIOMEK proceeded to LONDON for a two-day conference at the POLISH INSPECTORATE GENERAL headquarters.

1942-07-18

DALE

F/O R FIGURA, F/O T BRAUN, F/O F KRYSZCZUK, Sgt. K KRAJEWSKI, Sgt. S JOZEFIAK and F/S J WANCISIEWICZ, the crew of aircraft 597, which carried out a successful attack on a U-boat on 10th July, visited Headquarters, No. 19 GROUP, at the request of the Air Officer Commanding. Commander TYMINSKI, two Polish officers, a British Liaison Officer and 34 members of the crew of the Polish destroyer SLAZAK, in port at PEMBROKE DOCK, visited R.A.F. Station, DALE, and were the guests of the Squadron. In the absence of W/C POZIOMEK they were welcomed by Squadron Leader J.T. BUCZMA. After veing shown round the aerodrome they were enteratined in the messes. Five aircraft took part in an anti-submarine sweep. P/O K TETTAMANDI was posted to No. 301 Squadron, HEMSWELL. F/O KOSSAKOWSKI and P/O APANASIK, injured during operational flights on 12th and 25th April, 1942, respectively, were posted non-effective supernumerary to Polish Depot, BLACKPOOL.

1942-07-19

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-07-20

DALE

F/L A M TURSKI, former Interpreter with the Squadron, visited from the Air Observer School, TORQUAY, while on leave.

1942-07-21

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-07-22

DALE

Aircraft 803 (Captain - F/O A KRAJEWSKI) sighted the swirl of a possible U-boat during an anti-submarine sweep, but traces had disappeared before the aircraft could reach the scene. Aircraft 1112, one of six others employed on the sweep, experienced engine trouble and returned to EXETER.

1942-07-23

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-07-24

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-07-25

DALE

Sgt. J BURCHARD was attached to R.A.F. Polish Depot, BLACKPOOL, pending disposal.

1942-07-26

DALE

Sgt. S SEP-SZARZYNSKI arrived on posting for aircrew duties from No. 301 Squadron, HEMSWELL. Sgt. S. ZIELINSKI was attached to R.A.F. Polish Depot, BLACKPOOL, pending disposal.

1942-07-27

DALE

S/L K CZETOWICZ was posted to the Squadron as Commanding Officer, vice W/C POZIOMEK, who was posted supernumerary pending posting to POLISH INSPECTORATE GENERAL. One aircraft carried out an operational sortie.

1942-07-28

DALE

F/O A ONOSZKO, who was formerly with the Squadron, arrived on posting for flying duties from No. 18 O.T.U., BRAMCOTE.

1942-07-29

DALE

An attack with six depth charges on a very large U-boat, considered to be Italian, was carried out by the crew of aircraft 1172 (Captain - F/O M KUCHARSKI-. Five other a rcraft were engaged on anti-submarine sweeps.

1942-07-30

DALE

Wellington 1C aircraft R.1413 arrived from No. 44 M.U. on H.Q. 41 Group allotment 41G/5858.

1942-07-31

DALE

P/O K DZIEGIELEWSKI flew to EXETER in aircraft 807 to bring back aircraft 1112, which landed there with engine trouble after an anti-submarine sweep on 22nd July.

[hand signature: K. Czetowicz]
Squadron Leader, Commanding
No. 304 (Polish) Squadron,
Royal Air Force, DALE