Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-08-01

DALE

Squadron exercises for aircrew personnel were carried out in conjunction with a Polish submarine. F/O E S VIRPSHA arrived from R A F Station, HUCKNALL, on attachment, for interpreter duties during the absence of F/O S R ORSKI in hospital and on sick leave. The Commanding Officer, S/L K CZETOWICZ together with four other officers and 15 airmen paid a return visit to Commander TYMINSKI and crew of the Polish destroyer “SLAZAK”, docked in MILFORD HAVEN. An anti-submarine sweep was carried out by six aircraft of the Squadron, during which two German ARADO seaplanes were encountered by the crew of which F/O T SIUZDAK was captain in aircraft 384. No combat ensued.

1942-08-02

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-08-03

DALE

The crew of aircraft DV807 (Captain – F/O E ZARUDZKI) sighted a U-boat while on patrol and attacked with six depth charges 20 seconds after the U-boat had submerged. It was estimated the centre of the stick dropped 50 yards ahead of the U-boat’s swirl, on the track of the U-boat. It is considered that damage was inflicted, though how serious it is impos[Illegible letter]ible to say. The assessment of this attack by AIR STAFF, H.Q.C.C., rates this as “A very good attack which must have severely shaken the crew of the U-boat and probably caused some damage as well”.

1942-08-04

DALE

F/O WALTERA proceeded to EASTBOURNE on posting to No. [Illegible cypher] E.A.N.S. for instructor duties.

1942-08-05

DALE

P/O D. BARNES arrived on posting from R.A.F. Station, COSFORD, as Squadron Education Officer. Sgt. ROGALA-SOBIESZCZANSKI arrived on posting from No. 305 (Polish) Squadron for W/Op A.G. duties. Six aircraft were employed on an anti-submarine sweep.

1942-08-06

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-08-07

DALE

Operations were cancelled owing to bad weather. F/S SZLACHETKA returned to the SQuadron as Equipment Assistant on completion of an equipment assistant course at BRIDLINGTON.

1942-08-08

DALE

F/S LOZOWICKI left on posting to Polish Depot, BLACKPOOL, pending medical board following his injury when making a forced landing on returning from operations on the night of 12th April, 1942. W/C S POZIOMEK returned from leave.

1942-08-09

DALE

Ten Polish naval ratings from the destroyer “SLAZAK” visited the Squadron and were entertained in the mess. Wellington aircraft HD987 arrived from No. 23 Maintenance Unit on H.Q. No. 41 Group allotment 41G/6041. Nine aircraft were employed on an anti-submarine sweep. DV597 (Captain – F/O R FIGURA) sighted a U-boat in the act of diving about 2 miles away. The aircraft proceeded to the spot and was over the U-boat, which was still visible below the surface, about five seconds after it had submerged. An attempt to attack with six depth charges was unsuccessful, the depth charges hanging up. One aircraft returned early owing to engine trouble.

1942-08-10

DALE

F/O T MUCHA, SGT L KEGEL and SGT F RYBARCZUK, operationally trained second pilots, arrived on posting from No. 18 O.T.U. and F/O PRONASZKO, second pilot, from No. 301 Squadron. Ten T/E pilots were also posted to the Squadron from R.A.F. Polish Depot, BLACKPOOL, to act as second pilots for a period of two months before proveeding to No. 18 O.T.U. — P/O GURA, F/O POREBSKI, F/O SCHULTZ, SGT KIERZKOWSKI, SGT DAROSZEWSKI, SGT KIELTYKA, SGT KOTARBA, SGT KOWALEWICZ, SGT KOZIEL and SGT PASIEKA. S/L B. NOWICKI went to LONDON to attend the Court Martial of LAC MARCZYCKI on a charge under Polish military law. One aircraft went out on an anti-submarine sweep. Notification was received of the award by General SIKORSKI, Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Forces, of the Badge of Honour for Wounds in Battle to S/L K CZETOWICZ, SGT E JONSKI, SGT C PINIEWSKI, SGT L GIBAS, SGT M STRACZEK. General SIKORSKI also authorised the naming of the Squadron “No. 304 POLISH BOMBER SQUADRON OF THE COUNTRY OF SLASK”.

1942-08-11

DALE

When taking off for an operational flight — the first to be attempted at night from R A F Station, DALE — at 03.20 hours, aircraft HX384 crashed into the sea about half-a-mile off the aerodrome and the entire crew, consisting of F/O T SIUZDAK, F/O L MASLANKA, SGT OMIELJASZKO, SGT MODRZEWSKI, SGT WOJTOWICZ and SGT DROZDZIOK were drowned. Six other crews took part later in the day in an anti-submarine patrol. Sgt J. WOJTOWICZ arrived on posting from No. 301 (Polish) Squadron, and P/O S ZUREK and F/S P GLYDZIAK from No. 18 O.T.U., all for pilot duties.

1942-08-12

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-08-13

DALE

G/C MAKOWSKI, Senior Polish Liaison Officer, Headquarters Bomber Command, and W/C SULINSKI, visited the Station for a conference with the Squadron Commanding Officer. Six aircraft were detailed for an anti-submarine sweep and a successful attack on a U-boat was made in aircraft Z.1181, of whose crew SGT H GOLEBIOWSKI was Captain. The U-boat was fully surfaced two miles distant. Six depth charges were dropped 30 yards ahead of the swirl and straddled the track of the U-boat. Two anti-submarine bombs were then dropped and immediately after this black objects began to come to the surface in the centre of a large patch of foam, surrounded by oil. Two aircraft curtailed their patrol owing to engine trouble.

1942-08-14

DALE

The following Order by W/C S POZIOMEK was issued on his handing-over of Command of the Squadron to S/L K CZETOWICZ:
To-day is the day of the Polish soldier — the day of the Victory on VISTULA and the Feast of the Assumption. In our Squadron this day is linked with the handing-over of the Command to Captain Pilot CZETOWICZ after my nine months of Command.
In this last Order of mine I wish to repeat the words which I expressed when taking over the Command, and which I wish you to keep in remembrance: ‘The asset which we must bring to POLAND is not the number of flights made or aircraft serviced, but the knowledge, experience, and the unity gained. Poland has many times held the keys to greatness but has lost them because of human selfishness and unbounded individualism. We must realise a firm conviction: There shall be no forgiveness to the selfishness of one man — our aim is the good of POLAND.”
I thank you warmly — all of you in the Squadron — for your honest work for the glory of our country. Days spent with you, sad and happy, are all set deeply in my heart and shall be remembered by me always.

F/S A WEDRYCHOWSKI proceeded on attachment to A.C.S.B. & A.C.M.B., BLACKPOOL, for interview and examination with a view to undertaking flying training, on completion of his first operational tour as a W/Op A.G. The funeral took place at NEWARK Cemetery of F/O L MASLANKA, SGT OMIELJASZKO and SGT WOJTOWICZ. It was attended on behalf of the Squadron by S/L J.T. BUCZMA, “B” Flight Commander, F/O OLES, F/S KOMORNICKI, SGT TRUSZKOWSKI and CORPORAL KRYDNER.

1942-08-15

DALE

A farewell party was held in the Officers’ Mess for W/C POZIOMEK, who was leaving to take up duties with the Polish Inspectorate General. W/C W N PERIOLI, Officer Commanding R.A.F. Station, TALBENNY, vice G/C STRATTON, on leave, was present, and among other guests were officers of No. 311 (CZECH) Squadron, TALBENNY, three officers of the ROYAL NETHERLANDS NAVY, and 20 Wrens from Milford Haven. Sgt. H DALTON left the Squadron on posting to No. 3502 Servicing Unit, GOSPORT.

1942-08-16

DALE

Squadron personnel paraded at Squadron Headquarters, and command of the Squadron was formally handed over, with speeches appropriate to the occasion, by W/C POZIOMEK to S/L CZETOWICZ. Wellington aircraft R.1716 and HE101 arrived from No. 18 M.U. on H.Q. No. 41 Group allotment 41G/6234.

1942-08-17

DALE

On his departure on an overseas draft, SGT J. BURNS was decorated by the Commanding Officer with the Squadron badge. F/O KRAJEWSKI, captain of one of seven crews which took part in an anti-submarine patrol, sighted a suspicious wake which had, however, disappeared by the time the aircraft could reach the scene. F/O R FIGURA’S crew experienced engine trouble in aircraft R.1181 and returned to base after jettisoning their bomb load in the sea. A landing was made at PORTREATH.

1942-08-18

DALE

S/L CZETOWICZ was reposted within the Squadron to Command. F/S KOMORNICKI commenced attachment to the Central Gunnery School, SUTTON BRIDGE, for a gunnery leaders’ course.

1942-08-19

DALE

Two aircraft of the six which went out on operations had to return to base early owing to radio and engine trouble respectively. The remaining four completed an anti-submarine sweep, and that of which P/O A ZIELINSKI was Captain sighted a motor vessel of 5,000 tons similar to the German SS PORTLAND. This vessel opened fire when the aircraft circled to carry out identification but successful avoiding action was taken.

1942-08-20

DALE

While on a cross-country training flight, aircraft Z.1172 crashed into the sea near SOUTH STACK, ANGLESEY, and the crew were lost. The bodies of P/O ZIELINSKI, SGT RUSZEL and SGT JARNO were recovered the same day. Other members of the crew were F/O WASILEWSKI, L., SGT TYCHOLYS and SGT GRAMIAK. S/L CZETOWICZ attended the Polish Inspectorate General in LONDON to report on assuming Command of the Squadron.

1942-08-21

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-08-22

DALE

A report was received via the International Red Cross Committee that the bodies of F/L ZIELENIEWSKI, and P/O L DZIERZBICKI had been washed ashore near RAMPEN LIGHTHOUSE, HOLLAND, and these officers are now classified missing believed killed. They were members of F/O KWAK’S crew which was lost on the night of 23rd April, 1942. The rest of the crew had previously been reported killed. F/O J WOLNIK proceeded to MANBY on attachment for a Bombing Leaders’ Course. F/S WEDRYCHOWSKI was returned to the Squadron supernumerary on cessation of attachment to BLACKPOOL, pending posting to A.C.R.C., HUCKNALL, for pre-I.T.W. training. Wellington aircraft HE103 was ferried from No. 18 O.T.U. on H.Q. No. 41 Group allotment 41G/6282. The Squadron’s operational task consisted of an anti-submarine sweep by six aircraft, of which one had to return prematurely owing to engine trouble. S/L CZETOWICZ F/L Z HIRSZ, P/O K DZIEGIELEWSKI, F/S APANASEWICZ, SGT BRYCH & SGT SKWARZYNSKI were the guests of the Commanding Officer and officers of No. 311 (CZECH) Squadron on the occasion on their Squadron Day celebrations.

1942-08-23

DALE

The Squadron Armament Officer, F/O S. OWSIANKA, left on posting to No. 1 Air Armament School, MANBY, for a refresher course. Four aircraft went on convoy escort duties and two on an anti-submarine sweep.

1942-08-24

DALE

The funeral took place at NEWARK cemetery of P/O ZIELINSKI, SGT JARNO & SGT RUSZEL, whose bodies were recovered following the loss of Wellington Z.1172., and Sgt. MODRZEWSKI and SGT DROZDZIOK, two members of the crew of HX834, lost on 11th August, 1942. The Squadron was represented by F/O PESKI, P/O DZIEGIELEWSKI, F/O POREBSKI, SGT BOHANES, SGT STASIAK, SGT S ZIELINSKI and SGT OKROJ.

1942-08-25

DALE

The first night operation to be carried out from R.A.F. Station, DALE, was undertaken by seven aircraft captained by F/O A ONOSZKO, F/L E A LADRO, F/O E ZARUDZKI, SGT H GOLEBIOWSKI, SGT M RZEWUSKI, SGT J WOJTOWICZ and SGT W SICINSKI. The task was to attack shipping at LA PALLICE, but owing to icing conditions and engine trouble four aircraft returned without completing their sorties. The other three, captained by F/O ONOSZKO, SGT SICINSKI & F/O ZARUDZKI, reached and bombed the target. The funeral took place at NEWARK of F/O T SIUZDAK, attended by the same Squadron personnel as attended the funeral of other victims of flying accidents the previous day..

1942-08-26

DALE

Authority was received for the posting to Polish Depot, BLACKPOOL, non-effective missing, of SGT KUC, P/O L KRAMIN, F/O M DYDZUIL, SGT T KAMYSZEK, SGT J WOJTAS AND SGT N TALACH, missing from the BREMEN raid on the night of 25th June, 1942. The Squadron personnel which attended the funerals at NEWARK returned from R.A.F. Station, NEWTON.

1942-08-27

DALE

Six aircraft operated on an anti-submarine sweep.

1942-08-28

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-08-29

DALE

Wellington R.1704 was returned to the Squadron as a replacement on H.Q. Coastal Command authority on completion of major inspection by No. 3502 Servicing Unit, GOSPORT. An anti-submarine sweep was carried out by six aircraft.

1942-08-30

DALE

W/O ZIETEK and 54 personnel of Maintenance Flight were transferred to R.A.F. Station, TALBENNY, where inspections and repairs will in future be carried out. Wellington R.3212 was ferried from No. 51 M.U. on H.Q. No. 41 Group allotment 41G/6266.

1942-08-31

DALE

Six aircraft completed an operational sweep. The seventh had to return to base owing to engine trouble.

[hand signature: K. Czetowicz]
Squadron Leader, Commanding
No. 304 (Polish) Squadron,
R.A.F. Station, DALE