Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-07-01

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy 8-10/10ths at 2,000 feet. Visibility 4/6 miles.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
During the day 18 pilots carried out navigation exercises and 16 pilots carried out air-to-air firing.
A lecture was also given to the pilots on ”British Tank Recognition” by the Squadron Intelligence Officer.
F/Lt. Kurowski returned from the Beam Approach Training Course at Wittering

THORNABY

04.52. Two sections at readiness.
06.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.11 Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-02

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy 10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility – good..
04.53. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
Navigation exercises, local flying, battle formation flying and practice photo attacks were all carried out by the pilots throughout the day.
Sgt. Pilot Walczak posted from R.A.F. Station, Catterick on ceasing to be Non-effective sick.

THORNABY

04.53. Two Sections at readiness.
06.07. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.20. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-03

CATTERICK

Weather – good. Clouds 4-6/10ths at 4,000 feet. Visibility good.
04.45. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at readiness.

THORNABY

04.55. Two Sections at readiness.
06.09. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.11. Two Sections at readiness.
11.00. One Section was ordered to “Scramble” from the forward base at Thornaby to investigate “X” raid. No contact was made and the raid was proved to be friendly.
Training flying included air-to-air firing, aerobatics, local flying, target towing and weather tests.
F/O. S. TRONCZYNSKI ceased to be detached to No.1490 Fighter Gunnery Flight Ayr together with W/O. S. WOJCIK on cessation of No. 12 Gunnery Course.
F/SGT. K. MICHALKIEWICZ detached to 1530 Flight, Wittering for a Beam Approach Training Course.

1943-07-04

CATTERICK

Weather – good. Visibility good.
04.55. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
Air-to-air firing was carried out by 20 pilots between the hours of 09.50 and 16.45
F/O. Z.L. PIRSZEL, F/O. Z. JELINSKI, W/O. J. SMIGIELSKI, and F/SGT. F. TOMCZAK detached to 15(S) Division at Acklington for a Special exercise with the army. This was the second occasion on which pilots had been detached to No. 15 (S) Mixed Division and once again the exercise proved very instructive and very interesting.

THORNABY

04.45. Two Sections at readiness.
05.40. One Section at readiness.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-05

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy 8-10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility good.
04.55. One Section at readiness.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
Training flying included air-to-air firing and local flying.
F/Lt. Z. DRYBANSKI ceased to be detached to the Polish Inspectorate General at London.
F/SGT. REMBOWSKI was posted from No. 64 Squadron for flying duties.

THORNABY

06.16. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. Two Sections at 15 minutes.
22.10. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-06

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy at misty. Clouds 10/10ths at 2,000 feet. Visibility poor.
05.05. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.

THORNABY

04.56. Two Sections at readiness.
06.10. One Section at readiness, one at 15 minutes.
22.07. Two Sections at readiness.
09.15. One Section took off from the forward base at Thornaby on receiving orders to “Scramble”, to investigate “X” raid. No contact was made and the ‘Raid” proved to b friendly.
F/O. R. BUDREWICZ, F/O. W. SZAJDA were both detached to No. 1490 Fighter Gunnery Flight at Ayr for No. 13 Gunnery Course.
F/Lt. J. KUROWSKI detached to Charmy Down for No. 8 Fighter Leadrers Course.

1943-07-07

CATTERICK

Weather - sunny with good visibility.
04.58. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.05. One Section at 30 minutes.
11.05. One Section took off from Thornaby and carried out an operational patrol over the Sea without incident until 12.05. hrs.
Training flying included, air-to-air firing by 23 pilots, bomber affiliation, target towing and local flying.
F/LT. Z. ZAREBSKI posted from No. 303 (Polish) Squadron supernumerary for flying duties.
SGT. ZIELINSKI reported on posting from No. 58 O.T.U. Grangemouth for flying duties.

THORNABY

04.57. Two Sections at readiness.
08.20. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.08. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-08

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy. Clouds 10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility – good.
04.48. Two Sections at 30 minutes.
22.05. One Section at 30 minutes.
Air-to-air firing was carried out between the hours of 10.10 and 16.30 hrs by various pilots.

THORNABY

04.56. Two Sections at readiness.
06.06. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.10. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-09

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy with intermittent rain. Clouds 10/10ths at 2,000 feet. Visibility poor.
04.55. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.09. One Section at 30 minutes.
20.40. One Section took off from the forward base at Thornaby and carried out a patrol over the Sea without incident, returning at 21.50 hrs.
Training flying included cloud flying, aerobatics, low flying and navigation exercises, formation flying and two aircraft tests.
F/O. Z.L. PIRSZEL, F/O. Z. JELINSKI, W/O. J. SMIGIELSKI and F/SGT F. TOMCZAK returned from No. 15 (S) Mixed Division at Acklington on completion of the exercises with the army.
F/SGT. K. MICHALKIEWICZ ceased to be detached to No. 1530 Flight at Wittering.

THORNABY

04.59. Two Sections at readiness.
06.06. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.07. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-10

CATTERICK

Weather – good. Visibility good.
04.55. One Section at 30 minutes.
23.05. One Section at 30 minutes.
Air-to-air firing, low flying and some formation flying was carried out throughout the day.

THORNABY

05.40. Two Sections at readiness.
06.13. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.00. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-11

CATTERICK

Weather – Sunny with good visibility.
04.55. One Section at 30 minutes.
23.05. One Section at 30 minutes.
The pilots took part in battle formation flying, air-to-air firing, aerobatics and local flying.

THORNABY

05.01. Two Sections at readiness.
06.16. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.05. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.04. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-12

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
Formation flying and practice photo, attacks, battle formation flying, aerobatics and local flying was carried out by the pilots throughout the day.
F/Lt. S. KEDZIERSKI detached to No. 1530 Flight at Wittering for B.A.T. Course.
SGT. Z. KAWNIK proceeded to Messrs Rolls Royce Ltd Derby for Merlin Engine Handling Course.

THORNABY

05.02. Two Sections at readiness.
06.20. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.05. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-13

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy with intermittent rain. Cloudy 10/10ths at 2,000 feet. Visibility poor.
Pilot took parts in navigation exercises, formation and low flying, practice photo attacks, aerobatics and local flying throughout the day.
Eight pilots took part in Night Flying between the hours of 23.40 and 05.15, taking off from Catterick and landing at Thornaby.
Pilots were also given instruction on “FIGHTER NIGHTS” and “NIGHT FLYING”

THORNABY

05.04. Two Sections at readiness.
06.40. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.05. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-14

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy. Clouds 10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility poor.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.09. One Section at 30 minutes.
Throughout the day air-to-air firing, target towing, navigation exercises, aerobatics and local flying was carried out by the pilots.
F/O. F. HARLA was posted to No. 308 (Polish) Squadron for Interpretter duties.
Sgt. Pilot J. TOCZYSKI proceeded to the Polish Army Camp at Auchtermuchty, returning 15.7.43.

THORNABY

05.04. Two Sections at readiness.
06.40. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
07.10. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
22.05. Two Sections at readiness.

1943-07-15

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with very good visibility.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.09. One Section at 30 minutes.
Pilots took part in low flying, local flying and formation flying.
A lecture was given to the pilots on “OPERATIONAL AIR FIRING AND FIRING TRAINING”

THORNABY

11.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-16

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.27. One Section at readiness.
Air-to-air firing, practice bombers attack, target towing, aircraft tests and local flying were all undertaken by the pilots throughout the day.
F/SGT. TOMCZAK and SGT KRZECHLIK detached to Hutton Cranswick for Air Firing training.

THORNABY

05.08. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-17

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
22.11. One Section at 30 minutes.
23.11. Two Sections at 30 minutes.
Throughout the day pilots took part in aerobatics, practice photo. attacks and flight formation flying.
F/O. R. BUDREWICZ, F/O. W. SZAJDA returned from 1490 Fighter Gunnery Flight on cessation of No. 13 Gunnery Course.
F/SGT. KAWNIK returned from Messrs Rolls Royce Ltd Derby on cessation of Merlin Engine Handling Course.
F/Lt. S. KEDZIERSKI ceased to be detached to 1530 Flight Wittering on cessation of B.A.T. Course.
F/LT. W. WIKTORCZYK returned from Medical Officers Conference at Polish Inspectorate General, London, where he had been on Temporary duty since the 14th of July, 1943.

THORNABY

05.09. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
14.37. Two Sections at readiness.
15.45. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-18

CATTERICK

Weather and visibility – good.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.11. One Section at 30 minutes.
Training flying included air-to-air firing, bomber affiliation, target towing and aircraft tests.

THORNABY

05.10. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-19

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy 10/10ths at 3,000 feet.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
Four pilots flew to Thornaby and a further four pilots returned from Thornaby, otherwise other was no flying on this day.

THORNABY

05.12. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-20

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy and misty. Clouds 10/10ths at 1,500 feet. Visibility poor.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
18.40. One Section took off from the forward base at Thornaby and carried out a Sea Patrol without incident, landing again at 19.55.

THORNABY

05.13. One Section at readiness and one Section at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-21

CATTERICK

Weather - cloudy with intermittent rain. Clouds 10/10ths at 1.500 feet. Visibility poor.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
No flying was carried out to-day.

THORNABY

05.15. Two Sections at 30 minutes.

1943-07-22

CATTERICK

Weather - cloudy with intermittent rain. Clouds 10/10ths at 2,000 feet. Visibility poor.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
Pilots carried out bomber affiliation and practice photo. attacks.
F/SGT A. BONDARCZUK posted from Hutton Cranswick for flying duties on ceasing to be non-effective sick.
A lecture was given to the pilots on “FIRING IN THE AIR”.

THORNABY

05.16. One Section at readiness, one Section at 15 minutes.
10.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-23

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
04.55. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
Formation flying, practice bomber interception, weather tests, aircraft tests carried out by the pilots throughout the day. The practice bomber interception was carried out from Woodvale, seven pilots having flown to that station at 14.20 hrs. They flew from Woodvale to Hutton Cranswick at 22.10 hrs and from Hutton Cranswick to Catterick on the following day at 09.50 and 18.20 hrs.

THORNABY

05.16. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
10.00. Two Sections at 30 minutes.

1943-07-24

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.12. One Section at 30 minutes.
Bomber affiliation was carried out by six pilots.

THORNABY

05.19. Two Sections at 30 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
20.50. Two Sections at 30 minutes.

1943-07-25

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy and misty. Clouds 10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility poor.
04.48. One Section at 30 minutes.
22.14. One Section at 30 minutes.
Flight formation and local flying carried out by the pilots.
F/Lt. P. OSTASZEWSKI detached to 1530 Flight Wittering for B.A.T. Course.
F/O. L. KURYLOWICZ and F/O Z. PORAZINSKI, SGT. B. KONECKI and SGT. M. TRNOBRANSKI all posted from No. 58 O.T.U. for flying duties with effect from 20/7/43.

THORNABY

05.21. Two Sections at readiness
18.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-26

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.22. One Section at 30 minutes.
Formation flying, practice photo. attacks and local flying carried out throughout the day.
F/SGT. S. KRZEHLIK and F/SGT F. TOMCZAK returned from Hutton Cranswick on cessation of Air Firing exercises.
SGT. Z. KUCZKOWSKI (Flight Engineer) posted to No. 1 O.T.U. Detachment at Beaulieu.

THORNABY

05.23. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
12.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-27

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.24. One Section at 30 minutes.
14.40. Thirteen pilots took off from Catterick and landed at Ludham at 15.30 hrs.
19.55. Twelve pilots took off from Ludham at 19.55. hrs for RAMROD Operation No. 20. The aircraft were to act as fighter escort for the return of 12 Mitchell bombers which had bombed the Schipol airfield near Amsterdam. The object was to destroy a large number of fighters which had been shot down by Flying Fortresses the previous day and which were on the aerodrome. Together with No. 308 (Polish) Squadron our aircraft formed the cover for the return of the bombers at a height of 11/13,000 feet. They took off from Ludham near Norwick at 19.55 hrs. After flying at low altitude for 20 minutes in a Easterly direction they began to climb and eight minutes later the returning bombers were met with their escort. Our pilots cirkled three times to make sure there were no E/A, then flew behind the bombers covering them to the coast. Landed at Ludham at 21.15 hrs. Weather – slight mist up to 8,000 feet; visibility poor at low altitudes.
21.40. Thirteen aircraft flew back from Ludham to Catterick.

THORNABY

05.24. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-28

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.24. One Section at 30 minutes.
The pilots took part in Flight Formation flying from 10.00 to 11.20 hrs.
14.50. Six pilots took off from Catterick and landed at Ludham aerodrome 15.55 hrs.
Pilots carried out Convoy patrols in sections from Ludham between the hours of 17.25 and 23.00 without incident.

THORNABY

05.36. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-29

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.25. One Section at 30 minutes.
Sections carried out further Convoy patrols from Ludham aerodrome without incident.
12.25. The pilots returned from Ludham landing at Catterick at 13.25 hrs.
A lecture was given to pilots who had recently joined the Squadron, title “OFFICIAL SECRETS”
F/Sgt. GAJEWSKI and Sgt. NOWOCZYN detached to Hutton Cranswick for Air Firing training.

THORNABY

05.37. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-30

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.27. One Section at 30 minutes.
Training flying included Formation flying, practice photo. attacks, battle formation flying and bomber affiliation.
F/O. Z. PORAZINSKI was posted to No. 318 (Polish) Squadron, Detling.
F/SGT. E. MARTENS was posted to No. 303 (Polish) Squadron for flying duties.

THORNABY

05.27. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

1943-07-31

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with very good visibility.
05.27. One Section at 30 minutes.
Flying included air-to-air firing, formation flying, bomber affiliation and practice battle formation flying

THORNABY

05.31. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.

W. Karwowski S/L
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 306 (Polish) Squadron.
ROYAL AIR FORCE