Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-05-01

Lindholme

WEATHER. Cloudy with poor visibility at first, becoming fine with good visibility. F/O. Z. SIARKOWSKI returned to unit from A.&.A.E.E. BOSCOMBE DOWN on completion of course.

1942-05-02

Lindholme

WEATHER. Cloudy becoming fine. Good visibility. SGT. BERGER (A/G) & F/SGT. WICHEREK admitted to York Military Hospital as a result of a flying accident. F/O. KONAPASEK also admitted to YORK Military Hospital as a result of injuries received in same accident.

1942-05-03

Lindholme

WEATHER. Cloudy by night, fine by day. Moderate to poor visibility at first, becoming good later in day.
OPERATION No:- 91. NINE aircraft were detailed to make an attack on the Port of HAMBURG, the Captains being SGT. JACEWICZ, F/LT. HIRSZBANDT, F/O. JANKOWSKI, F/O. SKARPETOWSKI, SGT. GUSOWSKI, P/O. DeCOSTRES, SGT. KOREPTA, F/LT. JONIKAS & SGT. MAKA.
The attack was made in very poor weather conditions, there being 10/10ths cloud over the target. Owing to poor weather conditions no definite results could be observed but the glow of fires could be seen through the clouds. From this operations 8406 “G”, F/O. JANKOWSKI, failed to return from this operation, however, SGT. JACEWICZ, Captain of aircraft 5573 “O” reported having seen two aircraft shot down at the mouth of the River ELBE, one by night fighter, the other by flak. This was unsatisfactory trip alround on account of poor weather conditions.

1942-05-04

Lindholme

WEATHER. Generally fine – partly cloudy at times. Moderate visibility. Sgt. RAKOWSKI (Interpreter) posted to R.A.F. Station, FARNBOROUGH for duties at R.A.F.E., Materials Dept. F/Sgt. DUSZA (Pilot) posted to No. 2 FERRY TRAINING FLIGHT.

1942-05-05

Lindholme

WEATHER. Cloudy with moderate visibility. F/LT. KRASNOWIECKI proceeded to London for Temporary Duty at the POLISH INSPECTORATE GENERAL.
OPERATION No. 92.
SIX aircraft were detailed to attack the town of STUTTGART with the objective of causing the maximum amount of damage in the target area. The Captains of the aircraft taking part were:- P/O. GINETER, F/O. KRAWCZYK, SGT. JACEWICZ, F/LT. JONIKAS, SGT. MAKA & F/LT. HIRSZBANDT. Again the trip was spoiled by poor weather conditions, the target are being covered with a ground haze. F/LT. HIRSZBANDT, 8339 “N” attacked NANTES from 16,000 feet and started fire which spread rapidly and still could be seen when 50 miles on the return journey. From this operation F/O. KRAWCZYK, 8599 “R” failed to return and no news has been received about him or his crew since.

1942-05-06

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Partly cloudy with moderate visibility. F/SGT. GOLEBROWSKI (W.O.M.) posted to No. 1 SIGNALS SCHOOL. F/O. WESOLOWSKI proceeded to LONDON for temporary duty at POLISH INSPECTORATE GENERAL.
OPERATION No. 93
TWO aircraft, captained by SGT. MICHEJ and SGT. GUSOWSKI were detailed to attack NANTES. Bombs were dropped from 17,000 & 15,000 ft. respectively and bursts were seen in target area.

1942-05-07

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Fine with haze and mist at first, becoming cloudy with good visibility. F/LT. KRASNOWIECKI returned from Temporary Duty at POLISH INSPECTORATE GENERAL.

1942-05-08

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Weather becoming fine towards midnight. Very good visibility.

1942-05-09

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Generally fine with some cloud during the day. Good visibility. F/SGT. ENGEL, Pilot, posted to No. 18 O.T.U. for duties as Instructor.

1942-05-10

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Fine at first, becoming cloudy towards midnight. Very good visibility throughout. F/SGT. STYPINSKI posted to R.A.F. Polish Depot, BLACKPOOL, prior to temporary release for civilian employment in Industry.

1942-05-11

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy or overcast with continuous rain all day and night. Moderate visibility. Wing Commander BEILL proceeded to POLISH INSPECTORATE GENERAL for temporary duty. F/O. R. SKOCZEN admitted to R.A.F. Hospital HALTON.

1942-05-12

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy with intermittent rain ceasing early. Moderate to good visibility. F/O. K. JOSZT discharged from R.A.F. Hospital RAUCEBY.

1942-05-13

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy with broken clouds during the afternoon. Moderate to good visibility. F/SGT. DUSZA returned from No. 2 FERRY TRAINING FLIGHT. F/O. K. BOROWSKI arrived on posting from No. 18 O.T.U. S/Ldr. ZAUCHA, F/O. SIARKOWSKI, & P/O. GINTER admitted to R.A.F. Officers Hospital, TORQUAY. W/Cdr. BEILL returned from Temporary Duty at POLISH INSPECTORATE GENERAL.

1942-05-14

Lindholme

WEATHER: Cloudy with haze at first, becoming fine and misty towards midnight. Good visibility in afternoon and evening.

1942-05-15

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Fine and foggy at first, fog obscured sky towards daybreak becoming cloudy with good visibility later. SGT. WZIATEK (Pilot) discharged from R.A.F. hospital ELY (Was previously injured on operations by Night Fighter) F/O. E. ZAKRZEWSKI posted to No. 18. O.T.U for duties as INSTRUCTOR.

1942-05-16

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy throughout. Early intermittent rain becoming continuous, but ceasing during the morning. Moderate visibility. SGT. BANASZUK (Pilot) attached to B.A.T. Course at R.A.F. station MILDENHALL. Sgt. ZWIEWKA, Air Gunner, posted to No. 1 ARMAMENT SCHOOL for No. 20 GUNNERY LEADERS INSTRUCTORS Course.

1942-05-17

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Broken skies becoming cloudy with intermittent rain commencing during the evening. Moderate visibility becoming good. F/O. KLOCZEK arrived on posting from No. 301 (Polish) Squadron.

1942-05-18

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy with continuous rain ceasing during the morning, with intermittent rain again during the evening. Cloudy throughout the day.

1942-05-19

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Broken skies with moderate to good visibility. Sgt. SKOCZEWSKI, Squadron Disciplinary N.C.O. promoted to TEMPORARY FLIGHT SERGEANT with effect from 29/12/41.
OPERATION No. A.94
NINE aircraft were detailed to attack the town of MANNHEIM with the object of causing the maximum amount of damage at the Aiming Point. The captains of the crews taking part were:- SGT. SOLTYSIAK, SGT. KOREPTA, SGT. GUSOWSKI, SGT. MISIAK, SGT. MICHEJ, F/O. WIELOCHOWSKI, SGT. MAKA, P/O. DeCOSTRES, & P/O. SZYBKA. One aircraft, Captained by F/LT. JONIKAS, was detailed to attack dock installations and shipping at ST. NAZAIRE.
Considerable ground haze was experienced by the crews on the MANNHEIM raid by this did not prevent them pressing home the attack with great vigour. Fires were started and many bursts were seen, particularly when 4,000 lb bombs were dropped.
F/LT. JONIKAS reported seeing a stick of bombs drop across the shipyards and Docks when he attacked ST. NAZAIRE.

1942-05-20

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Broken skies becoming cloudy. Moderate visibility. Intermittent rain and fog during late evening. Working party arrived from No. 13 M.U. HENLOW to install Automatic Pilots.

1942-05-21

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy, early mist, otherwise visibility moderate to good. Nothing of interest to report.

1942-05-22

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy – Intermittent rain at daybreak and showers during the evening. Moderate visibility and mist towards midnight. F/O. R. SKOCZEN discharged from R.A.F. Hospital HALTON.
OPERATION No. 95. Two aircraft were detailed to take part in Mining Operations, captained by SGT. JACEWICZ and P/O. RABEK. They were however recalled before operation was completed and landed at Base at 01-21 and 01-05 respectively.

1942-05-23

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Fog, occasionally obscuring the sky until midmorning, becoming cloudy with moderate to good visibility. Intermittent rain starting during the evening. SGT. BANASZUK returned from Blind Approach Course at R.A.F. MILDENHALL. F/Lt. B. H. MURPHY attached to this unit pending posting as Squadron Gunnery Leader.

1942-05-24

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy with intermittent rain at first, cloud dispersing to small amounts at midnight. Moderate to good visibility.

1942-05-25

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Broken skies rapidly becoming cloudy. Good visibility. Some intermittent rain during the evening. F/O. WESOLOWSKI proceeded to POLISH INSPECTORATE GENREAL for interview.

1942-05-26

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Fair or fine until mid-day, thence cloudy with slight rain and passing showers. Moderate to good visibility.

1942-05-27

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Variable skies, showers, poor visibility very early in day becoming good later. F/O. WESOLOWSKI returned to unit from interview at POLISH INSPECTORATE GENERAL, London.

1942-05-28

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Fine, soon becoming cloudy, showers, sometimes heavy, good visibility.

1942-05-29

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy with good visibility, showers during the evening and mist at night. Pilot Officer DUDA returned to unit from No. 35 Gunnery Leaders Course.
OPERATION No. 96
TWO aircraft were detailed to lay mines in enemy waters. The aircraft were captained by SGT. JACEWICZ and P/O. SZYBKA. The operation was successfully carried out, Sgt. JACEWICZ reported attacking ship which was firing light flak at them. Nothing else of interest was noted or reported.

1942-05-30

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy with rain and poor visibility at first, becoming fair or fine with good visibility later.
OPERATION No. 97
The Squadron took part in the great raid upon COLOGNE and contributed 13 aircraft towards the effort, the Captains of these being:-
S/LDR. SNIEGULA, SGT. MICHEJ, SGT. MISIAK, SGT. MAKA, SGT. GUSOWSKI, SGT. JACEWICZ, P/O. SZYBKA, F/O. WOJCICKI, F/LT. HIRSZBANDT (2nd Pilot GROUP CAPTAIN A.H. GARLAND, the Station Commander), P/O. DeCOSTRES, F/LT. JONIKAS, P/O. RABEK and SGT. JEDRZEJCZAK.
The weather conditions over the target were perfect and all our aircraft succeeded in reaching the primary target. The attack was pressed home with great vigour, five aircraft each dropping 1 x 4,000 lb bomb in the target area. The other aircraft each carried 9 S.B.C. of 4 lb incendiaries. When our aircraft arrived over the target the whole town was a mass of flames and our incendiaries helped to pile up the fires, very often however, the fires were already so great that the pilots could not see the results of their own efforts. New fires were started by our incendiaries which spread rapidly and one crew reported counting 20 very large fires. “The whole town was in flames” was the report of most of the crews, and they could still be seen when crossing the Dutch Coast on the return journey.

1942-05-31

Lindholme

WEATHER:- Cloudy with hazy visibility until mid-day, becoming fine and clear. No operations, although crews stood by in readiness for further large scale effort.