Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1941-06-01

Exeter

Excellent weather conditions obtained and flying training was continued during the day. Practice in squadron formation flying was carried out. No night flying was carried out.
Total flying hours :- 12.20 (day)

1941-06-02

Exeter

Weather was again favourable and air to ground firing took place at Warmwell.
23.30 Defiants N.3437 and N.1671 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.35 Defiants N.3437 and N.1671 landed and reported no incidents.
Total flying hours :- 16.00 (day), 2.10 (night)

1941-06-03

Exeter

Continuous rain fell during the morning and indifferent weather [Illegible] conditions were prevelent in the afternoon. Flying was therefore restricted. Weather conditions agaian deteriorated at night and no night flying took place.
Total flying hours :- 5.20 (day), 0.10 (night)

1941-06-04

Exeter

Dull weather, with low cloud and poor visibility further deteriorated during the day and mist lay on the aerodrome. Flying was restricted during the day and impossible at night.
Total flying hours :- 3.20 (day)

1941-06-05

Exeter

Rain continued to fall and the weather was non-operational. Air to ground firing arranged at Warmwell had to be cancelled owing to unsuitable weather.
P.O. Gayzler, pilot, and P.O. Pfleger, Gunner Officer, reported for flying duties on posting from no. 151 Squadron, Wittering.
23.00 Defiant T.3990 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.20 Defiant T.3990 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 0.35 (day) 0.25 (night)

1941-06-06

Exeter

Weather conditions, although slightly improved, were still unfavourable and day training was restricted. Sgt. pilots Theisler and Feruga, with F/Sgt. Serefin and Sgt. Erdt, air gunners, reported for flying duties on posting from No.255 Squadron, Kirton-in-Lindsey. Air Chief Marshall Sir E. Ludlow Hewitt, Inspector General, visited the Station. No.504 Squadron aircraft were flown to Filton and dispersed there, convoy support being taken over by No.307 Squadron form 20.30 hours until No.504 Squadron has assumed their day state on 7th. June.
22.35 Defiant N.3330 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
22.40 Defiant T.3992 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.00 Defiant N.3330 landed and reported no incident.
23.10 Defiant T.3992 landed and reported no incident.
Total flying hours :- 5.45 day , 0.55 night.

1941-06-07

Exeter

Weather was dull during the morning and heavy rain fell in the afternoon. Flying training on a restricted scale was carried out during the day. Owing to the non-return of No.504 Squadron the Unit was compelled to assume day state in their place.
22.35 Defiant T.3991 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
22.40 Defiant N.3336 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.45 Defiants T.3991 and N.3336 landed and reported no incidents.
Total flying hours :- 6.00 day , 2.15 night.

1941-06-08

Exeter

04.45 Defiants N.1788 and T.3990 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
05.45 Defiants N.3404 and T.3925 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
06.05 Defiant N.1788 landed and reported no incident.
06.25 Defiant T.3990 landed and reported no incident.
07.15 Defiant T.3925 landed at Warmwell owing to bad weather conditions at Exeter and reported no incident.
07.45 Defiant N.3404 landed at Chickerell owing to bad weather conditions at Exeter and reported no incident.
Weather conditions improved and flying training was continued throughout the day.
Defiant N.3336 was damaged when landing owing to the pilot, Sgt. Feruga, moving the under-carriage lever instead of flaps lever. The aircraft was damaged beyond the Unit’s capacity to repair. No504 Squadron not having returned to Exeter the Unit was again obliged to assume day state in their place.
22.45 Defiants T.3992 and T.4058 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.45 Defiant T.3992 landed and reported no incident.
23.50 Defiant T.4058 landed and reported no incident.
British and Free French forces today crossed the Syrian frontier from Palestine and Transjordan.
Total flying hours :- 11.05 day , 2.05 night.

1941-06-09

Exeter

No. 504 Squadron again being absent the Unit had to take over day patrol duties in their place.
09.40 Defiants T.4058 and N.3437 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
09.55 Defiant N.3437 landed and reported no incident.
10.20 Defiant N.1671 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
10.30 Defiant N.1671 landed and reported no incident.
11.10 Defiant T.4058 landed and reported no incident.
11.15 Defiant N.1671 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
12.00 Defiant N.1671 landed and reported no incident.
12.20 Defiants N.3437 and N.3330 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
12.40 Defiants N.3437 and N.3330 landed and reported no incidents.
14.20 Defiants T.3925 and T.3991 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
15.10 Defiants T.3925 and T.3991 landed and reported no incidents.
15.40 Defiant T.3992 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
15.45 Defiants N.3404 and T.3925 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
15.50 Defiants N.1788 and T.3990 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
16.05 Defiants T.3992, N.1788 and T.3990 landed and reported no incidents.
16.10 Defiants N.3404 and T.3925 landed and reported no incidents.
Weather conditions were not very favourable during the day and there was considerable rain. Sgt. Feruga, pilot, and F/Sgt. Serefin, air gunner, left the Unit on posting to No.54 O.T.U. for a conversion course to twin engine aircraft. Instructions were issued by H.Q. No.10 Group that six Defiants were to be dispersed at Church Stanton for the night and arrangements were made to transport personnel and starter trollies. The aircraft left at 21.00 hours. Defiants N.1671 and T.3992, pilots, Sgt. Bilau and Sgt. Jankowiak respectively were damaged on landing at Church Stanton owing to the landing “T” being incorrectly laid out. Local stormy weather with a strong wind obtained and prevented the pilots from maintaining control of their machines, which were swung off the runway on to soft ground on the side. Both machines were damaged beyond the Unit’s capacity to repair, but no blame can be attached to the pilots who landed in accordance with the ground signal.
Total flying hours :- 10.10 day , Nil night.

1941-06-10

Exeter

Weather was dull with low cloud and flying was restricted. The following Sergesnt Pilots left the Unit on posting – Sgt. Lewczynski, R. and Sanetra, S. to Headquarters No.13 Group Flight, and Sgt. Skiba, H, to Headquarters No.11 Group Flight. Owing to unfavourable weather conditions at Warmwell the air to ground firing arranged had to be cancelled. Four Defiants dispersed at Church Stanton returned to Exeter in the afternoon.
21.00 Defiants N.3315 and T.3980 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
22.05 Defiant T.3980 landed and reported no incident.
22.20 Defiant N.3315 landed and reported no incident.
22.40 Defiants N.3432 and N.1812 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.25 Defiant N.3432 landed and reported no incident.
23.30 Defiant N.1812 landed and reported no incident.
Total flying hours :- 5.25 (day) , 1.35 (night).

1941-06-11

Exeter

Weather conditions during day were favourable and flying training was continued. There was no operational flying as weather deteriorated during the evening and was not operational at night.
Total flying hours :- 8.05 (day) , Nil (night)

1941-06-12

Exeter

Weather was dull during day but restricted flying training was possible. Weather conditions were not good enough for air to air firing and the programme had to be cancelled. Defiant T.4010 was delivered to the Unit from No.24 M.U. Defiants T.3946 and V1129 were delivered to the Unit from No.10 M.U.
22.55 Defiants N.3330 and N.1812 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
Total flying hours :- 3.45 (day) , 2.10 (night)

1941-06-13

Exeter

00.05 Defiants N.3330 and N.1812 landed and reported no incidents.
02.35 Defiant N.3315 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
02.40 Defiants N.3490, N.3432 and N.3437 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
04.05 Defiant N.3315 landed and reported no incidents.
04.10 Defiants N.3490, N.3432 and N.3437 landed and reported no incidents.
04.55 Defiant N.3315 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
05.00 Defiant N.3330 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
05.15 Defiant N.3330 landed and reported no incident.
05.20 Defiant N.3315 landed and reported no incident.
Good weather conditions obtained throughout the day and flying training was continued. “ZZ” practices were carried out.
22.40 Defiants T.3925 and T.3991 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
24.00 Defiants T.3925 and T.3991 landed and reported no incidents.
Total flying hours :- 10.40 (day) , [nieczytelne].30 (night)

1941-06-14

Exeter

02.45 Defiant N.1788 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
03.00 Defiant N.1788 landed and reported no incidents.
05.20 Defiants N.3404 and T.3925 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
06.35 Defiants T.3990 and T.3991 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
07.15 Defiants N.3404 and T.3925 landed and reported no incidents.
07.55 Defiants T.3990 and T.3991 landed and reported no incidents.
Weather during the day was dull with low clouds, and flying training was restricted.
23.15 Defiants T.3946 and V.1129 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.45 Defiants T.3946 and V.1129 landed and reported no incidents.
Total flying hours :- 3.35 (day) , 1.15 (night)

1941-06-15

Exeter

Weather was dull but flying training was continued. A Co-operation exercise with Home Guard was carried out with practice dive bombing.
Total flying hours :- 10.05 (day) , Nil (night)

1941-06-16

Exeter

00.15 Defiants T.3991 and T.3990 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
01.55 Defiant T.3990 landed and reported no incidents.
02.05 Defiant T.3991 landed and reported no incidents.
Weather conditions were favourable during the day and flying training was continued.
Total flying hours :- 6.00 (day) , 4.00 (night)

1941-06-17

Exeter

00.40 Defiants N.3490 and N.3437 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
01.50 Defiants N.3490 and N.3437 landed and reported no incidents.
Weather conditions were excellent and training was continued. A searchlight co-operation exercise was carried out to enable searchlight batteries to verify instruments. The command of the Squadron was officially handed over by S/Ldr. Grodzicki to F/Lt. Antonowicz who assumes command with effect from 1st. June, 1941. Air to air firing had to be cancelled as the towing aircraft was unserviceable. An attempt was made to substitute air to sea firing but there was fog over the water.
19.30 Defiants T.3991 and N.1788 having taken off for a co-operation exercise with the Home Guard were diverted to an operational patrol.
20.25 Defiants T.3991 and N.1788 landed and reported no incidents.
Total Flying Hours :- 7.30 (day) , 3.05 (night)

1941-06-18

Exeter

Weather conditions were favourable throughout the day and training was continued. Air to ground firing at Warmwell was carried out by five aircraft. A searchlight co-operation flight was also carried out. Conditions were favourable for night flying but no flying took place before midnight. Defiant V.1129 was involved in a taxying accident on returning from air to ground firing. A roller moved on to the runway while the aircraft was taxying back to Dispersal and collision occurred.
Total Flying Hours :- 13.50 (day) , Nil (night)

1941-06-19

Exeter

00.15 Defiants N.3315, N.3330 and N.1812 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
01.00 Defiant N.1812 landed and reported no incident.
01.30 Defiant N.3315 landed and reported that while patrolling “Lime B” at 14,000 feet a Heinkell 111 was sighted 500 yards ahead at 15,000 feet. Three attacks were made from distances of 200 and 100 but no effect of the firing was observed. The combat was inconclusive. Pilot – P.O. Waltos., Air Gunner Sgt. Sadawa. Defiant N.3315 made a bad landing and the aircraft was damaged; repairs will be carried out by the Unit.
01.35 Defiant N.3330 landed and reported no incidents.
Weather conditions were favourable throughout the day and training was continued. A searchlight co-operation flight was carried out.
Total Flying Hours :- 6.25 (day) , 3.20 (night)

1941-06-20

Exeter

Fine weather conditions obtained throughout the day and flying training continued. Air to ground firing at Warmwell was carried out. Night searchlight co-operation exercise was carried out.
23.25 Defiant T.3946 took off from Exeter on operational patrol.
23.40 Defiant T.3946 landed and reported no incident.
Total Flying Hours :- 9.35 (day) , 5.25 (night)

1941-06-21

Exeter

Weather conditions were again favourable. Air to air firing at Exeter had to be cancelled owing to the inability of the G.R.U. to supply towing aircraft. A searchlight co-operation exercise was carried out at night.
Total Flying Hours :- 7.45 (day) , 0.55 (night)

1941-06-22

Exeter

It is to-day reported that Germany has attacked Russia from Besarabia, Poland and Finland. Dull weather conditions with low cloud restricted flying during the day.
23.10 Defiants T.4058 and N.3330 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
23.40 Defiants N.3490 and T.3946 took off from Exeter on operational patrols.
Total Flying Hours :- 3.55 (day) , 2.20 (night)

1941-06-23

Exeter

00.25 Defiants N.3490 and T.3946 landed and reported no interceptions.
00.30 Defiants T.4058 and N.3330 landed and reported no interceptions.
Air to ground firing was carried out at Warmwell and in addition an Army Co-operation exercise. During the night searchlight exercise were also carried out.
Total Flying Hours :- 12.10 (day) , 6.40 (night)

1941-06-24

Exeter

Weather conditions were favourable during the day and flying training was continued. An Army Co-operation exercise and “ZZ” practices were also carried out. Defiant N.1812, pilot P.O. Gayzler collided with a Tutor aircratf K.3362 wich was standing close to the runway. The Defiant had made a traverse landing. Damage was done to the tail and main planes of the Defiant and to the tail of the Tutor.
23.55 Defiants N.3425 and T.3946 took off Exeter on operational patrols.
Total Flying Hours :- 13.45 (day) , 0.10 (night)

1941-06-25

Exeter

01.00 Defiant T.3990 took off Exeter on operational patrol.
01.25 Defiant N.3425 landed and reported no incident.
01.30 Defiant T.3946 landed and reported no incident.
01.50 Defiant T.3990 landed and reported no incident.
Weather throughout the day was fine. In the afternoon a co-operation exercise with the Army was carried out and Defiants dive bombed and machined gunned Army targets and forces. In the evening a co-operation exercise with the Home Guard was carried out. During the night a searchlight exercise was also carried out.
Total Flying Hours :- 12.00 (day) , 5.25 (night)

1941-06-26

Exeter

Weather conditions were favourable and day training was continued. Interception exercise were carried out and further Army co-operation flight was made. During the hours of darkness searchlight co-operation flights were also made.
Total Flying Hours :- 11.55 (day) , 3.05 (night)

1941-06-27

Exeter

Interception exercise and a searchlight co-operation flight were carried out during the day under favourable weather conditions. A further searchlight co-operation exercise was carried out at night.
Total Flying Hours :- 10.30 (day) , 1.05 (night)

1941-06-28

Exeter

Weather conditions were dull but flying training continued throughout the day. Interception exercise R.T. practices and an Army co-operation flight were all carried out. The usual night searchlight co-operation flights were also made.

1941-06-29

Exeter

Weather conditions were good throughout the day. Formation flying, and interception exercises were carried out. Weather conditions were not suitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours :- 9.05 (day) , Nil (night)

1941-06-30

Exeter

Good weather conditions prevailed and flying training continued throughout the day. Cross countries FORMATION FLYING, R.T. and homing practices were carried out. Weather conditions were also suitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours :- 10.50 (day) , 1.15 (night)

[Illegible]
Officer Commanding,
No. 307 (Polish) Squadron,
30th. June. 1941. R.A.F. Exeter, Devon.