Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-10-01

DALE

F/S P GLYDZIAK was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer, and Sgt. E JONSKI & Sgt. S. SEP-SZARZYNSKI to the rank of Flight Sergeant. Sgt. J BRZUCHACH was transferred from “B” Flight to RAF Station, TA:BENNY, to be in charge, under W/O ZIETEK, of Maintenance Flight detachment there, and F/S GRABOWSKI returned from TALBENNY to become N.C.O. i/c “B” Flight. Squadron personnel attended a life-saving demonstration given on the beach by members of H.M. Coastguard Service, with a view to the formation of the Squadron’s own life-saving service.

1942-10-02

DALE

F/O M TARGOWSKI, F/O W MINAKOWSKI, Sgt W MLYNARSKI, Sgt. Z PIECHOWIAK, Sgt [Illegible letter]. KUBACIK and Sgt. W. KOWALEWICZ, the crew of Wellington aircraft HF836 which was attacked by 5 Junkers 88 aircraft while carrying out a patrol on 16th September, 1942, visited the Polish Inspectorate General to be decorated by General UJUJSKI — the officers with the VIRTUTI MILITARI and the N.C.O.s with the CROSS OF VALOUR. The following account is translated from the Polish newspaper “DZIENNIK ZOLNIERZA” dated 3rd October, 1942:
General UJEJSKI, Insp[illegible letters]tor General of the Polish Air Force, decorated yesterday seven airmen with the Order of VIRTUTI MILITARI and CROSS OF VALOUR awarded to them by the Commander-in-Chief for deeds of valour in fighting. Six among them comprised the crew of a Wellington aircraft belonging to the Silesian Bomber Squadron which on 16th September was attacked by five Ju88’s in the Bay of Biscay. As a result of this combat the Poles destroyed one German aircraft, damaged another, and after dispersing the rest returned to their base. Their return flight was exceptionally difficult. During the flight their aircraft was damaged in the petrol tank when hit by shell splinters from the Junkers, but none of the aircrew was wounded and they kept up uninterrupted fir[Illegible letter] against the enemy. The Wellington returned to base with a petrol tank holed, and damage to a wing, one of the engines, and a propeller. For this action, two of the crew received the Silver Cross of VIRTURI MILITARI and four the CROSS OF VALOUR. Of these, three received it for the first and second time (bar) and the fourth for the first time.
Sgt. H KOTARBA proceeded on posting supernumerary to RAF Polish Depot, BLACKPOOL, pending a short refresher course and posting to No. 18 O.T.U. Intimation was received that the DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL had been awarded (posthumously) to F/S A. KOSTURKIEWICZ. F/S K SZEWCZYK left on posting to No. 18 O.T.U. on completion of his first operational tour. Seven Squadron aircraft were engaged on an anti-submarine patrol.

1942-10-03

DALE

F/S S SEP-SZARZYNSKI and Sgt. M RZEWUSKI were posted to the RAF Polish Depot, having been released to the Polish Land Army for a 12-week course with a view to their obtaining cadet standard. F/O TARGOWSKI’S crew returned from the Polish Inspectorate General.

1942-10-04

DALE

F/O F FIJALKOWSKI, Squadron Engineer Officer, proceeded to RAF Polish Depot to discuss the provision of more technical personnel.

1942-10-05

DALE

P/O J KRZYWONOS, of Signals Section, was granted the Polish rank of Podporucznik. F/O R GLUSKI returned from RAF Station, MANBY, on completion of his Bombing Leader’s Course.

1942-10-06

DALE

An anti-submarine sweep was carried out by six crews.

1942-10-07

DALE

Lt. Commdr. J LEE, R.N., who dealt with “Merchant Ship Recognition and Tonnage Assessment” and “Warship Recognition”, and Maj. H.F. KING, R.A., “Enemy Ship and Ship-borne Defences”, lectured Squadron aircrew personnel in the Lecture Room. F/O A KAUCZ, F/S J APANASEWICZ and Sgt. A LEWKONOWICZ proceeded to No. 10 A.C.M.B., BLACKPOOL, for medical boards.

1942-10-08

DALE

Award by the Commander-in-Chief, Polish Forces, of the following Polish decorations, was announced:
VIRTUTI MILITARI:
(Class V) S/L J T BUCZMA; F/O T OLES; SGT H GOLEBIOWSKI; SGT P BRYCH.
CROSS OF VALOUR:
Third Bar: F/L Z DUNCZEWSKI; F/L Z HIRSZ; F/L E A LADRO.
2nd Bar: F/O W BRAUN; F/S R TYDMAN; Sgt W SICINSKI; Sgt B KOCYK; Sgt M PIEKARSKI; Sgt. R MACHNIOWSKI; Sgt J. ROGALA-SOBIESZCZANSKI.
1st Bar: F/O Z JAROSZYNSKI; P/O H FRANCZAK; P/O I LEGUN; Sgt. E WALUKIEWICZ; Sgt. S MALCZYK.
1st & 2nd Bars: Sgt. Z GUSTOWSKI.
1st award: F/O A SZKUTA; F/O R GLUSKI; F/O S PIATKOWSKI; F/O J WOLNIK; F/O E ZARUDZKI; P/O M MAZURKIEWICZ (posthumously); Sgt Z SOLECKI; Sgt K CHUDZICKI; Sgt A LEWKONOWICZ; Sgt M SZKLARSKI.
S/L K CZETOWICZ, S/L B NOWICKI and F/L J SUSKA accompanied Group Captain J C STRATTON, Officer Commanding RAF Station, TALBENNY, to Headquarters, No. 19 Group, f or a conference. F/O M PRONASZKO, F/L I SKOROBOHATY and F/O W BRAUN were medically boarded at No. 10 A.C.M.B., BLACKPOOL. F/L C KRAJEWSKI, Defence Officer, returned on completion of No. 61 Junior Course in R.A.F. Administration at RAF Station, STANNINGTON. Sgt. H GOLEBIOWSKI’S crew, flying in Wellington aircraft DV597, sighted a U-boat while on anti-submarine patrol and carried out a first attack with six depth charges which exploded about eight seconds after the U-boat had submerged. The depth charges were dead on the track of the U-boat. Two subsequent attacks with anti-submarine bombs were made, and the second A/S bomb exploded within five yards of the bubbles which came to the surface following the depth charge attacks. Wellington aircraft HF894, captained by P/O J WROBLEWSKI, encountered a Ju88 which was escorting two motor vessels and fire was exchanged. Shots from the Wellington were seen to enter the cockpit of the enemy aircraft.

1942-10-09

DALE

S/L K CZETOWICZ was medically boarded in London. F/O A ONOSZKO returned on cessation of attachment to No. 461 Squadron, HAMWORTHY, where he had been to gain experience of flying Sunderland flying boats.

1942-10-10

DALE

Sgt B WOZNIAK, a member of Flying Officer MORAWSKI’s crew which was shot down over France in April last, while on bomber operations with this Squadron, paid a visit. S/L KONCZEWSKI, Chaplain, proceeded on posting to RAF Station, DUNINO, being succeeded by S/L KACKI, from RAF Polish Depot. Capt. A TOMASZEWSKI, of the Polish Land Army, arrived for defence duties. Seven aircraft were engaged on an anti -submarine sweep.

1942-10-11

DALE

Two aircraft were despatched on a shipping strike but returned without having located any enemy vessels.

1942-10-12

DALE

For duty as second pilots, F/O K J M DOBROWOLSKI, P/O S T ZIEBA, P/O M L NOWAK and P/O H CZYZUN arrived on posting from the Refresher School, KIRKNEWTON. Wellington DV597, one of four aircraft of the Squadron taking part in an operational sweep, encountered a Ju.88 but no combat took place.

1942-10-13

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-10-14

DALE

Two new crews – Sgt J BIALECKI, P/O S KAWA[Illegible letter], Sgt J SERAFINI, Sgt S WOJSA and Sgt L POSTOL; and Sgt. F TARGOWSKI, F/O J SKWIERCZYNSKI, Sgt W POKOJ, Sgt W MILLER and Sgt E MUSZALA — arrived on posting from No. 18 O.T.U. W/C HARRISON, Coastal Command Engineer Officer, visited the Squadron, and W/C S POZIOMEK also visited from the Polish Inspectorate General. Owing to fog at base, all three aircraft engaged on an anti-submarine sweep were compelled to land at CHIVENOR, returning to base next day.

1942-10-15

DALE

F/O T MILEWSKI took over the duties of Squadron Adjutant from his brother, F/L S MILEWSKI. The following tour-expired aircrew personnel left on posting to No. 1[Illegible cypher] O.T.U. for instructor duties: F/L Z DUNCZEWSKI, F/L Z HIRSZ, F/L B F LEWKOWICZ, F/O F KRYSZCZUK, F/O R FIGURA, P/O A KACZKOWSKI and Sgt. W SICINSKI. S/L B NOWICKI, “[Illegible letter]” Flight Commander, was transferred to Operations Room to double-bank the Controller post and F/L J SUSKA, Gunnery Officer, to double-bank the Intelligence Officer. F/L S MILEWSKI was appointed to double-bank the Squadron Leader Admin. post at RAF Station, TALBENNY. F/O M PRONASZKO became “A” Flight Commander (vice S/L NOWICKI), F/L E A LADRO “B” Flight Commander (vice S/L J T BUCZMA, non-effective sick), F/P J PRAZMOWSKI was appointed Squadron Bombing Leader (vice F/L LEWKOWICZ), F/O A SZKUTA Navigation Officer (vice F/L DUNCZEWSKI) F/O R GLUSKI Gunnery Leader (vice F/L SUSKA). F/O S M TARGOWSKI, captain of the crew which shot down one, probably two, enemy aircraft in the engagement on 16th September, 1942, was awarded the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. Wellington aircraft R1704, came down in the sea while on a low-level training flight in St. BRIDE’S BAY and it and its two occupants, F/O A SCHULTZ and F/O SKIERKOWSKI were lost. The crash was observed by the Master of a fishing vessel.

1942-10-16

DALE

The crew of Wellington R.1413, comprising F/O S M TARGOWSKI, Sgt G TWARDOCH, F/O T OLES, Sgt Z PIECHOWIAK, Sgt W MLYNARSKI And Sgt F KUBACIK, were missing when their aircraft failed to return from an anti-submarine sweep. An SOS message was picked up from the aircraft, but a search of the area revealed no trace of the aircraft or its occupants. A patch of disturbed water, with streaks of black, which was observed by aircraft DV671, is thought by the time and position to have possibly some connection with the missing aircraft. S/L K CZETOWICZ was promoted Acting Wing Commander.

1942-10-17

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-10-18

DALE

Seven aircraft operated on an anti-submarine sweep. All landed at EXETER owing to bad weather at base.

1942-10-19

DALE

The dinghy of Wellington R1704 was washed ashore, empty, at NEWGALE SANDS and was recovered by personnel of Maintenance Flight.

1942-10-20

DALE

A crew consisting of P/O L KREMPA, P/O MATUSZKIEWICZ, Sgt W WALKIEWICZ, Sgt DAMSZ and Sgt WOJNILOWICZ arrived on posting from No. 18 O.T.U. W/C CZETOWICZ, F/S J APANASEWICZ and F/S J ADAMCZYK visited RAF Station, HEMSWELL, to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross and Distinguished Flying Medal from Air Vice Marshal R D OXLAND, Air Officer Commanding, No. 1 Gr[Illegible letters]. The funeral at NEWARK of the body of F/O SCHULTZ was attended by F/L S MILEWSKI, F/O C PAJKO, P/O ZIEBA, Sgt P BRYCH, Sgt J PIECHOCKI, Sgt E SKWARZYNSKI and Cpl. LESZCZUK..

1942-10-21

DALE

An anti-submarine sweep was carried out by six crews.

1942-10-22

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-10-23

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-10-24

DALE

F/S J BRZUCHACH left on posting to No. 16 Polish E.F.T.S., NEWTON. Three aircraft operated on an anti-submarine patrol.

1942-10-25

DALE

The Squadron’s operational assignment consisted of a sweep by three aircraft.

1942-10-26

DALE

The funeral took place at BLACKPOOL of Sgt. P GRAMIAK, whose body was recovered near there. Sgt. GRAMIAK was a member of P/O A ZIELINSKI’S crew lost off ANGLESEY in Wellington aircraft Z.1172 on 20th August, 1942. Squadron representatives at the interment were F/O T MUCHA, Sgt R GEMSA and Sgt WOJNILOWICZ. F/L S MILEWSKI proceeded to RAF Station TALBENNY to take up his double-banking duties with the Squadron Leader Admin. Three aircraft were engaged on patrol. That captained by F/O W BRAUN was struck by lightning, paint being burnt from the nose of the aircraft and the aerial being carried away.

1942-10-27

DALE

Nothing to report.

1942-10-28

DALE

Wellington 1C aircraft X9831 arrived as replacement on No. 41 Group allotment from No. 18 O.T.U. Six crews carried out an anti-submarine sweep.

1942-10-29

DALE

F/L C KRAJEWSKI, Defence Officer, proceeded on posting to RAF Station, BRAMCOTE. Four aircraft were employed on an anti-submarine sweep.

1942-10-30

DALE

A new area of patrol — styled “Welsh Bay patrols” — was covered by three crews without any sightings of vessels being reported.

1942-10-31

DALE

Patrols in the Bay of Biscay were maintained by three Squadron aircraft.

[hand signature: K. Czetowicz]
Wing Commander, Commanding
No. 304 (Polish) Squadron,
Royal Air Force, Dale.