Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1942-07-01

Northolt

Weather bad in the morning but improved to good in the afternoon. No flying took place.

1942-07-02

Northolt

Good weather all day. At Croydon the Squadron carried out Flight Formation flying in the morning and Wing Formation flying was carried out in the afternoon.
F/O. W. IWANOWSKI reported for duties as Station Defence Instruktor having been posted supernumerary from RA.F. Station, Churchstanton.

1942-07-03

Northolt

In the morning the weather was bad, but good in the aftwernoon. Squadron Formation flying was carried out in the morning at Croydon. One Section at Croydon received orders to “Scramble” but there is nothing to report from this operation.
Sgt. SLOWIKOWSKI proceeded to R.A.F Station, Croydon on posting supernumerary for flying duties with effect from 1/7/42.

1942-07-04

Northolt

In the morning the weather was bad, but good in the afternoon but no flying took place. F/O. S. KON and SGT. R. DABROWSKI proceeded to No. 243 Squadron, Ouston on posting for flying duties with effect from 1/7/42. F/O. W. WIEJSKI proceeded to No. 403 Squadron, Catterig on posting for flying duties with effect from 1/7/42. SGT. CZEZOWSKI proceeded to No. 242 Sqdn, Drem on posting for flying duties with effect from 1/7/42, F/O. S. KEDZIERSKI was discharged from Station Sickquarters.

1942-07-05

Northolt

Good weather all day. Training flying, including Squadron fomation flying and Fighter attacks was carried out at Croydon.

1942-07-06

Northolt

Good weather all day. Training flying, including Squadron fomation flying and Fighter attacks was carried out at Croydon.

1942-07-07

Northolt

Good weather all day. Formation flying and practice fighter attacks were carried out in the morning. At 14.45 hrs. 19 aircraft took off from Croydon landing at 15.00 hrs at Northolt on cessation of detchment. P/O. Z. NENTWICH and SGT. J. G. GAJEWSKI were posted to this Unit from No. 58 O.T.U. Grangemouth for flying duties and granted 7 days leave.

1942-07-08

Northolt

Good weather. One Section carried out G.C.I. practice 10.30 hrs to 11.55 hrs. In the afternoon training flying, including formation flying, fighter attacks and camera gun practice, was carried out.

1942-07-09

Northolt

Good weather. Cloud formation flying was carried out in the morning and Squadron formation flying in the afternoon from Northolt.

1942-07-10

Northolt

Non-operational weather and no flying took place.

1942-07-11

Northolt

Good weather. Training flying, including cloud flying and flight formation flying was carried out.

1942-07-12

Northolt

Good weather. Training flying, including ground attacks and formation flying, was carried out in the morning. At 11.30 hrs. the Squadron carried out attacks on the Home Guard on Northolt Race Course. At 13.25 hrs. 12 aircraft of 306 Squadron took off with Nos. 302, 317 and 316 Squadrons, for “Feint” Rodeo. The Squadrons flew to Dungenees under 500 feet, where Randezvous was made with Tangmere wing. Formation climbed to a height of 19,000 to 20,000 feet before reaching the turning point and maintained this Height until near the English Coast in the return journey. The formation flew Northolt – Dungeness. Five miles Nort of Maardyck – Audrick – Ambleeuse – Northolt. No E/A were seen.
At 18.40 hrs 12 aircraft of 306 Squadron took off together with 302 and 317 Squadrons for Operation Circus No. 198. The Squadrons flew to Selsey Bill under 500 feet and there made randezvous with the Tangmere Wing at 19.00 hrs. Formation then flew at sea level until 16 miles out over the English Coast, then the formation began to climb. The French Coast was crossed at Etreat at 19.25 hrs. On the way from Etreat over St. Valery the Wing was warned twice by Operations od E/A to the South, these were not seen. On the way from St. Valery when flying towards the English Coast further warnings were received from Operations, when the Wing was roughly Mid-channel, but again the E/A were not seen. The English Coast was crossed near Ford. One aircraft was on Air Sea Rescue Service 13.50 to 15.10.

1942-07-13

Northolt

In the morning the weather was non-operational. From 09.00 hrs. onwards the weather was good. Three aircraft carried out Air Sea Rescue patrol from 09,25 to 10,55. At 10.55, 13.55 and 14.40 hrs. 18 aircraft in all took off from Northolt and flew to Ipswich for one weeks armament training.

1942-07-14

Northolt

Good weather. Fefteen pilots carried out air to air firing at Ipswich.
F/O. Sendorek an English and a Polish Flight Sergeant Fitter I, and two Corporals and 1 L.A.C. Fitter I proceeded to R.A.F. Station, Hornhurch to receive some instruction on the Spitfire Mark IX aircraft. They returned on 15/7/42.

1942-07-15

Northolt

Good weather. Twelve pilots carried out air to air firing at Ipswich.
Aniversary of Polish Air Force’s arrival in England and to mark the occasion the Polish Ensign was received at a parade held at Northolt followed by a Mass at 16,00 hrs.

1942-07-16

Northolt

Good weather. Six pilots carried out Air to Air firing at Ipswich.

1942-07-17

Northolt

Good weather, but periods of rain made flying impossible for some hours during the day.
Sis pilots carried out air to air firing exercises at Ipswich.

1942-07-18

Northolt

Bad weather and no flying took place.

1942-07-19

Northolt

In the morning the weather was bad good in the afternoon. No flying was carried out.

1942-07-20

Northolt

In the morning the weather was bad. In the afternoon it improved to good. 17 aircraft took off from Ipswich at 12.10 hrs. landing at Northolt at 13.00 hrs. on cessation of detachment.
At 15.45 hrs. 12 aircraft 306 Squadron together with 302, 316 and 317 Squadrons, took off for Operation “Rhubarb”. The formation took part in combined operation. Randezvous over Northolt. The formation flew at 0 feet over Beachey Head, crossing the French Coast at St. Valery – en Caux and recrossed at Fecamp. The targets attacked were – gun positions, aerodrome huts, block houses, lorries and soldiers.
No E/A wers sighted. Weather 8/10ths cloud at 500 feet and haze.
P/O. Z. NENTWICH admitted to Station Sickquarters at Northolt.

1942-07-21

Northolt

Good weather. Training flying, including flight formation flying and G.C.I. practice, was carried out.

1942-07-22

Northolt

Good weather with periods of bad. Training flying, including cloud flying and formation flying, was carried out.
F/O. K. GORNIAK was posted to No. 243 Squadron, Ouston for flying duties.

1942-07-23

Northolt

Good weather. Training flying including formation flying and cloud formation flying, was carried out.

1942-07-24

Northolt

Good weather. Training flying including cloud formation flying, fighter attacks, camera gun practice and low formation flying was carried out.
Notification received from Air Ministry that the death of F/Lt. Zielinski, missing due to Enemy Action on 30/12/41, was presumed to have occurred on that date.

1942-07-25

Northolt

Good weather. Training Flying, Squadron Formation flying, was carried out. At 14.00 hrs to 15.35 hrs. one Section carried out G.C.I. practice.

1942-07-26

Northolt

Good weather. At 12.45 hrs.12 aircraft of 306 Squadron together with 302, 316 and 317 Squadrons took off for Rodeo No. 81. The formation flew over Newhaven below 500 feet. They flew at the same height for 13 minutes and the began to increase height. The route was – Northolt – Newhaven – Le Touquet – St. Omer – Gravelines – North Foreland – Northolt. E/A were sighted but no engagement took place. At 22.10 hrs. six pilots carried out dusk landings in Spitfire Aircraft.

1942-07-27

Northolt

Weather in the morning was non-operational. In the afternoon the waeather was good but no flying took place.

1942-07-28

Northolt

In the morning the wather was non-operational. In the afternoon weather good and Squadron formation flying was carried out.

1942-07-29

Northolt

Weather good. Training flying, including G.C.I. practice, flight formation flying and formation lov flying was carried out.

1942-07-30

Northolt

Weather good. The pilots took part in clay pigeon shooting in the morning, followed by practice High Flying and Ground attacks. At 16.40 hrs 12 aircraft of 306 Squadron, together with 302and 317 Squadrons took off for a Rodeo. The formation flew over Pevensey Bay under 500 feet, cours was then set for St. Omer with all aircraft keeping as near to Sea level as possible. When the French Coast was seen all aircraft flew at full throttle over the coast (at 17.18 hrs.) and started to climb after penetrating about 2 – 3 miles. Intense light Flak (m.g. and Bofors) was experienced and it was there that P/O. Pentz may have been hit. There is no information about P/O. Pentz who was missing from the Operation. He may have crashed in France or have made a Forced Landing. On arriving over St. Omer the Wing was in the height belt of 12,000 to 14,000 feet and here they turned left, back towards Cap Gris Nez and recrossed the French coast at 17.33 hrs. No E/A wers sighted.

1942-07-31

Northolt

In the morning the weather was non-operational. From 10,00 hrs the weather was good. At 17.25 hrs. 10 pilots of 306 Squadron together with 302 and 317 Squadrons took off from Ibsely for Operation Ramrod 24 (10 Group). The formation acted as 2nd Diversionery Wing and flew at Sea level for 17 minutes then gaining height. The French Coast was crossed East of Cherbourg at 18.01 hrs. at 10,000 to 12,000 feet. Light, heave but inaccurate flak was experienced from Cherbourg. The Wing continued to climb and recrossed the French Coast South of Barfleur and then set course for Salsey Bill. As they flew near Maupertus aerodrome and back over the Channel E/A colud be seen the whole time, climbing very steeply and rapidly. 25 miles over the Channel six F.W. 190s. were seen at 31,000 feet some distance to port of our Wing, which was at that time flying at 25,000 feet. No Engagements took place.
From 17.40 hrs to 19.55 hrs. one aircraft took part in Air Sea Recue patrol.

Squadron Leader, Commanding
No. 306 (Polish) Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE