Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-11-01

DALE

Wellington aircraft R.1716, one of six employed on an anti-submarine patrol, failed to return from its flight, and the crew, consisting of F/O S KRAWCZYK, F/L I SKOROBOHATY, F/O A SZKUTA, Sgt. J ROGALA-SOBIESZCZANSKI, P/O N WODZINSKI and Sgt. Z SASAL, were posted missing. No news whatever was received of the aircraft or its occupants from the time it left base. Of the other five, that captained by F/L E A LADRO had a ten-minute encounter with a Ju88, but it successfully avoided damage by the enemy aircraft’s fire. The annual All Souls Day parade and celebration were held outside Squadron Headquarters in the evening. Squadron personnel paraded before a specially erected dais illuminated by flares, and the Padre, S/L KACKI, gave an address and the Commanding Officer, W/C K. CZETOWICZ, read the names of Squadron personnel who have fallen on the field of battle, who are missing, or who have given or lost their lives in the service of their country.

1942-11-02

DALE

F/O A SZKUTA, Squadron Navigation Officer, missing from an operational flight, was succeeded by F/O Z GALCZYNSKI. Three aircraft took part in an operational sweep.

1942-11-03

DALE

The Squadron ceased to be detached to R.A.F. Station, Dale, and all personnel were transferred to R.A.F. Station, Talbenny.

1942-11-04

TALBENNY

Acting Wing Commander K. CZETOWICZ was promoted to the permanent war rank of Flight Lieutenant with effect from 1st March, 1942, and Acting Squadron Leader B. NOWICKI also toethe permanent war rank of Flight Lieutenant with effect from the same date. Pilot Officer R. FIGURA was promoted to the permanent war rank of Flying Officer with effect from 1st March, 1942.

1942-11-05

TALBENNY

Authority was received from Air Ministry for the following postings from the Squadron to Royal Air Force Station, Talbenny: A/S/L NOWICKI, to double-bank S/L Operations post; A/F/L J. SUSKA, to double-bank F/L Intelligence post; A/F/L S MILEWSKI, to double-bank S/L Admin post; F/O S OWSIANKA, to double-bank F/L Armament post. By the same authority the following re-postings within the Squadron were effected: F/O M PRONASZKO, to S/L Flying (“A” Flight Commander) post; F/L E A LADRO, to S/L Flying (“B” Flight Commander) post; F/O W PESKI, to F/L Flying (Deputy “A” Flight Commander) post; F/O J WOLNIK, to F/L Flying (Deputy “B” Flight Commander) post; F/O T MILEWSKI, to F/L Adjutant post; F/O R GLUSKI, to F/L Gunnery Officer post; F/O J PRAZMOWSKI, to F/L Bombing Leader post; F/O A SZKUTA, to F/L Navigation Officer post.

1942-11-06

TALBENNY

Three aircraft carried out an anti-submarine patrol.

1942-11-07

TALBENNY

F/O P HEDINGER arrived on posting from No. 1 Air Armament School, MANBY, for Armament Officer duties. F/O Z TOSIO left on posting to No. 75 Maintenance Unit, WILMSLOW. A shipping strike was carried out by three aircraft. That captained by Sgt J WOJTOWICZ dropped its bombs in two sticks on two merchant vessels.

1942-11-08

TALBENNY

Two aircraft were detailed for a shipping strike in the early morning, and three in the afternoon. Of the afternoon sorties two were completed, the third aircraft abandoning its mission owing to bad visibility rendereing location of the target impossible.

1942-11-09

TALBENNY

F/O E ZARUDZKI, P/O L KREMPA, F/O S PIATKOWSKI, Sgt W WALKIEWICZ, SGT T DAMSZ and Sgt J WOJNILOWICZ proceeded by air to R.A.F. Station, CAREW CHERITON, on attachment for a week’s course at No. 4 Armament Practice Camp. Sgt. S KOZLOWSKI proceeded to R.A.F. Station, LEUOHARS, for B.A.T. Course. Three aircraft were engaged on operations (anti-submarine patrol).

1942-11-10

TALBENNY

AIR VICE MARSHAL UJEJSKI, Inspector General of the Polish Air Force, GROUP CAPTAIN W MAKOWSKI, Senior Polish Liaison Officer at Headquarters, Bomber Command, and SQUADRON LEADER S. POZIOMEK, of the Polish Inspectorate General, were flown to Talbenny by W/C CZETOWICZ to take part in the Squadron celebrations of 11th November. The Squadron’s operational commitment for the day consisted of four aircraft on an anti-submarine patrol.

1942-11-11

TALBENNY

Squadron celebrations commenced at 09.45 hours with a celebration og Mass, with the Padre, S/L KACKI, as celebrant. At 10.30 Squadron personnel paraded before A/V/M UJEJSKI, G/C MAKOWSKI, S/L POZIOMEK, and G/C J A C STRATTON, Commanding Officer, R.A.F. Station, Talbenny, and the presentation of Polish decorations by A/V/M UJEJSKI followed, with a march-past in conclusion. In the afternoon A/V/M UJEJSKI held conferences and gave interviews. The following decorations were awarded:
VIRTUTI MILITARI (Class V): F/O F KRYSZCZUK, F/O J PRAZMOWSKI, P/O/ A KACZKOWSKI, F/S E JONSKI, Sgt. J. JUK, Sgt. E MALICKI, Sgt E SKWARZYNSKI, Sgt S WIECKOWSKI, Sgt L BONK, Sgt L JABLONSKI.
CROSS OF VALOUR: Second Bar: S/L J T BUCZMA, F/O F KRYSZCZUK, F/O T SKARZYNSKI, P/O J WROBLEWSKI, Sgt T KAMYSZEK (missing), Sgt. M OMIELJASZKO (killed), Sgt M RZEWUSKI, Sgt J TRUSZKOWSKI, Sgt S WIECKOWSKI, Sgt J WOJTAS (missing), Sgt C ZAWADA, Sgt E GAGALA, Sgt R GEMSA, Sgt L JABLONSKI, Sgt K KRAJEWSKI, Sgt Z SASAL (missing) Sgt N TALACH (missing).
1st & 2nd Bars: S/L M KUCHARSKI, Sgt J WOJTOWICZ
Cross, with 1st & 2nd Bars: F/O W KONARZEWSKI, Sgt T JASINSKI.
1st Bar: F/L E MLYNARSKI (missing) P/O A ZIELINSKI (killed), F/O Z GALCZYNSKI, F/O A KAUCZ, F/S R TYDMAN, F/S J WANCISIEWICZ, Sgt J BAKANACZ, Sgt S JOZEFIAK, Sgt M PIEKARSKI, Sgt W SULIKOWSKI, Sgt B KOCYK, Sgt M KUC (missing), Sgt R MACHNIOWSKI, Sgt S ZESKO.
Cross & 1st Bar: Sgt L MATJASZEK, Sgt M STRACZEK, Sgt J ROGALA-SOBIESZCZNAKSI (missing).
Cross: F/O M PRONASZKO, F/O A KRAJEWSKI, F/O A J NOWICKI, F/O S WIDANKA, P/O A FRANCZAK, P/O L KRAMIN (missing), Sgt S KOZLOWSKI, Sgt L GIBAS, Sgt W MLYNARSKI (missing.
CROSS OF MERIT: Silver: F/L [Illegible capital letter] MILEWSKI
Bronze: F/S M PIOTROWSKI, Sgt ZIPSER, Cpl Z WALAS, LAC KACZMAREK, Sgt F SZCZUTKOWSKI, Cpl J WATOR, Cpl A M ZIELINSKI.

1942-11-12

TALBENNY

Cpl O KRYDNER, Squadron Photographer, returned on completion of a refresher course at No. 1 School of Photography, S FARNBOROUGH. Three aircraft carried out a Welsh Bay Patrol.

1942-11-13

TALBENNY

Operations comprised an anti-submarine sweep by three aircraft.

1942-11-14

TALBENNY

Three aircraft were on anti-submarine patrol.

1942-11-15

TALBENNY

An anti-submarine patrol was carried out by three aircraft.

1942-11-16

TALBENNY

P/O L DANILEWICZ was posted supernumerary to the Polish Inspectorate General for special duties with the War Office. Three aircraft were engaged on an operational sweep.

1942-11-17

TALBENNY

Three crews were detailed for an anti-submarine sweep.

1942-11-18

TALBENNY

A/S/L J T BUCZMA, F/L I SKOROBOHATY (since missing), F/O W CHUCHELA, F/O W MINAKOWSKI, P/O J MACKULA, P/O K DZIEGIELEWSKI, F/S K ZIOLKOWSKI, Sgt L GIBAS, Sgt T KRZYWON, and Sgt J JUK were posted supernumerary non-effective sick to R.A.F. Station, Talbenny, with effect from 28th October, 1942. Three aircraft carried out an anti-submarine patrol.

1942-11-19

TALBENNY

Sgt S WIECKOWSKI and Sgt H GEBICKI were promoted Flight Sergeant with effect from 1st August, 1942. An anti-submarine patrol was the task of three crews.

1942-11-20

TALBENNY

Three aircraft were engaged on patrol.

1942-11-21

TALBENNY

An anti-submarine patrol was carried out by three aircraft.

1942-11-22

TALBENNY

An encounter with a Focke Wulf Kurier was experienced by the crew of which P/O J WROBLEWSKI was captain on an anti-submarine patrol. Both front and rear gunners replied to fire from the enemy aircraft, and the Wellington climbed into cloud cover and broke off combat successfully. One other aircraft of the Squadron was on patrol.

1942-11-23

TALBENNY

One of two aircraft which took off on an anti-submarine patrol returned early owing to engine trouble. Sgt H GOLEBIOWSKI proceeded on attachment to R.A.F. Station, LEUCHARS, for B.A.T. course.

1942-11-24

TALBENNY

Two aircraft were on anti-submarine patrol.

1942-11-25

TALBENNY

Sgt. CZEKALSKI (pilot) reported on posting from the Deputy Polish Inspectorate General, Blackpool. An anti-submarine patrol was carried out two aircraft.

1942-11-26

TALBENNY

Two aircraft were engaged on an operational sweep.

1942-11-27

TALBENNY

Three crews carried out a patrol.

1942-11-28

TALBENNY

An anti-submarine patrol for three crews was ordered.

1942-11-29

TALBENNY

Preparations were made for the return to R.A.F. Station, Dale, of the Squadron, and an advance party consisting of the British Headquarters staff left Talbenny. Three aircraft were on patrol.

1942-11-30

TALBENNY

“A” Flight personnel moved from R.A.F. Station, Talbenny, to R.A.F. Station, Dale. Two aircraft were detailed for a shipping strike.

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