Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-08-01

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy. Clouds 10/10ths at 2,000 feet. Visibility good.
Throughout the day the pilots took part in formation flying, local flying and carried out two aircraft tests. A lecture on “The Ways of Escaping from Enemy Occupied Territory” was given to the pilots.
S/Ldr. Karwowski returned from a conference held at the Polish Inspectorate General, London.

1943-08-02

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy and misty. 10/10ths cloud at 3,000 feet. Visibility good.
Air-to-air firing, formation flying and battle formation flying was carried out throughout the day.

1943-08-03

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy and misty with intermittent rain. 10/10ths cloud at 1,500 feet. Visibility poor.
05.56. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
Training flying included air-to-air firing, formation flying, aircraft tests and practice bomber attacks. A lecture on “Aircraft recognition” was given to the pilots by the Intelligence Officer.
F/LT. J. KUROWSKI ceased to be detached to R.A.F. Station, Charmy Down on cessation of No. 8 Fighter Leaders Course.

1943-08-04

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy and misty.
10.05. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
Training flying included air-to-air firing, formation flying, practice photo. attacks and one aircraft test.

1943-08-05

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy and misty. Clouds 10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility poor.
05.30. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
No flying was carried out.
A lecture on “British and American Tanks” was given to the pilots by the Intelligence Officer.

1943-08-06

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.41. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
Throughout the day pilots took part in flight formation flying, low flying practice photo. attacks and carried out three aircraft tests.
F/O/ PORAZINSKI posted from No. 318 (Polish) Squadron for flying duties.

1943-08-07

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.30. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
11.00. One Section at readiness and one at 15 minutes.
The Squadron took part in formation flying air-to-air and air-to-sea firing, low flying and Navigation exercises.

1943-08-08

CATTERICK

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
Throughout the day pilots took part in Flight Formation flying, practice photo. attacks, cloud flying and some local flying.
19.45. One Section took off from base and carried out a patrol over the sea landing at 20.45 hrs without incident.

1943-08-09

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy and misty. 10/10ths cloud at 2,000 feet. Visibility poor.
No flying was carried out throughout the day.
F/O. KURYLOWICZ was posted to 316 Squadron for flying duties with effect from 2/8/43.
W/O. WOJCIK was posted to 316 Squadron for flying duties.

1943-08-10

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy. 8-10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility poor.
Low and cloud flying, local flying and aircraft tests carried out throughout the day.
The Advance Party, consisting of one officer, two Senior N.C.O.s and 26 airmen proceeded from Catterick at 22.30 hrs on 9/8/43 and arrived at Gravesend R.A.F. Station at 08.00 on 10/8/43, prior to the Squadron movement to Gravesend on 11/8/43.

1943-08-11

CATTERICK

Weather – cloudy with intermittent rain. 10/10ths cloud at 2,000 feet. Visibility poor.
The Squadron, consisting of 17 aircraft, flew from Catterick at 11.50 hrs and landed at Gravesend at 13.15 hrs.
The Main party proceeded from Catterick by rail at 11.00 hrs by special train “X464” and arrived at Gravesend at 21.30 hrs.
Private cars left Catterick at 09.00 hrs, the road convoy of Service Vehicles having departed on the 10th.
F/LT. B. ARCT was posted to No. 303 (Polish) Squadron for duties as Flight Commander.

1943-08-12

GRAVESEND

Weather – cloudy. 8-10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility good.
The Squadron carried out Sector Recco. from 16.45 hrs to 18.40 hrs, 13 pilots taking part.

1943-08-13

GRAVESEND

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
Pilots took part in Sector recco. from 09.45 hrs to 12.30 hrs.
Flight and battle formation flying and local flying was also carried out.

1943-08-14

GRAVESEND

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
No flying was carried out.

1943-08-15

GRAVESEND

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
11.45. The Squadron, consisting of 18 aircraft, flew to 3501 S.U. at Cranfield to have Merlin 45M Engines installed.
The pilots returned to Gravesand by train.

1943-08-16

GRAVESEND

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
Sgt. Pilot Letki reported on posting from No. 58 O.T.U. for flying duties w.e.f. 10/8/43.
No flying could be carried out becaused the aircraft were still at Cranfield.

1943-08-17

GRAVESEND

Weather – cloudy. 8-10/10ths at 2,000 feet. Visibility good.
No flying carried out and the aircraft were still at Cranfield.
Information received that W/O. Pilot Jasinski, W was presumed to have been killed w.e.f. 26/1/43 having been reported as missing on that date.

1943-08-18

GRAVESEND

Weather – cloudy. 8-10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility good.
1 Officer, 2 N.C.O.s and 25 airmen, forming the advance party for the Squadron movement to R.A.F. Station, FRISTON, proceeded by Service Transport from Gravesend at 09.00 hrs.
Four pilots proceeded to Cranfield and flew four of the Squadron Spitfires, refitted with the Merlin 45 M engines, direct to Friston aerodrome.

1943-08-19

GRAVESEND

Weather – sunny. Visibility good.
The Main party of the Squadron Movement to R.A.F. Station, Friston proceeded from Gravesend at 10.20 by special train and arrived at Eastburne at 13.15 hrs. Service Transport was at the Station to convey all officers and airmen to Friston.
There aircraft flew from Cranfield to Friston with the new engines fitted.
The road party consisting of 12 officers, 9 Senior N.C.O. s and one airmen proceeded from Gravesend by private car to R.A.F. Station, Friston.
18.10. Three aircraft carried out a Sector recco. flight.
F/Lt. Bokowiec and F/Lt. Ostaszewski, Sector Fighter Comtrollers, were detached to R.A.F. Station Kenley for duties in the Operations Room.

1943-08-20

FRISTON

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one Section at 30 minutes.
17.00. One Section at readiness.
Five aircraft flew from Cranfield to Friston.
Throughout the day pilots took part in local flying and Sector recco.
F/Lt P. OSTASZEWSKI proceeded on posting to No.12(P)AFU with effect from 17/8/43/

1943-08-21

FRISTON

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.30. One Section at readiness.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 30 minutes.
15.15. One Section at readiness.
Three aircraft flew from Cranfield to Friston.
Pilots took part in Sector recco., formation flying and practice attacks.

1943-08-22

FRISTON

Weather –cloudy with intermittent rain. 10/10ths cloud at 2,000 feet. Visibility poor.
04.55. One Section at readiness and two at 30 minutes.
08.00. One Section at readiness.
11.40. One Section at 30 minutes.
17.20. One Section at readiness.
20.15. One Section at readiness.
Sector recco., formation flying, four aircraft tests and nine aircraft flew from Cranfield to Friston.

1943-08-23

FRISTON

Weather – sunny. Visibility good.
04.46. One Section at readiness and two sections at 30 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and one at 30 minutes.
17.00. One Section at readiness and one at 30 minutes.
SGTS ZIELINSKI and KRZECHLIK were promoted to Permanent War Rank of Flight Sergeant with effect from 17/7/43.
F/SGT URBANCZYK was promoted to the Permanent War Rank of Warrant Officer with effect from 1/7/43.
Training flying included battle formation flying, sector recco., practice attacks and aircraft tests.

1943-08-24

FRISTON

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.48. “A” Flight at 30 minutes.
04.46. Two Sections at readiness.
07.20. One Section at readiness and one at 30 minutes.
05.25. Three aircraft took off from base and carried out air/sea rescue patrols without sighting any E/A and landed at base without anything of interest to report, at 06.55 hrs.
Throughout the day Squadron formation flying, air-to-sea firing, local flying, practice landings and aircraft tests were carried out.

1943-08-25

FRISTON

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.00. “A” Flight at 30 minutes.
13.00. Three Sections at 30 minutes.
10.40. “B” Flight at readiness.
11.30. One Section at readiness and two Sections at 30 minutes.
Throughout the day battle formation flying, low flying and some local flying was undertaken by the pilots.
17.45. 11 aircraft took off from Friston aerodrome for Operation No. 161 – Ramrod “S.2” – to escort 36 Marauders to the aerodrome at Tricqueville. Rendezvous was made with the bombers over Pavensey Bay. Continuing to climb the Squadron reached the target at 18.35 hrs at a height of 10/12,000 feet. The accuracy of the bombing was observed. All aircraft returned to base without incident and without sighting any E/A. The weather over France was fine.
F/LT S. SZPAKOWICZ proceeded on posting to No. 58 O.T.U. for Instructor duties with effect from 23/8/43.

1943-08-26

FRISTON

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.00. “A” Flight at 30 minutes.
13.35. “A” Flight at readiness.
15.35. One Section at readiness and two at 30 minutes.
17.10. One Section at readiness.
Throughout the day Flight formation flying, local flying and aircraft tests were carried out by the pilots.
08.50. Four aircraft took off from Friston on being ordered to “Scramble”. They returned to base without incident and with nothing to report at 09.10 hrs.

1943-08-27

FRISTON

Weather – cloudy and misty with intermittent rain. 10/10ths cloud at 2,000 feet. Visibility poor.
05.00. One Section at readiness and two at 30 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness and two at 30 minutes.
17.00. One Section at readiness and two at 30 minutes.
18.00. Three Sections at readiness.
07.45. 11 aircraft took off from Friston aerodrome for Operation No. 162 – Ramrod “No. 6” – to escort 36 Marauders to the aerodrome at Poix. Rendezvous was made with the bombers over Dungeness at 12,000 feet. The accuracy of the bombing was observed. All aircraft returned to base without incident and without sighting any E/A.
Throughout the day formation flying, target towing, air-to-air firing, local flying and aircraft tests were carried out.
F/O W. BIALKIEWICZ reported on posting from D.G..I..P. Blackpool supernumerary for Admin. duties w.e.f. 25/8/43.
F/L J. KUROWSKI proceeded on posting to No. 308 (Polish) Squadron supernumerary for flying duties w.e.f. 25/8/43.

1943-08-28

FRISTON

Weather – cloudy and misty with poor visibility.
05.00. One Section at readiness and two Sections at 30 minutes.
09.30. One Section at readiness and two Sections at 30 minutes.
11.20. One Section at readiness and two Sections at 30 minutes.
13.00. Three Sections at readiness.
10.10. Two aircraft took off from base on receiving orders to “Scramble” and returned from the patrol with nothing to report.
W/O KRUPA was posted from No. 58 O.T.U. for flying duties with effect from 26/8/43.

1943-08-29

FRISTON

Weather – cloudy. 10/10ths cloud at 3,000 feet. Visibility good.
05.04. “B” Flight at 30 minutes.
11.20. One Section at readiness and two Sections at 30 minutes.
13.00. “A” Flight at 30 minutes.
Throughout the day Battle formation flying, practice photo attacks, aircraft tests and some local flying was carried out by the pilots.

1943-08-30

FRISTON

Weather – cloudy. 10/10ths cloud at 3,000 feet. Visibility good.
05.05. “A” Flight at 30 minutes.
13.00. One Section at readiness, two at 30 minutes.
17.00. One Section at readiness and two at 30 minutes.
20.09. Two Sections at readiness and two at 30 minutes
Training flying included Squadron Formation flying and two aircraft tests.

1943-08-31

FRISTON

Weather – sunny with good visibility.
05.09. One Section at readiness, two at 30 minutes.
07.30. One Section at readiness.
13.00. “A” Flight at 30 minutes.
17.00. “A” Flight at readiness.
19.30. “A” Flight at readiness.
14.10. Four aircraft took off from base and carried out convoy patrols, landing at 16.00 without incident
13.30. Four aircraft took off from base to act as escort to minesweepers. All aircraft returned to base without sighting any E/A and with nothing of interest to report, at 15.00 hrs
19.55. Four aircraft took off from Friston aerodrome, carried out an operational patrol over the sea. And returned to base at 20.25 hrs with nothing to interest to report.
F/LT JASIONOWSKI posted from No. 303 (Polish) Squadron for Operations Room duties at Kenley with effect from 25/8/43.
W./O SMIGIELSKI and F.SGT SWISTUN were posted to D.G..I..P. Blackpool supernumerary whilst attending special Polish Army Cadet Course to attain Cadet status with effect from 21/8/43.

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