Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-01-01

Jurby

Good weather conditions prevailed and flying continued throughout the day. Red Section were at readiness.
14.21 Red Section took off to patrol base.
14.36 Red Section landed and reported no incidents.
A night flying programme had been arranged but owing to other operational flying was cancelled on instructions from H.Q. No. 9 Group.
Total Flying Hours:- 19.35 (day), 1.25 (night).

1941-01-02

Jurby

Weather was good and flying training was continued. Blue Section was were at readiness.
12.34 Blue Section took off to patrol base.
13.06 Blue Section landed and reported no incidents.
14.08 Blue Section took off to patrol Calf of Man.
14.50 Blue Section landed and reported no incidents.
Defiant N.1730 delivered by Ferry pilots from No. 27 M.U. under authority 410/1367 landed with undercarriage retracted and was damaged beyond Unit’s capacity to repair.
Total Flying Hours:- 12.30 (day), Nil (night.)

1941-01-03

Jurby

Weather conditions were favourable and flying training continued throughout the day. Red Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying. Night flying was carried out.
Total Flying Hours:- 11.25 (day), 5.15 (night).

1941-01-04

Jurby

Weather conditions were favourable and flying training continued throughout the day. Blue Section were at readiness. The A.O.C. [Illegible] in C. Fighter Command visited the Squadron arriving at 12.15 hours in D.H. 86. All available pilots, air gunners, and Officers were presented to the A.O.C. [Illegible] in C. who lunched with the Squadron Officers.
13.45 The A.O.C. in C. Left Jurby by air in D.H. 86. A Section was provided as an air escort. Night Flying was carried out under good weather conditions.
Total Flying Hours:- 13.00 (day), 5.15 (night).

1941-01-05

Jurby

Weather conditions were again favourable and training continued throughout the day. Red section were at readiness but there was no operational flying. Conditions were favourable for night Flying and training was carried out.
Total Flying Hours:- 20.00 (day), 5.43 (night).

1941-01-06

Jurby

Flying training was continued under good weather conditions. Blue Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying. Night flying was commenced but owing to deteriorating weather flying was discontinued. It is to-day reported that Bardia has been captured by our forces in Libya. Defiant aircraft Nos. N.3435 adn N.3315 were delivered from No. 10M.U. for equipment with V.H.F and use of detached Section of the Squadron to work from Squires Gate. H.Q. No. 9 Group advise that one Section of Defiants equipped with V.H.F are to operate from Squires Gate from 9.1.41.
Total Flying Hours:- 12.50 (day), 1.05 (night).

1941-01-07

Jurby

Flying Training continued throughout the morning. Red Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying. In view of the intensive night flying programme arranged there was little flying during the afternoon. Good weather conditions prevailed for night flying. Defiant aircraft N.3391 and N.1809 were flown from Squires Gate to Jurby, for use by detached Section at Squires Gate.
Total Flying Hours:- 12.00 (day), 12.15 (night)

1941-01-08

Jurby

Flying training was continued under favourable weather conditions Blue Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying.
14.35. Harrow aircraft arrived to transport crews for Squires Gate detachment on 9th. January. Weather conditions were suitable for night flying and full programme was carried out. Defiant aircraft
N.3401 was flown from Squires Gate to Jurby for use of detached Section at Squires Gate.
Total Flying Hours:- 11.55 (day), 13.05 (night).

1941-01-09

Jurby

Weather conditions were excellent and flying training was continued throughout the day. Red Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying.
10.22 Harrow aircraft left for for Squires Gate with 4 Senior N.C.O.’s and 16 other ranks. Five Defiant aircraft, Nos. N.3435, N.3315, N.3391, N.1809, N.3401, Pilots, S/Ldrs. Tomlinson and Grodzicki, F/Lt. Patten, F/O. Smok and Sgt. Joda, Air Gunners, F/O. Karwowski, P/O. Robinson, Sgt. Blachowski and Gandurski, also left on attachment to Squires Gate.
Defiant N.3315, pilot F/O. Smok ran into an unmarked deep ditch at Squires Gate while landing at night under conditions of bad visibility.
23.45 Defiant N.3401, pilot 783267 Sgt. A. Joda, air gunner 780320 Sgt. Gandurski, took off on patrol from Squires Gate.
Total Flying Hours:- 19.35 (day), 12.40 (night.)

1941-01-10

Jurby

No news was received of Defiant N.3401 and it was presumed lost. A report was received that an aircraft was in the sea off Barmouth upside down and half submerged. This aircraft was subsequently identified as Defiant N.3401. both pilot and air gunner had been killed.
Weather conditions were again favourable and flying training continued both by and night. Blue Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying. A telephonic message received from H.Q. No. 9 Group advises that the Squadron is to move to Squires Gate in the near future.
Total Flying Hours:- 9.30 (day), 14.40 (night).

1941-01-11

Jurby

Flying training continued throughout the day under favourable weather conditions. Defiant N.1699,
Pilot Sgt. Mironczuk taxyed into N.1684 which was stationary on the ground. Weather conditions were unsuitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours:- 17.15 (day)

1941-01-12

Jurby

Flying training continued during the day but bad weather caused the night flying programme to be abandoned after trial flight confirmed that conditions were unfavourable. Blue Section were at readiness.
15.55 Blue Section took off to patrol Calf of Man.
16.25 Blue Section landed and reported no incidents. H.Q. No. 9 Group postagram 9G/S.1669/G.Eg.O. dated 9th. January received advising that the Squadron is to be re-equipped with Defiants fitted aith V.H.F. and I.F.F.. H.Q.F.C. signal 0.71 dated 12.1.41 approves a “D” type move of the Squadron to Squires Gate on Monday January 20th, 1941.
Total Flying Hours:- 10.50 (day), 00.40 (night)

1941-01-13

Jurby

Red Section were at readiness throughout the day, and the weather was operational.
10.00 Blue Section were called to readiness
13.06 Red Section took off to patrol convoy.
13.53 One aircraft of Red Section landed and reported no incidents.
14.10 Two aircraft of Red Section landed and reported no incidents.
14.47 Red Section took off to patrol convoy.
15.25 Red Section landed and reported no incidents.
The bodies of Sgts. Joda and Gandurski were recovered from the wrecked aircraft in the sea off Barmouth. Weather was suitable for night flying. Defiant aircraft N.3402, N.3314, and N.3432 were delivered from 60 M.U. under authorities 41G/13524 and 13766 and Defiants N1675, 1671 and 1683 were handed over to No. 6 M.U.
Total Flying Hours:- 9.50 (day), 12.40 (night).

1941-01-14

Jurby

Blue Section were at readiness. Weather conditions were favourable and flying training was continued
both by day and night. The bodies of Sgt. Joda and Gandurski were brought to Blackpool from Barmouth.
Total Flying Hours:- 6.30 (day), 13.25 (night)

1941-01-15

Jurby

Favourable weather conditions obtained and flying training continued throughout the day. Red Section were at readiness.
15.15 Red Section took off to patrol base at 15,000 feet.
15.45 Red Section landed and reported no incidents.
Sgts. Joda and Gandurski were buried at North Cemetary, Blackpool. A Section of Defiants from Jurby paid a last salute over the graves. Weather conditions were unsuitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours:- 25.05 (day)

1941-01-16

Jurby

Strong winds reaching gale force restricted flying. Blue Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying. Defiant aircraft N3390 and N.3336 were delivered from No. 10 M.U. under 41G/1688 and 1788. Weather conditions improved and night falying was carried out.
Total Flying Hours:- 7.50 (day), 9.35 (night)

1941-01-17

Jurby

Flying training continued throughout the day under favourable weather conditions. Red Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying. Defiant aircraft N.1769, 1812, 3439, 3330, and 3339 were delivered from No. 19 M.U. under authority 41G/1826. Defiant aircraft N.1696 was returned to 24 M.U. under authority 41G/26679. Night flying was abandoned owing to deteriorating weather conditions.
Total Flying Hours:- 14,10 (day) 1,50 (night)

1941-01-18

Jurby

Blue Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying. In view of the extensive night flying programme arranged, flying was restricted during the day.
Total Flying Hours:- 1.05 (day), 18.50 (night)

1941-01-19

Jurby

Red Section were at readiness. Heavy snow fall during the day with winds reaching gale force.
Total Flying Hours:- 1.35 (day)

1941-01-20

Jurby

Snow continued to fall accompanied by winds of gale force. No flying was possible. [Illegible] Blue Section were at readiness. Owing to the roads and railway being blocked by snowdrifts, it was not possible to carry out the move of the Squadron to Squires Gate.
Total Flying Hours:- Nil

1941-01-21

Jurby

Red Section were at readiness were at readiness throughout the day. The aerodrome was partly serviceable and a thaw commenced. Transport aircraft were unable to take off from Doncaster as the aerodrome was unserviceable. Railways and roads continue to be blocked by snowdrifts.
13.12 Red Section took off to patrol convoy. They were subsequently ordered to patrol the Calf of Man,then to patrol base, and finally to patrol Point of Ayre.
14.44 Red Section landed and reported that they sighted and identified a British flying boat.
Total Flying Hours:- 6.00 (day)

1941-01-22

Jurby

Blue Section were at readiness throughout the day but the weather was not operational.
Total Flying Hours:- 0.45 (day)

1941-01-23

Jurby

Red Section were at readiness but the weather was poor, and unsuitable for flying training. On instructions of H.Q. No. 9 Group a section of Defiants attempted to reach Squires Gate. Defiant aircraft N.1769 (P/O. Przysiecki, pilot) landed safely at Squires Gate, N.3439 (F/O. Antonowicz, pilot) force landed safely in a field and was subsequently flown to Squires Gate, N.3320, Sgt. Mikszo pilot, force landed near Ormskirk and was damaged. No injuries were sustained by any of the crew. Conditions of bad visibility forced the section to separate. The main party consisting of 6 Officers, 12 senior N.C.O.’s and 100 other ranks left Jurby by road and sea to Squires Gate.
Total Flying Hours:- 2.15 (day)

1941-01-24

Jurby

Blue Section were at readiness but the weather was unsuitable for flying.
Total Flying Hours:- 0.30 (day)

1941-01-25

Jurby

A slight improvement in weather conditions enabled limited flying to take place. Red Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying.
Total Flying Hours:- 2.00 (day)

1941-01-26

Jurby

Blue Section were at readiness but there was no operational flying. 7 Harrow aircraft arrived from Doncaster and loading commenced at 13.30 hours. Loading was completed by 15.30 hours but the weather was not suitable for flying and the move could not take place.
Total Flying Hours:- 0.40 (day)

1941-01-27

Jurby

Weather conditions were favourable and it was decided to move the Squadron aircraft and air transport party to Squires Gate. The move was effected without incident. Defiant aircraft N.3432, 3314, 3402, 3336, 3339, and 1612 were flown to Squires Gate. 8 Officers, 10 Senior N.C.O.’s and 23 other ranks were transported by air to Squires Gate. Blue Section were at readiness at Jurby, and remained there after reast of the Squadron had moved.
Total Flying Hours:- 5.15 (day)

1941-01-27

Squires Gate

A limited mount of flying training was carried out during the afternoon but weather conditions deteriorated and no night flying was possible. Blue Section were at readiness [nieczytelne] but there was no operational flying. A flight of Defiants carried out a demonstration flight over Preston at 15.30 hours in connection with War Weapon Weeks. The weather was unsuitable for the whole of the Squadron to participate. Total Flying Hours:- 6.15 (day)

1941-01-29

Weather was non-operational and there was no flying at either Squires Gate or Jurby. Battle aircraft L.5126 and P.6685 arrived from Jurby with 7 Senior N.C.O.’s.
Total Flying Hours:- 2.10 (day)

1941-01-30

Weather was again non-operational and there was no flying at either Squires Gate or Jurby.
Total Flying Hours:- 0.45 (day)

1941-01-31

Weather conditions were again unfavourable and flying was restricted.
Total Flying Hours:- 2.20 (day)
Summary of flying for January.
Operational flying by day 10 hrs. 10 mins.
“ “ “ night 4 “ 05 “
Non-operational flying – day 253 “ 15 “
“ “ “ – night 124 “ 20 “
Total. 391 “ 50 “
[Illegible]
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 307 polish Squadron,
RAF. Squires Gate, Blackpool, Lancs.