Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1944-04-01

HESTON

Weather: Fine. Good visibility.
All Units in 133 Airfield moved to 15 A/L/G Coolham. 306 Squadrons aircraft left Heston at 16.10 hrs and flew direct to the new base at Coolham. All other equipment was carried from Heston by M.T. and other personnel than flying, proceeded to Coolham by car and in Service transport. Other flying today consisted of one aircraft teat only.

1944-04-02

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy, with poor visibility.
No flying was carried out today, at Coolham. Pilots practised landings however, at Ford.

1944-04-03

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy, with moderate visibility.
06.30. Squadron at 60 mins.
Five pilots carried out further landing training at R.A.F. Ford between 12.40 hrs and 16.50.
A further five pilots proceeded to R.A.F. Station Aston Down in order to ferry Mustang III aircraft to this Squadron.

1944-04-04

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy with drizzle. Visibility 2,000yds to 8 mls.
06.31. “B” Flight at. Readiness. “A” Flight at. 30 mins.
07.00. 1 Section at Readiness: 2 Sections at 15 mins.
Throughout today 12 pilots carried out local flying Several aircraft were ferried to the Squadron from R.A.F. Aston Down.
P-1740 W/O SZAJDA was involved in a fatal flying accident whilst ferrying a Mustang III a/c to the Squadron from Aston-Down. His aircraft crashed shortly after take off. Pilot apparantly tried to make a forced landing without jettisioning his “Overload” tanks. The aircraft caught fire after crashing into a wall. F/O SZAJDA was trapped in the cockpit, due to something catching his legs. A very gallant rescue bid was attempted by the Medical Officer at R.A.F. Aston Down F/LT CARRIE This was unsuccessful however, and the pilot was burned to death. Aircraft Cat ”E”. A court of Inquiry into the accident is being hold at Station R.A.F. Aston Down.

1944-04-05

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy with rain.
06.30. Squadron at 60 mins.
Throughout today, two pilots carried out local flying. One Sortie was made in the Auster a/c and one in Mustang III.

1944-04-06

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy. Visibility 2,500yds to 6 miles.
06.29. Squadron at 60 mins.
In the afternoon, two pilots carried out local flying for 50 mins.

1944-04-07

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy. Visibility 1,800yds o 4,000yds.
One pilot carried out local flying in the Auster aircraft in the afternoon.
P-782453 W/O Pilot MACHOWIAK, M was posted to D.G.I.P. Blackpool. Three pilots proceeded to R.A.F. Station Aston Down to ferry further Mustang III aircraft to Squadron.

1944-04-08

COOLHAM

Weather: Fair with good visibility.
Throughout the day, pilots practised flying on the new aircraft. A total of ten sorties.
F/O W. SZAJDA was buried at the Polish Cemetary at Northwood, Middlesex. A party of Officer and airmen pilots attended from the Unit.
Further Mustang III aircraft allotted to this Squadron were ferried by our pilots from Aston Down today.
In the afternoon pilots carried out local flying over base at Coolham between 15.15 hrs and 20.15 hrs.

1944-04-09

COOLHAM

Weather: Wet. Visibility 3,000yds to 10 miles. Clouds 3to9/10ths at 800 to 3,000 ft.
Four aircraft carried out local flying in the afternoon.

1944-04-10

COOLHAM

Weather: Foggy in the morning, turning fair later on. Clouds 3 to 9/10ths at 1,000/2,500 ft.
In the afternoon, pilots made a total of 17 sorties on local flying.

1944-04-11

COOLHAM

Weather: Fair but showery. Visibility 2,500yds to 10mls.
Throughout the day pilots carried out further local flying, and formation flying.

1944-04-12

COOLHAM

Weather: Foggy in the morning, fair later on.
Throughout today, pilots carried out formation flying, practice landings, aerobatics, circuits and local flying.
P-0382 F/LT DRYBANSKI, Z the Flight Commander of “A” Flight was posted to D.G.I.P. on completion of his Operational Tour. F/O W. POTOCKI was appointed to the rank of A/F/Lt. wef: today, and took over the Command of “A” Flight from F/Lt DRYBANSKI forthwith.
P-0844 F/O A. WEGRZYN proceeded on posting to No. 151 Airfield for flying duties, wef. 10/4/44.

1944-04-13

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy. Visibility 3 to 6 miles. Clouds 2-8/10ths at 2,000/4,500ft.
10.40. Five pilots carried out formation flying over Base until 11.50hrs.
12.00. Three pilots carried out formation flying over Aston Down, landing at Coolham 12.40hrs.
15.30. Six pilots carried out formation flying over Base until 16.10hrs.
Other local flying was also carried out today.

1944-04-14

COOLHAM

Weather: Fair in the morning. Rain later on. Visibility 4 to 8 miles.
Throughout today, pilots carried out, altitude flying, formation, and local flying.
P-0446 F/LT SPORNY and F/Sgt Pilot MICHALKIEWICZ proceeded to R.A.F. Station Aston Down to appear at witnesses in the Court of Inquiry at this Station. /See entry for 4th April/.

1944-04-15

COOLHAM

Weather: Foggy turning to cloudy later on. Visibility 700yds to 6 mls.
Pilots carried out Squadron, and flight formation flying and Navigation exercises today.
One pilot to R.A.F. Station Rednall on a cross country training flight in a Spitfire VB.
The tail wheel of this aircraft was damaged in take off from Coolham, and pilot lost it in flight. He arrived over the field at Rednal minus tail wheel, and subsequently crashed the aircraft on landing. Aircraft was Cat. A/C. Pilot concerned was P-2616 P/O LASZKIEWICZ, L

1944-04-16

COOLHAM

Weather: Foggy with rain and drizzle. Visibility 100 to 2,500 yds. Clouds 10/10ths at 1,800ft.
No flying was carried out today.

1944-04-17

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy and misty. Visibility very poor.
No flying was carried out today.

1944-04-18

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy in the morning becoming fine later. Visibility 2 to 10 miles.
Three sorties were undertaken today, on local flying. Two of them on non-operational aircraft.
P-1624 F/LT SOLOGUB, G posted to the Squadron for flying duties wef: 18/4/44.
07.00. Squadron at 60 mins.

1944-04-19

COOLHAM

Weather: Fogy in the morning. Fair later. Visibility 400yds to 6mls. Clouds 6/10ths at 1,200 to 2,000ft.
06.50. Squadron at 30 mins.
12.10. 8 pilots carried out training flying in conjunction with Exercise “Lambourne”. Our Squadron were to provide air support in this Army training. Pilots practiced ground, strafing attacks mostly. Landed at Coolham at 13.05.
14.35. 4 pilots continued to support Exercise “Lambourne” and landed 16.05hrs. Some local flying was also carried out through the day.

1944-04-20

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy to fair: Visibility 3 to 10 miles. Clouds 3/10 10ths at 1,200/2,500ft.
In the afternoon, three pilots carried out gunning tests above freezing level from 18.35 to 19.05hrs. Squadron at 60 mins at 06.55 hrs.

1944-04-21

COOLHAM

Weather: Fair. Visibility 6 to 12mls. Clouds 2 to 4/10ths at 2,500ft.
07.00. Squadron at 30 mins.
09.30. Squadron at 30 mins. Readiness.
10.35. Five pilots took part in “Lambourne” Exercise and landed at Base 11.35.
Training flying, which included bombing, air to air firing, and firing above freezing level was undertaken by pilots today.
P-780907 F/Sgt Pilot OSIELENIEC, K on coming in to land after training flight, struck a tree stump with the oleo leg and crashed his aircraft. Aircraft was Cat. “E” and F/Sgt OSIELENIEC was killed instantly on impact with the ground.

1944-04-22

COOLHAM

Weather: Fine. Visibility 3 to 12mls. Clouds 1 to 3/10ths at 2,500ft.
Today pilots carried out further “Lambourne” Exercises, local flying, and Navigation training.
07.00. Squadron at 30 mins.

1944-04-23

COOLHAM

Weather: Fine. Visibility 2 to 12mls. 2 to 3/10ths cloud at 2,000/2,500ft.
06.56. Squadron at 60 mins.
09.10. Squadron at. Readiness.
Today, pilots carried out air firing, Army cooperation and Navigation exercises

1944-04-24

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy to fair. Visibility 800yds to 10mls. Clouds 3 to 10/10ths at 2,000ft.
06.48. Squadron at 60 mins.
08.00. Squadron at 30 mins.
Pilots carried out Air to sea firing, Reccos, practice “Scrambles” air to air firing, and local flying today. P-0446 F/Lt SPORNY, K admitted to SSQ: 133 Airfield.

1944-04-25

COOLHAM

Weather: Fair. Visibility 10 to 12 miles. Clouds 4 to 6/10ths at 2,500ft.
Two pilots carried out air to sea firing between 16.35hrs and 16.50hrs today.
P-792015 F/Sgt Pilot TOMCZAK, F crashed a Tiger Moth aircraft of 315 Polish Squadron taking off from base and the aircraft became Cat. “B”. F/Sgt TOMCZAK was injured slightly and was taken to Sick Quarters.

1944-04-26

COOLHAM

Weather: Cloudy to fair. Visibility 3 to 6 miles. Clouds 2 to 10/10ths at 1,500/2,500ft.
06.45. Squadron at Operational 60 mins.
13.00. “A” Flight at. Readiness.
17.00. Squadron at. Readiness.
Throughout today, pilots carried out cross country flying, air to sea firing, and local sorties.

1944-04-27

COOLHAM

Weather: Fain. Visibility 4 to 12 miles. Clouds Nill.
06.45. Squadron at 60 mins.
Todays flying consisted of High altitude and cross country flying, air to sea firing, air to air firing, and local flying.

1944-04-28

COOLHAM

Weather: Fair. Visibility 5 to 6 miles. Clouds 4 to 6/10ths at 2,500/3,000ft.
Some local flying only was carried out today. One pilot participated.
F/Sgt Pilot TOMCZAK discharged from S.S.Q. P.1917 F/O WEDZIK reported on posting from 131 Airfield for flying duties wef.: todays date. P-0446 F/Lt SPORNY also discharged from S.S.Q.

1944-04-29

COOLHAM

Weather: Fair. Visibility 3 to 6 miles. Clouds 4 to 9/10ths at 2,500 to 4,000ft.
07.50. 11 aircraft of this Squadron took off from Coolham with 129 and 315 Squadrons for Operation Ramrod No. 806 Sweep. The wing was ordered to sweep in the area LE TOUQUET/CAMBRAI/COULOMNIERS. One pilot had to return after five mins flying due to engine trouble. Weather over target area was bad. Our Squadron swept between ST POL and AMIENS. The French Coast was crossed at LE TREPORT on the return journey. No E/A were seen. Heavy flak was met on the return. The Wing landed at Coolham by [08].40hrs.In addition to the above pilots carried out a/c tests through today.

1944-04-30

COOLHAM

Weather: Fine. Visibility 3 to 12 miles. Clouds 1 to 2/10ths at 3,000ft.
Three aircraft tests were carried out only, by our pilots today.

[Illegible]
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 306 Polish Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE