Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-10-01

HESTON

05.59. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy. 8-10/10ths cloud at 3,000 feet. Visibility poor.
Throughout the day, pilots carried out training flying which included practice photo attacks, battle formation flying, and low flying.
F/Lt Klosin was posted to No. 3106 Servicing Echelon for Ops Room duties. Sgt. J. Toczyski promoted to F/Sgt. wef: 1/7/43.

1943-10-02

HESTON

06.01. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Sunny, with good visibility.
13.50. Six aircraft of “B” Flight made a flight from Le Touquet to Le Hawre for testing the G.C.I. set. They took off from Heston and flew via Dungeness – Le Touquet – Le Havre – Beachy Head, at 20,000 ft without meeting any E/A. Landed at Heston 15.20.
Throughout the day pilots took part in practice flying which included Squadron formation and photo attacks.
W/O. Urbanczyk, pilot was posted to No. 6 A.A.C.U. Castle Bromwich wef; 23/9/43.

1943-10-03

HESTON

06.02. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Sunny, visibility good.
17.25. 12 a/c took off from Heston with 308 Sqdn. to act as escort to 18 Mitchells attacking the Power Station at Rouen: Operation Ramrod No. 259. The Bombers were met over Rye at 500 ft direction was changed and course set for Rouen. Weather over France and S. England was clear and cloudless. Squadron landed at Heston 19.15hrs.
10.30. 11 a/c 306 Squadron took off from Bradwell Bay with 308 (Polish) Squadron for Operation No. 257 they were to act as escort to 2nd part of 72 Marauders attacking Woensdrecht aerodrome. The Operation was diversion No. 2 to facilitate other operations against enemy territory. The bombers were met at 11.000 ft in the direction of the target. On the way back, a single Me. 109 attacked a formation of 4 a/c of this Sqdn. without result. A/C landed at Heston 12.30hrs.
S/Ldr. Karwowski returned from Old Sarum on completion of No. 3 Intermediate Course.
W/O. Gallus posted to 3106 Servicing Echelon wef; 1/10/43 but continued to be detached to R.A.F. Northolt for Operations Room duties.

1943-10-04

HESTON

06.04. Squadron at readiness.
Weather: cloudy 10/10ths at 4,000 feet. Visibility poor.
14.05. 12 a/c flew to Tangmere, landing at 14.25/30. They took off again at 15.10/15 landing at base 16.35 hrs.

1943-10-05

HESTON

06.05. Squadron at readiness.
Weather: Cloudy and Misty.
Two a/c test were carried out otherwise no flying.
A lecture was given to the Pilots “Escape” and “Behaviour in travel in occupied territory.

1943-10-06

HESTON

06.07. Squadron at readiness.
Weather: Cloudy and Misty with intermittent rain.10/10ths cloud at 2,000 feet. Visibility poor.
No flying was carried out.

1943-10-07

HESTON

06.09. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy – 10/10ths at 3,000 feet. Visibility 2-4 miles.
No flying was carried out to-day.

1943-10-08

HESTON

06.10. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy, Misty, with poor visibility.
16.00. Squadron took off for Operation Ramrod No. 264. 11 A/C took off from Manston to 1 part of 72 Marauders attacking the ‘drome at Chievres – South of Ath. The bombers were met over N. Foreland at 12,000 feet. As weather conditions were very bad, and there was a low fog. Results of bombing could not be seen. A/C landed Heston 18.0 hrs.

1943-10-09

HESTON

06.10. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy, Misty, with poor visibility. Clouds 10/10ths at 3,000 ft.
14.30. 12 A/C of this Squadron, together with 308 (Polish) Squadron took off from Manston acting as escort to one part of 72 Marauders attacking Woensdrecht aerodrome – Ramrod No. 266. Bombers were met over the North Sea at 12,000 ft. Course was set for the target. Results of bombing were observed to be very good – several buildings were hit. Squadrons landed at Heston approx. 16.35hrs. Weather over Holland – foggy.

1943-10-10

HESTON

06.11. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Foggy with bad visibility.
No flying was carried out today.

1943-10-11

HESTON

06.12. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Foggy with bad visibility.
No flying carried out but a lecture was given to the Pilots on “Technique of observation in the air”

1943-10-12

HESTON

06.11. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Foggy with bad visibility.
No flying carried out today. F/Sgt Toczyski was posted Supy. N/E sick to R.A.F. Station, Heston.

1943-10-13

HESTON

06.13. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy and Misty. 10/10ths cloud at 2,000 ft. Visibility poor.
Practice flying included formation flying, air to air firing, Sector reconnaissance, and A/C tests.

1943-10-14

HESTON

06.13. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy and Misty. 10/10ths cloud at 2,000 ft. Visibility poor.
Flying today consisted of four aircraft tests only. Lecture was given to pilots - “Morale of G.A.F.”

1943-10-15

HESTON

06.25. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: In the Morning Misty. In the afternoon – good weather with fair visibility.
No flying carried out today. An examination was held by the pilots in respect of Aircraft Recognition.

1943-10-16

HESTON

06.22. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy – 10/10ths cloud at 3,000 ft. Visibility good.
F/Lt E. Krzeminski pilot, was posted to No. 317 (Polish) Squadron at Northolt wef: 6/10/43.
12.30. 12 a/c flew to Bradwell Bay landing at 13.05. They took of again at 13.45 landing at base at 14.15/20hrs.
15.15. There a/c took part in practice photo attacks until 16.20hrs.

1943-10-17

HESTON

06.25. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Sunny with good visibility.
13.05. 12 a/c from 306 Squadron took off from Heston, patrolled over a convoy, returning without incident at 15.20hrs.
16.50. 2 a/c took part in formation flying until 18.00hrs.

1943-10-18

HESTON

06.27. Squadron at Readiness.
13.00.. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy. 10/10ths at 2,000 ft visibility 2-4 miles.
08.30. 12 A/C took off from Heston together with 308 Squadron, actong as escort to 1 part of 72 Marauders attacking Beauvais ‘drome – Operation Ramrod No. 272. Bombers were met over the channel at 12,000 ft. Target was covered with cloud – no bombs were dropped. A/c landed at Heston 10.20hrs.
16.10. 12 A/C took off for practice Battle formation flying, landed at 13.15/20hrs. 5 a/c took part in local flying, and four a/c carried out bomber interception training.

1943-10-19

HESTON

06.25. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Sunny, visibility good.
Practice flying included air-to-air firing, lacal flying, navigation and target towing.

1943-10-20

HESTON

06.30. Squadron at 30 mins.
13.25. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy 10/10ths at 3,000 ft. Poor visibility with intermittent rain.
Pilots carried out flight formation flying, and photo attacks, and some local flying.

1943-10-21

HESTON

06.32. Squadron at 30 mins. 12.10. “A” Flight at readiness.
Weather: Cloudy 10/10ths at 3,000 ft. Visibility poor. Intermittent rain.
No flying carried out today.
F/O Sologub reported on posting from 58 O.T.U. wef: 20/10.43.

1943-10-22

HESTON

06.32. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy, 10/10ths at 3,000 ft. Visibility good.
08.30. 12 a/c flew to Tangmere. They landed 08.55.
09.25. 9 A/C took off from Tangmere to act as escort to Marauders attacking Evreux aerodrome: Operation Ramrod No. 280. The bombers were met at 12,000 ft. As the clouds were very low, the result of bombing could not be seen A/C landed at Tangmere 11.30hrs approx.
13.35. 12 A/C took off from Tangmere, landing at Tangmere 14.00/05hrs.
15.25. 12 A/C took off from Tangmere and carried out a patrol over the channel. The weather was bad however, and the pilots returned to base at 16.25/45hrs without having anything to report.
F/Lt Zarebski was posted to No. 411 R and S.U. Heston suply for flying duties.

1943-10-23

HESTON

06.26 Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Foggy visibility poor.
No flying carried out today. F/O. K. Marschall reported on posting from 308 Sqdn wef: 6/10/43.

1943-10-24

HESTON

06.38 Squadron at 30 mins.
15.00. Squadron at Readiness.
Weather: Foggy early morning, clearing later, with good visibility.
11.25. 11 A/C took off from Heston to act as cover to Marauders attacking Montidier aerodrome: Operation Ramrod No. 283. They met the bombers over Rye at 12,000 ft. Near Breitail 8 E/A tried to attack the formation but failed to make contact. After target had been passed 2 F.W. 190’s were sighted. F/O Potocki opened fire at these a/c but no claim is made because of the distance from which he fired. The result of the bombing was observed and it was seen to be excellent. Two big explosions were observed on the ‘drome and many fires were started. Squadron landed at Heston at 13.25hrs.

1943-10-25

HESTON

06.39. 1 Section at Readiness. 2 Sections at 15 mins.
12.00 Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Cloudy 10/10ths at 2,000 ft. Visibility good.
14.55. 14 A/C took off and carried out Squadron battle formation flying, landing 13.30hrs.

1943-10-26

HESTON

06.41. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Foggy.
No flying carried out today.
Lecture was given to the pilots on “The Invasion of Sicily”

1943-10-27

HESTON

06.45. Squadron at 30 mins.
13.00. “B” Flight at Readiness.
Weather: Foggy.
No flying carried out.
Sgt. Pilot Walczak posted to 16 (P) S.F.T.S. Bramcote for duty as Staff Pilot wef: 21/10/43.

1943-10-28

HESTON

06.45. One Section at Readiness, two Sections at 15 mins.
Weather: Foggy.
No flying carried out.

1943-10-29

HESTON

06.46. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Foggy. No flying carried out.

1943-10-30

HESTON

06.48. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Foggy. No flying carried out today.

1943-10-31

HESTON

06.48. Squadron at 30 mins.
Weather: Foggy. No flying carried out .

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