Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-05-01

Exeter

Weather conditions deteriorated throughout the day and heavy rain fell throughout the afternoon and night. Flying training was restricted and night flying was carried out only on a limited scale.
21.05 Defiants N. 3925 and N. 3980 took off on operational patrols.
21.20 Defiant N. 3925 returned to base and landed owing to failure of R.T.
21.30 Defiant N. 1809 took off on operational patrol.
21.50 Defiants N. 3980 and N. 1809 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 2.40 (day) 1.20 (night)

1941-05-02

Exeter

Flying training continued and cine-camera gun practices were carried out. Weather subsequently deteriorated and no night flying was possible. It is today that fighting has broken out between British and Iraki troops in Habbanuya. Total Flying Hours :- 2.50 (day)

1941-05-03

Exeter

Weather conditions were favourable and flying training continued. Cine camera gun practices were carried out. P.O. Suryn left on posting to No. 8 Ferry Pilots Pool, Kemble.
P.O. Janicki left on posting to No. 302 Squadron, Tangmere.
20.55 Defiants N. 3404 and N. 1809 took off on operational patrol.
21.35 Defiants N. 3980 and N. 1675 took off on operational patrols.
22.15 Defiants N. 3336 and N. 3999 took off on operational patrols.
22.20 Defiants N. 3404 and N. 1809 landed and reported no incidents.
22.45 Defiant N. 3980 landed and reported no incidents.
23.15 Defiant N. 3404 took off on operational patrol.
23.20 Defiant N. 1675 landed and reported no incidents.
23.40 Defiant N. 3999 landed and reported no incidents.
23.45 Defiant N. 3336 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 7.40 (day) 9.15 (night)

1941-05-04

Exeter

00.10 Defiant N. 3404 landed and reported no incidents.
01.25 Defiant N. 1809 took off on operational patrol.
02.30 Defiant N. 3336 took off on operational patrol.
02.50 Defiant N. 1809 landed and reported no incidents.
02.55 Defiant N. 3336 landed and reported no incidents.
Good weather conditions prevailed and flying training continued. Cine camera gun practice interception exercises, and cross countries carried out.
22.00 Defiants N. 3330 and N. 3437 took off on operational patrol.
22.50 [Illegible] Defiants N. 1769 and N. 3315 took off on operational patrol.
23.05 Defiant N. 3437 landed and reported no incident.
23.10 Defiant N. 3330 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 10.25 (day) 6.35 (night)

1941-05-05

Exeter

00.05 Defiant N. 1812 took off on operational patrol.
00.10 Defiant N. 3490 took off on operational patrol.
00.45 Defiant N. 3315 landed and reported no incident.
01.15 Defiant N. 1769 crashed on the aerodrome when all patrol was exhausted. Pilot, P.O. Przysiecki & Air Gunner, Sgt. Wojny baled out successfully. Aircraft was completely wrecked.
01.55 Defiant N. 1812 landed and reported no interception.
02.00 Defiant N. 3490 landed and reported no interception.
The aerodrome was bombed during 01.00 and 2.00 hours, and two runways wee damaged.
15.00 Defiant N. 1809 crashed on landing owing to overshooting in conditions of no wind. Aircraft was obliged to land on shortest runway owing to the others being unserviceable.
23.00 Defiant N. 1675 took off on operational patrol.
Total Flying Hours :- 6.30 (day) 6.50 (night)

1941-05-06

Exeter

00.40 Defiant N. 1675 landed and reported no interception. Weather conditions were poor and owing to bad visibility flying was restricted.
22.05 Defiants N. 3330 and N. 1812 took off on operational patrols.
22.45 Defiant N. 3439 took off on operational patrol.
22.50 Defiant N. 3490 took off on operational patrol.
22.55 Defiant N. 1812 landed at Charmy Down as pilot was unable to locate base. Reported no interception.
23.00 Defiant N. 3330 landed and reported no interception.
23.15 Defiant N. 3439 landed and reported no interception.
Total Flying Hours :- 2.35 (day) 2.55 (night)

1941-05-07

Exeter

00.35 Defiant N. 3490 landed and reported no interception. Flying training continued throughout the day. The following pilots reported for duty on posting from Church Fenton:- P.O. Zwolinski, Sgt. Armanowski, Sgt. Illaszewicz. Defiants T. 3990 and 3991 were delivered to the Unit under authority 41G/17424 from No. 6 M.U.
21.55 Defiant N. 3336 took off on operational patrol.
22.00 Defiant N. 3925 took off on operational patrol.
22.55 Defiant N. 3336 landed and reported no interception.
23.00 Defiant N. 3925 landed and reported no interception.
Total Flying Hours :- 4.30 (day) 2.35 (night)

1941-05-08

Exeter

Instructions were received from the Station Commander that six Defiants were to fly to Pembrey to operate from that aerodrome. Ground personnel and essential equipment were moved by road and rail.
16.00 The following aircraft and aircrews took off for Pembrey :-
Defiant N. 3315 Pilot F/Lt. Antonowicz. Air Gunner. Sgt. Sadawa.
Defiant N. 3490 Pilot F/O. Lewandowski. Air Gunner. Sgt. Ostrowski.
Defiant N. 1812 Pilot P.O. Przysiecki. Air Gunner. Sgt. Wozny.
Defiant N. 3330 Pilot Sgt. Szemplinski. Air Gunner. Sgt. Trawicki.
Defiant N. 3437 Pilot Sgt. Jankowiak. Air Gunner. Sgt. Karais.
Defiant N. 3925 Pilot S/Ldr. Grodzicki. Air Gunner. Sgt. Niewolski.
21.50 Defiants N. 3332 and N. 3404 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
22.55 Defiant N. 3332 landed and reported no incidents.
23.00 Defiant N. 3404 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 6.35 (day) 3.15 (night)

1941-05-09

Exeter

Enemy bombed Exeter aerodrome in the early ours of the morning and some damage was done to buildings. F/Sgt. Pasierski and Sgt. Wojcik were admitted to hospital suffering from injuries received. Weather conditions were favourable and flying training continued during the day. Defiant aircraft T. 3992 and T. 4058 were delivered to the Unit from No. 6 M.U. under authority 41G/17424.
21.50 Defiants T. 3999 and N. 3432 took off on operational patrols from Exeter.
23.20 Defiants T. 3999 and N. 3432 landed and reported no interception.
Total Flying Hours :- 8.50 (day) 3.00 (Night).

1941-05-10

Exeter

00.15 Defiants N. 3315, N. 3437, N. 3425, N. 3330 and N. 3490 took off from Pembrey on operational patrols.
01.25 Defiants N. 3425 and N. 3330 landed and reported no incidents.
01.45 Defiant N. 3315 landed and reported no interception.
01.50 Defiants N. 3437 and N. 3490 landed and reported no interceptions.
In the early hours of the morning bombs were dropped by enemy aircraft on Exeter aerodrome but damage was slight and there were no casualties. Weather conditions were favourable and flying training was continued during the day. Defiant T. 3999, pilot Sgt. Armanowski, collided with a roller, on the grass alongside the runway, when the brakes of the aircraft failed on landing. It was subsequently established that the compressor shaft had broken while the aircraft was in flight.
21.55 Defiant T. 3990 and N. 3336 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.10 Defiant T. 3990 landed and reported no incident.
23.15 Defiant N. 3336 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 8.40 (day) 9.35 (night)

1941-05-11

Exeter

00.30 Defiants N. 3315 and N. 3437 took off from Pembrey on operational patrols.
01.40 Defiant N. 3315 landed and reported no incident.
01.50 Defiant N. 3437 landed and reported no incident.
Low clouds, and rain restricted flying during the day but weather improved and night flying was possible. F/Lt. Patten left the unit on posting to No. 604 Squadron, Middle Wallop, for flying duties.
22.00 Defiants T. 3991 and T. 1675 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.05 Defiants T. 3991 and T. 1675 landed and reported no incidents.
23.00 Defiants N. 3437, N. 3315, T. 3925, N. 1671, N. 3490 & N. 3330 took off from Pembrey on operational patrols.
Total Flying Hours :- 5.20 (day) 4.40 (night)

1941-05-12

Exeter

01.30 Defiants N. 3437 and T. 3925 landed and reported no incident.
01.35 Defiant N. 3330 landed and reported no incident.
01.45 Defiant N. 3315 landed and reported no incident.
01.50 Defiant N. 1671 landed and reported no incident.
01.55 Defiant N. 3490 landed and reported no incident.
03.00 Defiant N. 3404 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
04.10 Defiant N. 3404 landed and reported that while patrolling base sighted a Heinkel 111 flying south at a height of 1.000 ft. At 03.30, when 4 miles south of Exmouth at 800 ft. made a beam attack at 300 yards and 20 ft. below. Bullets were seen to enter the centre part of fuselage. The enemy aircraft dived gradually and the Defiant kept below and closed in to 40 feet. The air gunner fired three short bursts hitting the Heinkel in the nose. The E/A turned nd dived steeply to starboard making a partial half roll on to his back. Defiant did not follow down as a second Heinkel 111 was only 600 yards away. He turned to attack but Heinkel dived to sea level and was lost. Defiant returned to aerodrome to continue patrol and sighted a third Heinkel 111 500 yards away. This aircraft fired at the Defiant, dropped his bombs which fell outside the aerodrome, dived to ground level and was lost from sight. Pilot Sgt. J. Malinowski, Air Gunner, Sgt. S. Jarzembowski. A concentrated attack on the aerodrome at Exeter was made between the hours of 00.15 and 04.00 by three waves of enemy bombers. Approximately 30 enemy aircraft were involved and 436 H.E. bombs were dropped on and around the aerodrome. In the addition to the one Heinkel 111 shot down by Defiant N. 3404, ground defences accounted for one destroyed and two probables. In spit of weight of attack little damage was done to the aerodrome. Defiant N. 3439 was set on fire on the ground by enemy action and completely burnt out. Defiants T. 3980 and N. 1812 received minor damage from machine gun bullets from enemy aircraft but the damage sustained is repairable by the Unit. Battle aircraft L. 5126 was also damaged by machine gun bullets and t was subsequently discovered that the damage was beyond the Unit’s capacity o repair. It was subsequently re-categorised as “B”.
Weather conditions were favourable during the day and training was continued.
22.00 Defiants N. 3432 and N. 1675 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.05 Defiants N. 3432 and N. 1675 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 8.50 (day) 13.25 (night)

1941-05-13

Exeter

Flying training continued during the day under conditions of low cloud.
21.55 Defiants T. 3990 and N. 1675 took off from Exeter on operational patrols. (over)
23.00 Defiants T. 3990 and N. 1675 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 7.15 (day) 2.10 (night)

1941-05-14

Exeter

Weather conditions were favourable and flying training were continued throughout the day.
21.55 Defiants T. 3991 and N. 3404 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.05 Defiant N. 3404 landed and reported no incidents.
23.10 Defiant T. 3991 landed and reported no incidents.
23.20 Defiants N. 3336 and N. 3432 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.45 Defiants N. 3336 and N. 3432 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 7.55 (day) 3.30 (night)

1941-05-15

Exeter

Weather conditions were again favourable and day flying training continued. Air to air firing at Exeter was abandoned after two aircraft had fired as the Henley towing aircraft became unserviceable. P.O Krzyzanowski left the Unit on posting to No. 54 O.T.U., Church Fenton.
22.05 Defiants N. 3432 and T. 3990 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.15 Defiants N. 3432 and T. 3990 landed and reported no incidents.
24.00 Defiant N. 1675 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
Total Flying Hours :- 6.30 (day) 3.00 (night)

1941-05-16

Exeter

00.20 Defiant N. 3490 took off from Pembrey on operational patrol.
00.25 Defiant N. 1671 took off from Pembrey on operational patrol.
00.45 Defiant N. 1675 landed and reported no incident.
01.25 Defiant N. 1671 landed and reported no incident.
01.40 Defiant N. 3490 landed and reported no incident.
02.30 Defiant N. 3336 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
03.50 Defiant N. 3336 landed and reported no incident.
Weather conditions during the day were good and flying training was continued.
21.55 Defiants T. 3991 and N. 3336 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.05 Defiant T. 3991 landed and reported no incident.
23.10 Defiant N. 3336 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 5.50 (day) 6.50 (night)

1941-05-17 [Illegible]

Exeter

00.30 Defiants T. 3990 and N. 3432 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
00.35 Defiant N. 3404 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
00.35 Defiants N. 3330 and N. 3315 took off from Pembrey on operational patrol.
00.40 Defiant N. 3437 took off from Pembrey on operational patrol.
01.40 Defiant N. 3437 [Illegible] landed and reported no incident.
01.45 Defiants N. 3404 and N. 3330 landed and reported no incidents.
01.45 Defiant N. 3336 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
01.50 Defiant N. 3315 landed and reported no incident.
01.50 Defiant T. 3391 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
01.55 Defiants T. 3990 and N. 3432 landed and reported no incidents.
02.50 Defiants T. 3991 and N. 3336 landed and reported no incidents.
Flying training continued during the day under favourable weather conditions. A flying display was given by four Defiants between 12.15 and 12.45 hours over Budleigh Salterton in connection with War Weapons Week.
16.30 Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary of State for Air, accompanied by Sir Hugh Seely and Sir Louis Greig visited the Squadron. A further flying display was given by four Defiants over Okehampton between the hours of 18.15 and 18.45, in connection with the War Weapons Week. Defiant N. 1788 was delivered from No. 10 M.U. under authority 41G/17766.
21.55 Defiants N. 1675 and N. 3404 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.10 Defiants N. 1675 and N. 3404 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 11.25 (day) 12.00 (night)

1941-05-18

Exeter

Weather conditions during the day were favourable, and the detached flight which had been operating from Pembrey returned to Exeter.
22.10 Defiants N. 3336 and N. 3432 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.15 Defiant N. 3432 landed and reported no incident.
23.20 Defiant N. 3336 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 6.35 (day) 2.15 (night)

1941-05-19

Exeter

Weather conditions were good and flying training was continued. Air to Ground firing was carried out at Warmell.
19.45 The A.O.C. in C. Fighter Command visited the Squadron at Dispersal point.
22.10 Defiants T. 3992 and N. 1671 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
22.35 Defiant N. 1671 landed and reported no incident.
22.45 Defiant T. 3992 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 10.40 (day) 1.00 (night)

1941-05-20

Exeter

Weather conditions during the day were fair and training continued. Air to air firing had to be cancelled as the Henleys were still unserviceable.
22.40 Defiant T. 3990 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
22.45 Defiant N. 3336 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.40 Defiant T. 3990 landed and reported no incident.
23.50 Defiant N. 3336 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 6.15 (day) 2.05 (night)

1941-05-21

Exeter

Flying training was continued during the morning under favourable conditions. Weather deteriorated during the afternoon and heavy rain fall. Conditions improved and the usual night patrols wee possible.
22.10 Defiant N. 1812 took off From Exeter on operational patrol.
22.15 Defiant N. 1671 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.10 Defiant N. 1812 landed and reported no incident.
23.15 Defiant N. 1671 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 5.20 (day) 2.00 (night)

1941-05-22

Exeter

Weather conditions were unfavourable throughout the day and night and no flying was possible. Air to ground firing at Warmwell was cancelled owing to unsuitability of the weather both at Exeter and Warmwell.
Total Flying Hours :- NIL

1941-05-23

Exeter

Strong winds reaching gale force with heavy showers of rain. P.O. Karwowski, Gunner Officer, returned to the Unit on completion of the Gunnery Leaders’ Course at C.C.S., Warmwell. Restricted flying training continued during the day.
22.15 Defiants N. 3315 and N. 3330 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.20 Defiants N. 3315 and N. 3330 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 5.35 (day) 2.10 (night)

1941-05-24

Exeter

Weather was dull and low cloud prevalent. Air to air firing was not possible owing to unsuitable weather. Air to sea firing was carried out in the morning. 781822 A.C.1 Stachnik, K. Armourer was struck by Service M.T. vehicle returning to camp from Exeter. He was taken to the Royal
Devon and Exeter hospital, Exeter, and operated upon, but died at 14.25 hours.
19.00 A display of formation flying was given over Halberton in connection with War Weapons Week.
22.25 Defiant T. 3991 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
22.30 Defiant T. 3990 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.45 Defiant T. 3991 landed and reported no incident.
23.50 Defiant T. 3990 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 4.30 (day) 2.40 (night)

1941-05-25

Exeter

Morning weather was dull with low cloud. A patrol was maintained over Darmouth Naval College between the hours of 10.00 and 10.45 giving protection to a ceremony carried out there. Heavy rain fell during the afternoon and flying was not possible.
22.10 Defiants N. 1812 and N.3330 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.15 Defiants N.1812 and N.3330 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 7.30 (day) 2.10 (night)

1941-05-26

Exeter

Low cloud and intermittent showers restricted flying, but day training was continued.
22.35 Defiants N.3404 and T.3925 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.35 Defiant T.3925 landed and reported no incident.
23.40 Defiant N.3404 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 6.25 (day) 2.05 (night)

1941-05-27

Exeter

Weather conditions were favourable and day training continued. ZZ landings were practiced during the afternoon.
22.35 Defiants T.3992 and T.4058 took off on operational patrols from Exeter.
23.00 Defiants N.3442 and N.3490 took off on operational patrols from Exeter.
23.00 Defiant T.4058 landed and reported no incident.
23.35 Defiant N.3447 landed and reported no incident.
23.55 Defiant T.3992 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 6.40 (day) 3.40 (night)

1941-05-28

Exeter

00.10 Defiant N.3490 landed and reported no incident. Weather during the day was unfavourable and flying was restricted. Night flying was not possible owing to bad weather.
Total Flying Hours :- 3.40 (day) 0.10 (night)

1941-05-29

Exeter

Rain fell almost continuously throughout the day and flying was not possible until evening. Air to air firing had to be cancelled owing to unfavourable weather.
21.50 Defiants T.3992 and N.3490 took off on operational patrol from Exeter.
22.40 Defiants N.3437 and N.3315 took off on operational patrol from Exeter.
23.15 Defiants T.3992 and N.3490 landed and reported no incidents.
23.40 Defiants N.3437 and N.3315 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 1.55 (day) 4.50 (night)

1941-05-30

Exeter

Weather was dull during the morning with low cloud. Air to ground firing at Warmwell was cancelled owing to unfavourable weather.
22.30 Defiants N.1788 and N.3336 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
22.45 Defiants N.1675 and T.3925 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.10 Defiants N.1675 and T.3925 landed and reported no incidents.
23.20 Defiant N.3336 landed and reported no incident.
23.35 Defiant N.1788 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 5.25 (day) 2.45 (night)

1941-05-31

Exeter

Weather conditions were generally unfavourable with low cloud and poor visibility. Group Captain Dore of D.A.F.L., Air Ministry and Wing Commander Cooper, DAAC, Air Ministry, visited the Squadron during the afternoon.
22.45 Defiants N.1671 and T.3992 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.00 Defiant N.1671 landed and reported no incident.
23.10 Defiant T.3992 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 1.50 (day) 0.40 (night)

[Illegible]
Squadron Leader, Commanding,
No. 307 Polish Squadron,
Royal Air Force.