Polish Air Force Operations Record Books 1940-1947

1943-03-01

Exeter

Weather cloudy with slight mist. Day training continued. Four patrols were flown at night. F.O. Zieleinski, F/Sgt. Staziker,(British), F/Sgt. Jankowiak, F/Sgt. Plenkiewicz, and Sgt. Karais posted to Unit for flying duties from No. 153 Squadron. F.O. Ziolkowski posted from No. 54. O.T.U. for flying duties.
Total Flying Hours :- 14.40 Day. – 10.40 Night.

1943-03-02

Exeter

Weather fair becoming cloudy, hazy most of the day. Flying training continued by day. Two patrols were flown du ring the night.
Total Flying Hours :- 17.15 Day. – 1.45 Night.

1943-03-03

Exeter

Weather cloudy and hazy. Flying training continued by day. One operational patrol was flown during the afternoon. Weather unsuitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours :- 10.55 Day. – Nil Night.

1943-03-04

Exeter

Weather cloudy and hazy. Flying training continued by day. Two patrols were flown during the night. There was no enemy activity in the area.
Total Flying Hours :- 9.00 Day. – 4.00 Night.

1943-03-05

Exeter

Weather fine but hazy. Flying training continued by day. Four patrols were flown during the night. . There was no enemy activity in the area.
Total Flying Hours :- 11.20 Day. – 7.30 Night.

1943-03-06

Exeter

Weather misty and foggy up to 11.00 hours, then fine but very hazy. Flying training continued by day. Two patrols were flown during the night.
Total Flying Hours :- 12.05 Day. – 5.05 Night.

1943-03-07

Exeter

Thick haze becoming fair to fine. Flying training continued by day. Six patrols were flown during the night. F.O. Buchowiecki, (Pilot) and P.O. Marin (Nav/R) overshot the runway when landing at night. The visibility was poor and the pilot was landing on one engine only. He misjudged distance and height and overlooked the additional time required for lowering flaps when one engine only is working. A Bullseye exercise was carried out with four Mosquitoes. There were 16 attempted interceptions, 4 kills with A.I. and 5 kills without A.I.
Total Flying Hours :- 14.20 Day. – 14.45 Night.

1943-03-08

Exeter

Weather cloudy and hazy. Flying training continued by day. Six patrols were flown during the night. There was no enemy activity in the area.
Total Flying Hours :- 10.10 Day. – 14.20 Night.

1943-03-09

Exeter

Weather fair and little cloud. Flying training continued by day. Nine patrols were flown during the night. F.O. Lazarowicz (Nav/R) posted from R.A.F. Exeter for flying duties. F/Sgt. Steinke (pilot) and P.O. Buckiewicz (Nav/R) obtained two contacts on an E/A at 12,000ft while under Exminster control. Both were at maximum range and were lost owing to the violent evasive action which e/a was taking continually.
Total Flying Hours :- 14.10 Day. – 20.55 Night.

1943-03-10

Exeter

Weather fair but hazy and cloudy. Flying training continued by day. Three patrols were flown during the night. F/Sgt. Oleszczuk (Pilot) and W.O. Serafin (Nav/R) whilst flying Mosquito aircraft experienced failure of port engine due to loss of coolant liquid. Pilot switched port engine off and was successful in making a good landing.
Total Flying Hours :- 18.35 Day. – 6.15 Night.

1943-03-11

Exeter

Weather cloudy becoming fair. Flying training continued. Five patrols were flown at night.
Total Flying Hours :- 15.50 Day. – 12.40 Night.

1943-03-12

Exeter

Weather fair but little cloud. Flying training continued by day. Five patrols were flown during the night. There was no enemy activity in the area. Sgt. Kulczewski and Sgt. Bradwell Pilot and Nav/R/ respectively posted to Unit for Flying Duties from 54 O.T.U..
Total Flying Hours :- 19.35 Day. – 13.40 Night.

1943-03-13

Exeter

Weather fair but hazy with little cloud. Flying training continued by day. Three patrols were flown during the night. There was no enemy activity in the area.
Total Flying Hours :- 9.50 Day. – 5.50 Night.

1943-03-14

Exeter

Weather fair but hazy with little cloud. Flying training continued by day. Two patrols were flown during the night. There was no enemy activity in the area.
Total Flying Hours :- 15.45 Day. – 2.55 Night.

1943-03-15

Exeter

Weather fine but hazy with little or no cloud. Flying training continued by day. Six patrols were flown during the night. There was no enemy activity in the area.
Total Flying Hours :- 9.55 Day. – 13.50 Night.

1943-03-16

Exeter

Weather cloudy with slight haze. Visibility 4-6 miles. Flying training continued by day. Weather conditions were unsuitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours :- 10.35 Day. – Nil Night.

1943-03-17

Exeter

Weather cloudy and slight haze becoming fine after 16.00 hours. Flying training continued by day. No night flying took place owing to unsuitable weather conditions.
Total Flying Hours :- 12.15 Day. – Nil Night.

1943-03-18

Exeter

Weather fine but hazy. Visibility 1500 – 2000 yds. Early in the morning. Flying training continued by day. Weather conditions were unsuitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours :- 13.45 Day. – Nil Night.

1943-03-19

Exeter

Weather fair to cloudy with haze. Visibility one mile during darkness, 3 – 6 miles during day. Flying training continued by day. Two patrols were flown at night. No enemy activity in area.
Total Flying Hours :- 27.05 Day. – 4.10 Night.

1943-03-20

Exeter

Weather foggy, clearing at forenoon when it became fair but hazy. Flying training continued by day, weather conditions were unsuitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours :- 19.00 Day. – Nil Night.

1943-03-21

Exeter

Weather fine but hazy. Flying training continued by day. Two patrols were flown at night. There was no enemy activity in the area. We record with deep regret that the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander J. Michalowski, V.M.K.W, D.F.C. and his Navigator F.O. Szkop, were killed in a flying accident when landing on one engine in a Mosquito at 17.40 hrs. The flight was non-operational flying test. A Court of Enquiry is being held.
Total Flying Hours :- 18.40 Day. – 2.15 Night.

1943-03-22

Exeter

Weather cloudy and foggy, clearing during the forenoon becoming fair to fine but hazy during the afternoon. Flying training continued by day. Two patrols were flown at night. There was no enemy activity in the area. F.O. Borzemski (Nav/R) and F.O. Kaluzny (Pilot) posted to Unit from 54 O.T.U. for flying duties,
Total Flying Hours :- 9.20 Day. – 5.05 Night.

1943-03-23

Exeter

Weather fair and hazy becoming cloudy with continuous rain after 16.00 hours. Flying training continued by day but conditions were unsuitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours :- 12.20 Day. – Nil Night.

1943-03-24

Exeter

Weather cloudy with slight haze becoming almost continuous rain by 11.00 hours. Conditions were unsuitable for day or night flying. P.O. Biderman was posted to Unit from No. 1 Radio School, Supernumery Signals duties. The funeral of Wing Commander Michalowski V.M.K.W., D.F.C. and F.O. Szkop took place at Higher Cemetery, Exeter. Over 300 members of the Squadron attended as well as many personal Friends of the late Wing Commander. They included Group Captain Woodhall O.B.E., Station Commander, R.A.F. Exeter, Group Captain Pawlikowski V.M.K.W. from Fighter Command, Group Captain Beill, V.M.,D.F.C., Officer Commanding, R.A.F. Station, Hemswell, Wing Commander Witorzenc, D.F.C. from Fighter Command, Wing Commander Pronasko, Officer Commanding, No. 304 (Polish) Squadron, Wing Commander Cwenak, No. 18 O.T.U., Wing Commander Bajan of the Polish Inspectorate General, Wing Commander The Hon. E.F. Ward, Officer Commanding, R.A.F. Station, Harrowbeer and Wing Commander Rypl from Czech. Headquarters, London. The Royal Marine Band, Exton Barracks was in attendance. Many Beautiful wreaths were sent at a last tribute.
Total Flying Hours : – Nil –

1943-03-25

Exeter

Weather cloudy with intermittent rain or drizzle during the whole day. One hour’s day flying training was carried out but weather conditions were unsuitable for night flying. F.O. Tabarczynski, Nav/R. was posted to Unit from No. 51 O.T.U. for flying duties.
Total Flying Hours :- 1.00 Day. – Nil Night.

1943-03-26

Exeter

Weather cloudy until 11.00 hours, the became fair. Flying training continued by day. Six patrols were flown during the night. No enemy activity in area.
Total Flying Hours :- 18.45 Day. – 11.05 Night.

1943-03-27

Exeter

Weather cloudy with occasional rain or drizzle until 12.00 hours the becoming fair. Flying training continued by day. Eight patrols were flown at night. No enemy activity in the area. Bullseye Exercise was carried out with 17 sorties. A.I. and Searchlight kills were made and 3 kills visuals with searchlights only.
Total Flying Hours :- 21.05 Day. – 21.40 Night.

1943-03-28

Exeter

Weather fair to cloudy. Flying training continued by day. Four patrols were flown during the night. There was no enemy activity in the area.
Total Flying Hours :- 20.10 Day. – 10.55 Night.

1943-03-29

Exeter

Weather fair to cloudy. Flying training continued by day. Weather conditions were unsuitable for night flying. Sgt. Idec, Pilot, posted to Unit from No. 219 Squadron.
Total Flying Hours :- 17.45 Day. – Nil Night.

1943-03-30

Exeter

Weather cloudy with chance of slight rain or drizzle. Flying training continued by day. Weather unsuitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours :- 14.00 Day. – Nil Night.

1943-03-31

Exeter

Weather cloudy with slight drizzle. Gale conditions all day. Flying training continued by day. Weather condition were unsuitable for night flying.
Total Flying Hours :- 5.45 Day. – Nil Night.

[Illegible]
Officer Commanding,
No. 307 (Polish) Squadron,
R.A.F. Station, Exeter, Devon.