Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-12-01

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy with poor visibility.
07.52,. “A” Flight at Readiness. “B” Flight at 30 mins.
11.30. “A” Flight at Readiness.
09.00. 10 a/c of this Squadron together with 315 Squadron took off Heston acting as close escort to 72 Marauders bombing Lille / Vandeville aerodrome in Operation No Ramrod No. 363. Bombers were five mins late at R/V. Height at that time 12,000 ft. Bombing good. Bursts were observed on runways and Dispersals areas Anexplosion was seen in the N.W. Corner of target. Flak small and medium at 10,000 ft from S.W. Corner of the drome. No E/A was seen. Weather – Ground haze up to 3/4,000 ft. Clear sky obove. Visibility very good above haze. Aircraft landed Heston 11.10 hrs.

1943-12-02

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy with rain. Moderate visibility.
07.52. Squadron at 30 mins.
13.00. “A” Flight at Readiness.
Some local flying was carried out throughout the day.

1943-12-03

HESTON

Weather – Foggy and cloudy with poor visibility.
07.59. One Section at Readiness. Two Sections at 30 mins.
No flying was carried out today.
P/O F. Formas and F/Sgt. Krzechlik booth pilots of 306 Squadron were posted to H.Q. 133 Airfield supy. N/E sick.

1943-12-04

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy at first. Later fair. Visibility moderate.
08.00. Squadron at 30 mins.
16.40. “A” Flight at 30 mins. “B” Flight at Readiness.
11.00. 11 a/c took off from Heston and landed Hawkinge at 11.30 hrs.
14.25. 306 Squadron together with 315 Squadron took off Hawkinge to act as close escort to Marauders which were to bomb Lille / Vandeville drome in Operation Ramrod No. 348. The Wing was led by S/Ldr W. Karwowski and R/V was made with the bombers at 12,000 ft. The formation was ordered to return as 10/10ths cloud at 3,000 ft made the Operation impossible. Heavy flak was experienced coming from the Boulogne area. The aircraft piloted by F/Sgt. Rembowski made a heavy landing on its return at Heston, crashed, and became Cat. A/C. Aircraft of both Squadrons landed at Heston at 15.25. hrs.
Two aircraft tests and some local flying was carried out.

1943-12-05

HESTON

Weather – Fair, but visibility poor.
08.02. “A” Flight at Readiness. “B” Flight at 30 mins.
11.30. Squadron at 30 mins.
12.35. 11 a/c of 306 Squadron with 315 Squadron took off Heston to act as close escort to 2nd and 5th attack by Marauders on St. Josse and Lignescourt. W/Cdr. Zak led the Wing. Course set according to plan. Bombing was not observed however, and account of the ground haze. No E/A and no flak. Weather – Cloud formation coming from S.E. slowly covering target area. Base 4,000 ft with fair visibility. Aircraft landed Heston 14.30 hrs. approx.
F/O W. Szajda was detached to R.A.F. Station, Aston Dawn for No. 14 Fighter Leaders Course.
Information received that F/Sgt Pilot Kawnik had been granted a Commission in the P.A.F. wef. 1/12/43 as Pilot Officer
Sgt. Pilot Czezowski awarded the Permanent War Rank of F/Sgt wef. 1/9/43.

1943-12-06

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy with poor visibility.
09.50. Squadron at 30 mins.
No flying was carried out today.

1943-12-07

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy and foggy. Visibility poor.
08.04. “A” Flight at 30 mins.
No flying was carried out today.

1943-12-08

HESTON

Weather – Foggy, visibility very poor.
08.00. Squadron at 30 mins.
No flying was carried out today. A lecture was given to the Pilots by S/Ldr Rutkowski, a previous Commander of this Squadron, the text was “Bombing – All aspects of”.

1943-12-09

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy with poor visibility.
08.07. “A” Flight at Readiness. “B” Flight at 30 mins.
No flying was carried out.

1943-12-10

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy with moderate visibility.
08.08. Squadron at 30 mins.
13.00. One Section at Readiness. Two at 15 mins. Remainder at 30 mins.
Two aircraft tests were carried out today.

1943-12-11

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy with poor visibility.
08.09. “A” Flight at 30 mins. “B” Flight at Readiness.
No flying was carried out.

1943-12-12

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy with moderate visibility.
13.00. “A” Flight at 30 mins. “B” Flight at Readiness.
No flying was carried out today. A lecture was given to the pilots, subject being “Clipped Wings – Their effect on manoeuvreability”. This lecture was delivered by Station Engineer Officer.

1943-12-13

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy, visibility poor at first.
10.00. 11 aircraft of this Squadron took off from Heston and landed 11.05 hrs at Coltishall.
14.20. 11 A/C of 306 Squadron with a/c of 315 Polish Squadron took off Coltishall acting as escort to 72 Marauders bombing Amsterdam/Schipol. Instructions were received too late at Coltishall to make R/V as detailed in Form “D”. Wing was ordered to make sweep over Target Area. Height over R/V was 13,000 ft. Height over the Dutch Coast was 14,000 ft. During the sweep, the Wing was attacked by 12 F/W. 190s between Zandvoort and Noordwijerhout. One aircraft of our Sqdn was fired on and slightly damaged by the E/A. Port main plane was damaged, and on inspection at base – Aircraft Cat. A/C. Heavy flak over the target area. One fighter and one U/I bomber were seen in flames. Weather – Clear Visibility 10 miles over Holland. Sqdns landed Heston 16.40 hrs.

1943-12-14

HESTON

Weather – Fair with poor visibility.
08.11. Squadron at 30 mins.
13.00. “A” Flight – One Section at Readiness, two Sections at 15 mins.
“B” Flight at 30 mins.
No flying was carried out today. Lecture given to pilots on “Fighter Tactics and use of”.
F/O K. Wegrzyn and P/O C. Oberdak posted from 61 OTU for flying duties. F/Lt Białkiewicz the Squadron Adjutant was posted to H.Q. 2nd T.A.F. for duties with Polish Liason Officer.

1943-12-15

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy with very poor visibility at first.
08.16. “A” Flight at 30 mins. “B” Flight one section at Readiness, two sections at 15 mins.
13.00. Squadron at 30 mins.
No flying was carried out today.

1943-12-16

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy and foggy.
08.15. Squadron at 30 mins.
13.00. “A” Flight at 30 mins. “B” Flight one section Readiness, two at 15 mins.
14.45. “A” Flight released.
17.18. “B” Flight released.
No flying was carried out today.

1943-12-17

HESTON
Weather – Cloudy and foggy with drizzle.
08.15. “B” Flight at 30 mins. “A” Flight – One Section Readiness two sections 15mins.
13.00. Squadron at 30 mins.
No flying was carried out today.

1943-12-18

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy and foggy.
08.16. Squadron at 30 mins.
13.00. “A” Flight one section at 30 mins two sections at 15 mins.
Two a/c tests, one weather test and some local flying was carried out through the day.
Four Officers and four N.C.O.s proceeded to R.A.F. Station Llanbedr as Advance Party, by rail

1943-12-19

HESTON

Weather – Cloudy and misty.
08.16. “A” Flight at 30 mins. “B” Flight one section at readiness, two sections at 15 mins.
14.20. 15 a/c proceeded to R.A.F.. Station Llanbedr for Armament Training. This formed the Main Party, arriving to that Station 16.00 hrs.

1943-12-20

LLANBEDR

Weather – Fine becoming good.
Throughout the day, pilots carried out training flying. This included air to air firing, practice camera attacks and some local flying.
Sgt. Pilot Rudowski was posted from No 315 Polish Squadron That Unit was also at R.A.F. Station Llanbedr for training.

1943-12-21

LLANBEDR

Weather – Cloudy with good visibility.
Pilots carried out further air to air firing, photo camera practices.
Various lectures were given to the pilots subject being mainly about Armament Training.

1943-12-22

LLANBEDR

Weather – Cloudy to fair but with good visibility.
Training flying carried out – air to air firing and photo attacks.

1943-12-23

LLANBEDR

Weather – Cloudy and foggy with poor visibility.
Air to air firing was carried out by the Squadron – a total of 55 Sorties, throughout today.

1943-12-24

LLANBEDR

Weather – Foggy with poor visibility.
Air to air firing, practice photo attacks were carried out making a total of 23 Sorties.

1943-12-25

LLANBEDR

Weather – Cloudy and foggy.
No flying was carried out today.

1943-12-26

LLANBEDR

Weather – Cloudy and misty.
No flying was carried out today.

1943-12-27

LLANBEDR

Weather – Cloudy and foggy.
Throughout the day Squadron carried out air to air firing, air to ground firing, and photo attacks, a total of 51 Sorties.

1943-12-28

LLANBEDR

Weather – Cloudy and foggy, visibility poor.
Training flying, a total of 41 Sorties, included air firing, and practice attacks.

1943-12-29

LLANBEDR

Weather – Cloudy with fog and drizzle.
Air to air firing was carried out by the Squadron today – 32 Sorties in all.
12.40. Two aircraft took off from Llanbedr, landing at Heston 14.20 hrs.

1943-12-30

LLANBEDR

Weather – Fine with moderate visibility.
Squadron carried out air to air firing and practice photo attacks. Sorties totalled 50.
10.50. One aircraft took off from Llanbedr landing at Heston 12.30 hrs.

1943-12-31

LLANBEDR

Weather – Fair to fine. Visibility poor to moderate.
Air to air firing, practice attacks, and air to ground firing was carried out – 11 Sorties in all.

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